A Study of Bion's Basic Assumption Groups

Abstract

Bion's group dynamic theory can be divided into a general group dynamic part, a description of the basic assumptions fight/flight, dependency and pairing, and a metapsychological explanation of the basic assumption phenomena. Previous studies with somewhat questionable methodology have found that the basic assumption pairing seems more closely associated with fight/flight than dependency. This study replicates these findings. Seventyfive inpatient group therapy sessions were studied in detail by Group Emotionality Rating System and Group Focal Conflict Analysis. The phenomenological part of the study suggests quantitative levels when scattered emotional statements turn into manifest basic assumption. The groups demonstrating the association between pairing andfight/flight contained emotionality beyond these levels, thus indicating that they represented "true" basic assumption groups. Several observations suggest that the capacity for pairing is vitalfor the survival of fight/flight groups which otherwise risk the fate of disintegration. These observations call for new metapsychological explanations.