Personal Group-Self and Transpersonal Groupobject

Abstract

Two usages of the term `group self' are delineated: (1) an individual's `personal group-self' or personal identity as a member of a group; and (2) the `transpersonal group's self' or members' personifications of the group as though it had its own consciousness and personal agency. We do not imply any notion of a `group mind' or `collective consciousness' as objective truth. We refer instead to beliefs about persons by persons. In this constructivist sense, we describe the `groupobject' function of the personified group, outline some common archaic and mature patterns of its expression in therapy groups, and derive some therapeutic implications of our formulation.