Psychoanalysis and Group Psychotherapy*

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is showing a wholesome tendency toward more experimentation in an effort to deal with the old problem of extending substantial help to the many who need it. For example, some analysts are experimenting with variables like the technical handling of the interview itself, or the length and frequency of interviews. Others are exploring further the potentialities of working dynamically with the patient after his ego state has been altered through drugs or hypnosis. The various types of group psychotherapy in use at present represent another avenue of approach. Whatever the future may decide about the value or lack of value of these efforts, there is no question but that interesting clinical data are being brought to light.

After some brief introductory notes on group psychotherapy it is the purpose of this paper to examine the analytic situation in its group aspects, and to comment on some unconscious and ego psychological aspects of group psychotherapy. It is hoped thereby to somewhat further our understanding of both these forms of therapy. In connection with these considerations some suggestions will then be made in regard to certain possible lines of additional investigation in group psychotherapy.

As there are different types of group psychotherapy, the writer would like to specify that for the purposes of this paper those group psychotherapies are under consideration which are based more or less on analytic thinking, and are carried out with smaller sized groups, not exceeding approximately eight or ten patients. Thus the work of representative writers like Ackerman, Lowrey, Redl, Schilder, Slavson and Wender come under consideration.

There are, of course, a number of obvious differences between psychoanalytic treatment and group psychotherapy. These can be illustrated with a few selected examples. The fact that more than two individuals are present in the therapeutic situation allows for an increase in transference possibilities, both as