Posted by alexandra_k on December 7, 2004, at 18:35:24
In reply to Scapegoating in groups, posted by Dr. Bob on December 7, 2004, at 8:36:12
> I have learned to encourage conflict, dissent, and negotiation across the leader-members boundary. If the boundary is relatively impermeable, the tensions between the leader and members are recreated in or deflected to the relations among the members themselves.
Mmm hmm. Psychodynamic theory eh?
Does this mean that sometimes you purposely intend to provoke, no sorry 'encourage' conflict and dissent between yourself and members of the group? To kind of take the heat of other individuals who are having a bit of a hard time? I have wondered before whether you do this. Not to just 'see what will happen' as an experiment, but to encourage solidarity among members.
But then
>If the boundary is relatively impermeable...
Does that mean the boundary between leader and members? Is that what this talk of a democracy rather than autocracy is about? Are you hoping to become less of a leader so as to prevent
>the tensions between the leader and members [being]... recreated in or deflected to the relations among the members themselves.
That makes it sound like the conflict in the group is an artifact of having a leader with strong leader / member boundaries. But then if that is what is worrying you then why do you try to take the heat of others by deflecting to yourself. If that is indeed what you do at times.
I am confused...
Is this perhaps a vicious cycle that you have discovered???
poster:alexandra_k
thread:425655
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20041109/msgs/425858.html