67th Annual Conference

Thursday, February 25

Afternoon Workshops

2:30 - 5:00 P.M.

Workshop 26

Sustaining Ourselves in a Large Group Experience: From Selfobject through Intersubjectivity to Mutual Recognition

Chairs:

Mary Dluhy, M.S.W., CGP, FAGPA, Private Practice, Washington, DC

MaryAnn P. Dubner, Ph.D., CGP,Private Practice, Bethesda, Maryland

Rosemary Segalla, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, Washington, DC

This workshop will incorporate didactic and experiential learning to explore how large groups manifest three relational positions: selfobject (mirroring, twinship), intersubjective (mutual influence), and relational (mutual recognition). These positions are held within the individual and the group-as-a-whole. As the group moves toward mutual recognition a community of respect and responsibility is formed--hallmarks of world citizenship.

experiential-demonstration-didactic-sharing of work experiences

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Define 3 relational positions: selfobject, intersubjective, mutual recognition.
2. Identify signals which demonstrate the relational development and position in the group.
3. Analyze leaders' different roles when individuals and group as a whole are in different positions.
 

Course References:

Benjamin, J. (2004) Beyond doer and done to: an intersubjective view of Thirdness. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 73, 5-46.

Jarrar, L.K. (2003) A consultant’s journey into the large group unconscious: Principles and techniques. In The large group revisited. S.Schneider, & H. Weinberg, (Eds.) London: Jessica Kingsley. Pp. 27-41.

Segalla,R. (1996) The unbearable embeddedness of being: self psychology, Intersubjectivity and large group experiences. Group, 20, (#4), 257-271.

Stiers, M & Dluhy, M. (2008)The large group and the organizational unconscious. Group, 32,#4, 251-260.