Group Techniques

"It is said that the techniques are the vehicle group that helps move the group toward its goals. But this basic concept should be clarified: the techniques are a means, not an end in themselves, not all techniques work for all the objectives and not all techniques can be used everywhere "(Tschorne, 1990).

Some authors have regarded the techniques as a synonym for "exercises" proposed by the coordinator and developed by the group (Lama, 1990, among others). At the opposite pole we find those made by Pichon-Rivière (1969), who recognized the identification and interpretation as fundamental techniques used by the coordinator.

The first approach prioritizes work over the area of ​​conduct of the action and active techniques while the second priority to the thought, feeling and verbal techniques.

Others argue that a technique could be anything you do or say the group's coordinator. Although we would attack the question: Does everything it says and does is art?.

The solution they came to the realization of monitoring. In a group coordinator asked members to read "the things that annoy others." The supervisor asked the coordinator why he decided to work on that line and said "I do not know, I went blank and that was the first thing that occurred to me."

This allowed them to discriminate what is a technique that is not: the intentionality of the coordinator. When there is talk of technique and intent if not improvisation.

A group technique is defined as the set of means and procedures used by the instructor to stimulate action and allow operation of the group for the fulfillment of its objectives. Group techniques are systematic ways to organize and develop the group's activity or accelerate meaningful learning. They also allow to break the routine of briefing the instructor to move participants from a fixed location and engage in activities for participation and exchange with other members. All modern learning theories agree that the best learning situation is one where the activity is enjoyable and satisfying.

The Dynamics for groups are not strictly games, but thanks to the didactic sense of play, creating an atmosphere of joy and play, which allows for a rich dynamic feelings, attitudes and behaviors. The difference between a game and a dynamic for groups is that the former is sought as the ultimate in fun and for Group Dynamics seeks to learning through play.

Group techniques are necessary to perform the activities of a group in situations or at specific times of the individual's life, which are used to achieve results in group processes. Are instruments of labor in the service of achieving goals, focusing on the group. The technique is the design from which it is intended that the group work, be productive and achieve the goals expected of him.

Among the most important areas of application include:

- Format: Each group tends to improve its members, giving them the opportunity to develop skills or potential, to overcome personal problems, to share a situation with others, when the group conditions are positive. - Psychotherapy: Groups can be cured. - Education: The groups can be used with the express purpose of learning. - Socialization: cause groups that their members learn to communicate and learn to live together. - Teamwork: Groups generated ways of working together.

Group techniques are also "experiential" because they live in a real situation, provide experiences in the form of games and exercises with a minimum structure that can take full advantage of the experience. It is also called "structured experiences" because they are designed based on real world experiences. What is wanted is for people to experience events as if they were actually happening.

Group techniques have the advantage, unlike other techniques that provide a context at the same time to facilitate the learning of knowledge, skills, values ​​and attitudes.

The group dynamics take on a specific value that stimulates emotion, creativity, dynamism and positive voltage enters the groups. Other advantages are:

- Facilitate the active participation of the participants. - Allows heard. - Promotes the collective consciousness. - Promotes a more critical and responsible attitude. - Stimulates the initiative and creativity, encouraging them to learn to choose, decide and commit. - Promotes human relations, learning to talk and listen, helping to make a deal, stimulating dialogue, meeting other criteria, joins a group in a conscious, effective and criticism. - Enrich the personality of the participants. - Power the social adaptation of the person. - Create a positive attitude towards relationship problems. - Overcome fears, inhibitions, creating safety. - Strengthens interpersonal dialogue and agreements achieved. - Help the analysis and reflection, both the session content and process.

We also find some limitations:

- To be used in small places. - Require more time than other work groups. - Working in a group work and encourages others to take advantage. - Individual behavior differs from group behavior. - It can not be measured. There are no standardized tests that measure how much knowledge people have memorized. The only way to measure the outcome in group dynamics is tracking observable behaviors.

Group Dynamics