Group life: the nature and treatment of its specific conflicts

"We hope this book is at least a mediocre attempt toward introducing an idea that will change the meaning of social and personality conflicts as radically as did Freud when he reported an hysterical symptom is effected by a motive and not a neutral mechanism or an inherently weak neurology. The symptom, said Freud, is related to a dynamic psychology, a purpose. This discovery has not been, and probably never will be, refuted. The question still remained, however. What is this purpose? With, and since Freud, attempts were made to answer this question in terms of forces that are distinctly genetic and individualistic in nature. That is, what should have been an antiquated form of atomism was taken for granted. Our solution is radically different. Our basic premise is that the current group life is the ultimate, that any tendency must be traced to this totality. The symptom is both anticipated and nourished by the total group setting. When we look at a neurotic, for example, we do not ask what is wrong with that person, what are his weaknesses? Rather, we ask, what are the nature of those group forces which, when they meet at the point represented by our subject, effect what is called a neurosis? We ask, why are there conditions that at times make it necessary for the individual to live a neurotic role in order that he may do the in inevitable, adjust to and contribute toward the group life? In a sense, then, in perspective, the purpose behind the symptom is the purpose behind all behavior, the need to preserve the whole, the need to contribute toward the dynamic cohesiveness that dominates all life. If the symptom has purpose, then it also has social utility"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).