Object Relation Theory in its basic form states that people are relation seeking rather than pleasure seeking as Freud suggested. There is an emphasis on relationships in the theory translates to relationships as the main focus of psychotherapy, especially the relationship with the therapist.
The “object” in the theory can be people (mother, father, others) or things, such as transitional objects we form attachments with. These objects and the developing child's relationship with them are incorporated into a self, and become the building blocks of personality.
Apparently a group becomes a group when a set of individuals establishes a function for that group to operate. Imagine hundreds of people on a train traveling to the sports stadium. They are just people on a train making a journey; however at the sports stadium they support their favourite team along with thousands of others. The people have developed a purpose and thus many fanatical football supporters become a group.
Group Relations is about the object we form about our relationship in the group. In a way we have developed an object in our psyche about our early experience in groups including our family. I quite liked the phrase “we have established a gang in our head”.
Group Relations proposes that we have a set of objects in our mind related to the development and formation of intereleted people within a particular group. We also experience the reality of being in a particular group. The group in our mind may at times be different to a particular group (actual group) that we “experience” and that may emerge as a degree of stress in our experience.
A client comes with a whole other idea or organization in the mind of other groups out there in the world and begins to relate various aspects of those with the therapist or in the group experience.
The Blog Group is also a unique way that individuals “experience” groups. That is of course, if that blog-group has developed a purpose and become a group or forum.
K
19 comments:
I am really enjoying the experience of Blog Groups.
Good for you K. Yes I have mostly found the blog-group experience rewarding. I also enjoy the various connections on certain blogs.
kenoath
I liked your posting or blog.
I do agree people make groups for their common interest.
I'm taking a short term summer semester in school now, and in my view, it's the most engaged, fun and co-operating class I've ever been in. On our first exam, we had quite some As.
A majority of us hold a common interest: " I want to learn", and I enjoy the energy I experience out of it.
Maryam.
Hi Maryam, I belong to several groups, about 10 I think. All those groups have a purpose or even mission statement of their purpose. I experience each of those groups quite differently. Ithink some groups on the internet have a hidden or unspoken purpose but never the less they are groups rather than several individuals passing by.
k
Internet togetherness?
I gotta get my mind together to comment on that.
I do not experience a groupness online, seriously.
Maryam.
I believe thats your experience M. It seems we already have some differing experiences with regard to blog "groupness". I would love to hear your comments about group togetherness on the internet M.
I liked your comments about a blog group Kenoath
Could be the new marathon
Graffiti
Yes, perhaps there is some possibility in that Graffiti. I would think "Light Marathon" might apply as it would be too easy to turn the computer off with "full strength" version. I have seen how the internet group works well as a support group.
k
I concur kenoath,
People seem to develop an intimacy in the blogosphere. That must be good for group bonding
Graffiti
Now, I get your point kenoath.
Yes, I do agree they get together for a common purpose either spoken or not.
M.
Yes that is a good thing Graffiti, group bonding that is. Not that its everyones cup of tea.
Sometimes there is an element of risk involved with intimacy.
is tis how one has a group hug on the internet?
((((((((((((group))))))))))))))
((((((((((group))))))))))
:o)
I don't think there is much of a risk with internet bondings Ken as long as they do not meet in real world they are safe in those hugs.
This is my view and of course doesn't generalize to all internet users or all circumstances, but I think it applies to majority of them.
I used to have an on-line friend while I was living in Iran. We had quite good connection, but it was just "typed words". Each of us had an imagination of the other one, which by the way was "perfect", but not real.
I lost contact with him for some time then we got in touch again. of course by email.
I talked with him on the phone some months ago for the first time. I suppose he got the courage to face me and asked for my number.
I was right. The dissappointment was so huge that I have not heard from him ever since.
I hope I'm making a point here.
M.
Hi Maryam
sorry to hear about the dissapointment. Yes the internet does tend to keep poeople safe from commiting to attachments and then it can also be dissapointing when some form of bonding occurs.
Recently I met with about 20 people I had become familiar with on a forum. That was a very special experience meeting them in person. Everyone seemed to be "who they were" if you know what I mean.
k
I sure do Kenoath,
I remember the first time I met you. Tony asked me if you were alike what I thought you were, and I said, "no."
There is this gap always in online communication. the idealization and so forth works a great deal.
maryam.
In my experience Maryam, in certain situations the idealzation (interpretation of anothers internet identity) seems to be, by either joint manafacture or indeed lays in the mind or expression by one party alone.
I presume they are about misunderstanding ones own identity or indeed someone elses. These possibilities are are not dis-similar to real life situations however the interepreting or expressing of internet "identity" can allow more flexibility for experimentation, idealization, transition and change. Idealization does tend to lead to dissapointment in the end doesn't it.
ces la vie
thats life
hugs to you ((((((Marayam))))))
I have spoken to three different blog friends by phone. One of them I ended up loving as a brother. This is very nice.
Another is not one I have any contact with anymore, just from a drifting away in seperate ways as in real life.
The third one? Ugh. Scary, nasty person. This was very upsetting for me and has made me a bit more cautious. It really disturbed me for a while, because I enjoy blogging. I don't really have friends in real life because of my anxiety problems.
Glad you take a risk in having friends on the blogs Lynn. 1 out of 3 aint bad odds.
kenoath
I know and remember how it feels like when I get hugs from you ken.
yes, I do agree idealization is in work in real life too.
I think it works the best on the internet though.
maryam.
Post a Comment