ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the large group through the theoretical perspectives offered under the umbrella of self-psychology as well as other relational theories. The chapter addresses the trend toward a deeper appreciation of the other, evolving perhaps out of what describes as social evolution. Much of what has been written about large groups has been done from Freudian and Kleinian perspectives. While this has proven useful in understanding some of the regressive and aggressive behavior of large groups, it has not offered enough about the more health-seeking behavior present in the large group as it is in each individual. Fosshage exploring contributions of systems theory, states: A nonlinear dynamic system refers to independent and interdependent elements that over time mutually influence and transform each other in a relatively unpredictable fashion. This emerging miniculture then provides the group with a perspective from which it is able to view socio-cultural and subculture assumptions that are being taken for granted.
