Week Two Reflection Post
Developing Groups and Teams
Module 2 – Lecture 2
The Basic Assumption Group
Welcome to the second lecture for Week two of LED602, Developing and Implementing Groups and Teams.
This lecture will discuss a group development theory known as “The Basic Assumption Group.”
1
Work vs. Basic Assumption Groups
There is always a tension between the two.
Work Group
Focused away from itself and on the task.
Basic Assumption Group
Focused inward, comprised of unconscious wishes, fear, defenses, fantasies, impulses, projections.
Groups do not always function rationally or productively, nor are individual members necessarily aware of the kinds of internal and external controls they rely on to maintain the boundary between their announced intentions and their hidden agendas. The combined hidden agendas of group members constitute the latent aspect of group life, known as the basic assumption group. In contrast to the rational, civilized, task-oriented work group, the basic assumption group is comprised of unconscious wishes, fears, defenses, fantasies, impulses, and projections. The work group is focused away from itself, toward the work task; the basic assumption group, by contrast, is focused inward, toward fantasy and a more primitive reality. A tension always exists between the work group and the basic assumption group, a tension usually balanced by various behavioral and psychological structures, including individual defense systems, ground rules, expectations, and group norms.
2
Basic Assumption Group Level
“As if” behavior….
As if a certain assumption is true, valid, and real….
As if certain behaviors are vital to the group’s survival.
On the basic assumption level of functioning, behavior is "as if” behavior: the group behaves as if a certain assumption is true, valid, and real, and as if certain behaviors are vital to the group's survival. As Wilfred Bion pointed out, both words -"basic" and "assumption"- are important to understanding the term. "Basic" refers to the survival motivation of the group; "assumption“ underscores the fact that the survival motivation is based, not on fact or reality, but on the collective projections of the group.
3
Four Types of Basic Assumptions
Dependency
Fight / Flight
Pairing
Oneness
Click each link above to learn more about the four types of basic assumptions.
Wilfred Bion identified three distinct types of basic assumptions: dependency, Fight or flight, and pairing.
This was added to by Turquet in 1974 who theorized a fourth basic assumption known as “oneness.”
Click each link above to learn more about the four types of basic assumptions.
4
Basic Assumption: Dependency (Slide 1 of 2)
Group seeks to obtain security from one individual.
Group becomes stupid & incompetent in hopes that it will be rescued.
Group desires a charismatic leader.
Group’s depression and paralysis will be taken care of for them.
Basic Assumption Dependency.
The essential aim of this level of group functioning is to obtain security and protection from one individual - either the designated leader or a member who assumes that role. Members of this type of group begin waiting around, not knowing what to do, and needing things. In other words, the group behaves as if it is stupid, incompetent, inert, or psychotic in the hope that it will be rescued from its impotency by a powerful leader who will instruct and direct the group toward task completion. When every/any leader fails to meet these impossible demands, the group members express their disappointment and hostility in a variety of ways. The basic assumption dependency often serves as a lure for a charismatic leader who exerts authority through powerful personal characteristics. Group members believe for a while that their depression and paralysis will be taken care of for them. Eventually, of course, this approach breaks down.
5
Basic Assumption: Dependency (Slide 2 of 2)
Dependency: Assumption the worker, like a child, unconsciously experiences dependency from imaginative parental figure or system.
Needs are not met: the worker experiences frustration, helplessness, powerlessness, and disempowerment.
Organizationally, it reveals the need for structure:
We need a committee to investigate
We need to structure this department
We will be safely cared for
In Basic Assumption Dependency the group member, in the same way as a child, unconsciously experiences dependency from an imaginative parental figure or system. Now because these needs are not met the group member experiences frustration, helplessness, powerlessness, and disempowerment. They may begin to think of things like “Why is the boss not giving us more attention?” or “What do you want me to do?”
From an organizational perspective, it reveals the need for structure in remarks like, “We need a committee to investigate” or “A new structure is needed in this group.”
Click return to go back to the Main Menu.
6
Basic Assumption: Fight/Flight (Slide 1 of 2)
Group perceives survival as dependent on either fight or flight.
Group risks the enemy becoming the task.
Basic Assumption Fight/Flight. In this mode of functioning, the group perceives its survival as dependent on either fighting (active aggression, scapegoating, physical attack) or fleeing from an enemy (withdrawal, passivity, avoidance, ruminating on past history). At times, this “enemy” can even become the task — a group in this form of basic assumption functioning may be relatively nonchalant about what it chooses. Anyone who mobilizes the aggressive forces of the group is granted leadership, but the persistent bickering, in-fighting, and competition make most leadership efforts short-lived. In flight functioning, leadership is usually bestowed on an individual who minimizes the importance of the task and facilitates the group movement away from its work.
7
Fight mode: Mobilize aggression – granted short-lived leadership
Flight mode: Facilitate movement away from task – granted leadership
Basic Assumption: Fight/Flight (Slide 2 of 2)
Fight/Flight: The here-and-now of organizational life is filled with anxiety.
The worker unconsciously uses fight or flight as defense mechanisms.
Fight reactions manifest in aggression against the self, peers, or authority.
Flight reactions manifest physically in: e.g., avoidance of others, being ill, resignation.
In basic assumption Fight/Flight, the assumption is that the here-and-now of organizational life is filled with anxiety and in trying to get away from this; the group member unconsciously uses fight or flight as defense mechanisms.
Fight reactions manifest in aggression against the self, peers or authority itself.
Flight reactions manifest physically in, for example, avoidance of others, being ill, or resignation.
Click return to go back to the Main Menu.
8
Basic Assumption: Pairing (Slide 1 of 2)
Pairing: To cope with anxiety, alienation and loneliness, the individual or group tries to pair with perceived powerful individuals and/or subgroups.
Pairing may cause intra and inter-group conflict.
Pairing also implies splitting up - happens with anxiety.
Individual or group tries to split up (build a smaller system) to belong & feel secure.
Manifests: gang up against perceived aggressor or authority figure. Pairing may cause intra- and inter-group conflict.
In basic assumption pairing, the assumption is that in order to cope with anxiety, alienation and loneliness, the individual or group tries to pair with perceived powerful individuals and/or subgroups.
Pairing also implies splitting up. This happens when anxiety is experienced because of diversity. The individual or group tries to split up and build a smaller system, in which he/she can belong and feel secure. It also manifests in ganging up against the perceived aggressor or authority figure. Intra- and inter-group conflict may, for example, result from pairings.
Click return to go back to the main menu.
9
Basic Assumption: Pairing (Slide 2 of 2)
Group bonds 2 individuals who express warmth and affection.
Provide intellectual support to the extent that other members become inactive.
Group imagines survival depends on the pair producing a “Messiah.”
Feelings often pleasant due to atmosphere of hope.
Basic Assumption Pairing.
Pairing phenomena include bonding between two individuals who express warmth and affection or excitement leading to intimacy and closeness. Such a pair or pairs often provide mutual intellectual support to the extent that other members become inactive. When the group assumes this mode of functioning, it imagines that its survival is contingent on its reproduction; that is, in some magic way, a "Messiah" will be born to save the group and help it complete its task. The feeling in pairing groups is often pleasant because its atmosphere is full of hope.
10
Basic Assumption: Oneness
Group commits to an outside cause to survive.
Leaders offering ways to achieve higher levels of consciousness become attractive.
Members lose capacity to think critically due to sense of being merged with one another.
Feeling of oneness is almost always an illusion.
Basic Assumption Dependency.
The essential aim of this level of group functioning is to obtain security and protection from one individual - either the designated leader or a member who assumes that role. Members of this type of group begin waiting around, not knowing what to do, and needing things. In other words, the group behaves as if it is stupid, incompetent, inert, or psychotic in the hope that it will be rescued from its impotency by a powerful leader who will instruct and direct the group toward task completion. When every/any leader fails to meet these impossible demands, the group members express their disappointment and hostility in a variety of ways. The basic assumption dependency often serves as a lure for a charismatic leader who exerts authority through powerful personal characteristics. Group members believe for a while that their depression and paralysis will be taken care of for them. Eventually, of course, this approach breaks down.
Click RETURN TO GO BACK TO THE MAIN MENU, OR continue to advance to the next slide.
11
Working With Basic Assumption Groups
Groups should not try to rid themselves of basic assumption characteristics.
Groups need to harness basic assumptions in service of the task.
When group members behave in ways that are more about supporting assumptions than achieving shared goals, they become anti-work.
Anti-work behaviors result from unconscious fears of disintegration or destruction of group.
The basic assumption life of any group is never exhausted, nor is it imperative for a group to rid itself of its basic assumption characteristics. In fact, as Bion perceived society, certain institutions capitalize on our collective basic assumption strivings and provide structures and vehicles to channel these strong, primitive feelings. In such organizations, basic assumption life is harnessed in the service of the work task. For instance, the church attempts to satisfy dependency needs; the military and industry employ fight/flight motivation; and the aristocracy and the political system - with their emphasis on breeding and succession - build on basic assumption pairing. The diminished but continuing emphasis on mysticism and cosmic consciousness seems to be an expression of basic assumption oneness. In most organizations, however, when group members behave in ways that have more to do with supporting basic assumptions than with achieving their shared goals, they become anti-work. Anti-work behaviors result from unconscious fears of group disintegration or destruction, and participation in them is instantaneous and instinctive.
12