ABSTRACT

Thinking of the “individual” and the “group” as two “systems” in a hierarchy of related systems requires an additional discipline of thinking, but one that does not contradict the existing body of psychodynamic knowledge. In fact, Group-as-a-Whole Systems Theory draws heavily upon psychodynamics when it comes to the application of the theory in practice. In Group-as-a-Whole Systems Theory, noise in the communication system is said to have two sources. One is inherent in the process itself and is the product of the amount of ambiguity, contradiction, and redundancy that exists in the information. A primary function of the systems group therapist is to maintain the group boundaries. Boundaries contain the tensions of the group. When there is sufficient internal equilibrium, the group-as-a-whole has access to its internal energy, organizes it into problem-solving behaviour, and directs it towards its external goals.