You do not currently have permission to view the full text for this document. Please sign in to an account with an active subscription or contact support.
I was recently asked by a junior colleague, eager to expand his knowledge of group study, for a list of references which are, in my opinion, ‘indispensable for group relations work’ and consultancy; my ‘Top 10 list’, to quote the comedian David Letterman. I pondered. The social historian in me quickly listed historical mainstays in the field such as Bion's (1961) Experiences in Groups, Rice's (1965) Learning for Leadership, and Menzies Lyth's (1959) The Functioning of Social Systems as a Defence Against Anxiety. My application orientation guided him toward Hirschhorn's (1988) The Workplace Within, Miller's (1993) From Dependency to Autonomy, and Obholzer and Roberts (1994) The Unconscious at Work. When I stepped back to review my recommendation list, I wondered what texts published in the last decade I could suggest. One answer immediately became clear, David Armstrong's Organization in the Mind: Psychoanalysis, Group Relations and Organizational Consultancy.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the study of organizations and groups, from beginners to experienced professionals. It is enjoyable to read, highly informative, and easily