title: The valence theory of Bion and the significance of (DSM-III) diagnoses for inpatient group behavior.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of Bion's hypothesis of valence and the significance of (DSM-III) diagnoses for inpatient group behavior. All verbal statements (approximately 17,000) from 91 patients in 75 small group therapy sessions were assessed according to Group Emotionality Rating System, which contains the (Bion) categories of dependency, fight, flight and pairing. The results confirmed the valence theory, since diagnoses explained 7-20% of the variance in emotional group behavior, while sex and age only explained 1-2% of the variance. The personality disorders of the schizoid/paranoid spectrum had the strongest valence for fight(/flight). The major depressions and the dependent personality disorders had the strongest valence for dependency. Neuroses and personality disorders had a significantly higher (P less than 0.05) valence for pairing than psychoses. Tables demonstrating the valence strength for 9 diagnostic categories are presented. The group culture seemed to modify behavior differently according to the diagnoses.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Department B, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karterud
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013808:Therapeutic Community