Group Development Phases as Working Through Six Fundamental Human Problems

Abstract

Following Bennis and Shepard's work, groups are thought to become preoccupied with problems of gaining reassurance about six basic human tasks in turn. One can show that these problems, called focal problems, have two forms, inclusive and narrowed, and that progressing through the problems requires three subphases, inclusive problem, narrowed problem, and inclusive problem again, before going on to the next problem. The fit with extended reports of group development is good and that with members'perceptions, observed by Dunphy, remarkably comprehensive. A description of one of the phases by Cohen and Smith closely parallels a list of strategies for the related focal problem that reflects anthropological data for the Navaho.