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Confrontation Groups: Hula Hoops?
Author(s) -
Beymer Lawrence
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
counselor education and supervision
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1556-6978
pISSN - 0011-0035
DOI - 10.1002/j.1556-6978.1970.tb01367.x
Subject(s) - popularity , phenomenon , psychology , group dynamic , counselor education , social psychology , group (periodic table) , higher education , epistemology , law , political science , philosophy , chemistry , organic chemistry
The definition of counseling has moved beyond the one‐to‐one relationship to include contact with clients in group settings. One variation, confrontation groups, has grown so fast in popularity that certain aspects have become malignant. Four criticisms are made of confrontation groups in counselor education today: (a) excessive anti‐intellectualism; (b) neglecting the phenomenon that such experiences can bring about worse as well as better adjustment; (c) labeling activities as group dynamics, but transforming the process into group therapy; and (d) reluctance of too many leaders to accept reasonable responsibility for their actions and inactions with groups under the influence. Eight recommendations for future practice are suggested.