Page 145 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

128 Chapter 5

Supporting: agreeing or otherwise expressing support for another’s belief or
proposal; following the lead of another member. (“I think Joi’s right; we
should examine this more closely.”)
Harmonizing: reducing secondary tension by reconciling disagreement;
suggesting a compromise or new alternative acceptable to all; conciliating
or placating an angry member. (“Jared and Sally, I think there are areas in
which you are in agreement, and I would like to suggest a compromise that
might work for you both.”)
Tension relieving: making strangers feel at ease; reducing status differences;
encouraging informality; joking and otherwise relieving tension; stressing
common interests and experiences. (“We’re getting tired and cranky. Let’s
take a 10-minute break.”)
Dramatizing: evoking fantasies about people and places other than the present
group and time, including storytelling and fantasizing in a vivid way; testing
a tentative value or norm through fantasy or story. (“That reminds me of a
story about last year’s committee . . .”)
Showing solidarity: indicating positive feeling toward other group members;
reinforcing a sense of group unity and cohesiveness. (“Wow, we’ve done a
great job on this!” or “We’re all in this together!”)
Whereas the preceding functions are necessary to effective small group function-
ing, there is another category of functions detrimental to the group. They represent an
individual member’s hidden agenda.

Self-Centered Function Self-Centered Functions Self-centered functions refer to those member behaviors that
Action of a small serve the performers’ unmet needs at the expense of the group. We think the following
group member, three are especially harmful:
motivated by Withdrawing: avoiding important differences; refusing to cope with conflicts;
personal needs, that
serves the individual refusing to take a stand; covering up feelings; giving no response to the
at the expense of the comments of others. (“Do whatever you want, I don’t care,” or not speaking
group. at all.)
Blocking: preventing progress toward group goals by constantly raising
objections, repeatedly bringing up the same topic or issue after the group has
considered and rejected it. (“I know we already voted, but I want to discuss it
again!”) It is not blocking to keep raising an issue the group has not really
listened to or considered.
Status and recognition seeking: stage hogging, boasting, and calling attention
to one’s expertise or experience when this is not necessary to establishing
credibility or relevant to the group’s task; game playing to elicit sympathy;
switching subject to area of personal expertise. (“I think we should do it the
way I did it when I won the ‘Committee Member of the Year’ award.”)

This list is by no means exhaustive; it could be expanded considerably with such
categories as special interest pleading, advocating, confessing, and similar harmful

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