Seminar on the application of Reversal Theory to Group Dynamics

You are invited to join me, Larry Hirschhorn, and my colleague, Anna Reiche, for a seminar on Reversal Theory and Group Psychodynamics.

Reversal Theory extends and deepens Bion’s theory of group behavior by:

1. Providing a framework for describing different modalities of working not just how groups avoid work.

2. Characterizing how work groups are inherently flexible in their orientation and what makes them flexible.

3. Showing how and why Basic Assumptions can both fuel real work and defend against it.

4. Describing how a basic assumption “colonizes” a working modality.

5. Differentiating between anxiety as a signal and anxiety as danger

6. Proposing how groups can regress beyond their basic assumption functioning and become truly primitive

The seminar will consist of a presentation, a discussion period, and an introduction to a research framework for testing Reversal Theory hypotheses.