ABSTRACT
Group dynamics, as a field of enquiry within social psychology, is said to occupy the ‘middle ground’ between the person and society. This is because it is the small group which becomes the unit of analysis, the crucible, so to speak, which reveals the secrets of how the person forms, and is formed by, the social environment. A basic premise in group dynamics is that a group is more than a mere collection of individuals, that is, groups have their own dynamic quite independent of the individuals comprising them. Many theoretical perspectives and research techniques have been applied to the study of groups. It comes as no surprise to find that the various approaches to understanding group phenomena and the explanations advanced are as diverse within the field of group dynamics as they are in psychology generally. However, I wish to avoid a lengthy exposition of these different perspectives which would, in any case, require a repetition of much of what has already been said. For this reason the approach adopted in this chapter will be to explore the significance of groups for adult educators, and the way in which group dynamic concepts have (or could) be used as a foundation for practice.
