The three R's of group: resistance, rebellion, and refusal.
I describe three constellations of group life and group process: resistance, rebellion, and refusal. In resistance, an individual or group remains antagonistic to conscious but not unconscious thinking, the latter manifested in derivatives, including symbol and symptom formation, transference-countertransference, and enactment. Rebellion functions on the level of conscious thinking, manifested in challenge, defiance, and the possibility of sociopolitical action. The basic premises and values of the group and/or leader are at the center of the controversy, to be addressed on that level. Refusal establishes a mental boundary between what is considered appropriate and inappropriate. Unconscious as well as conscious processes of feeling, thinking, and meaning making are refused entry, left undeveloped, rejected, or obstructed. Working with refusal requires appreciating how and why the mind and its thinking operations are being suspended. The theoretical framework is applied to a case example.
Billow
Richard M
RM
Postdoctoral Program in Group Psychotherapy, Derner Institute, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA. RMBillow@hotmail.com
D006801:Humans; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012931:Social Environment; D014167:Transference, Psychology; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology