Membership Composition of Open and Closed Therapeutic Groups

Abstract

Open and closed therapeutic groups are contrasted in the context of group development research Positive and negative aspects of group membership (including coerced entry) are considered. With application of the Hill Interaction Matrix (HIM) available data are reanalyzed; it is concluded that results support the existence of a discernible process of development in the closed groups, while open groups with residual "old" members show counterproductive activity—especially as involuntary residual membership leads to "arrested" behavior in group performance