Group Processes to Reduce Intergroup Conflict

Abstract

This article's main emphasis is on describing and illustrating several group processes and theories that were used in an intervention to reduce conflict between Arab and Jewish youth in Israel as an additional example to the main one presented in this volume. These theories used in the Israeli example contribute substantially to the latter. Following a description of the Israeli workshop setting, participants, and structure, this article deals with the change processes that may affect participants' attitudes and behaviors. The theoretical perspectives used to analyze the group processes used in the workshop are the following: the psychodynamic and group therapy perspective, the cognitive-behavioral perspective, and the self-theory perspective. These three perspectives are applied to analyze the processes that occurred during the workshop in relationship to participants, facilitators, workshop structure, and content.