Group interaction as the dynamics of the group conscious and unconscious
Abstract
The categories of group consciousness and group unconscious are defined as basic ones in the group interaction conception and considered as its essential factors. Group interaction in social groups is presented as a complex system of various processes which represent a certain proportion of group dynamics and group statics. It is noted that these processes naturally accompany all stages of the group life and can proceed in conditions of dynamic or static equilibrium. The author proceeds from the fact that social group at all stages of its development solves the set of different group tasks (professional, educational, etc.), which are based on the processing of the group psychological material: new information, emotions, and feelings, actions occurring in the group. The cause of the problem is recognized in the disbalance between conscious and unconscious factors of interaction; while it is observed an unconscious component strengthening of the group psychic which is accompanied by an increase in tension. Attention is drawn to that at the initial stage of the crisis the group is kept in a state of static equilibrium: mental energy, which is accumulated in such conditions (mostly unconscious), is spent on repression of the negative cognitive and emotional material, rather than on resolving contradictions; it can lead to destructive processes, but at the same time - it can be the cause of group parallel processes which weaken the tension by problem solving imitation. Parallel processes are associated with the processing of group information which are not coped by the group, as well as with the transfer of problems which are beyond the group process. It is argued that these processes can be controlled by socio-psychological technologies’ usage
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