by Ann E. Hale, M.A.TEP
Sociometry question for the practitioner: March 3-16, 2006
You have a personal growth group which has been meeting weekly for ten
months. They tell you they are reluctant to look at their connections
to each other in answer to the offered action sociogram exploring the
choices for supportive double. Several people say they don’t want to be
hurtful and are uncomfortable with conflicts they fear would
arise. Describe ways you will respond and what sociometric
processes you may propose, if any.
An answer suggested by Ann E. Hale, MA, TEP: March 16, 2006
I
praise the group members for their statements of caring about the
feelings of group members and their stated preference for working in
ways which are supportive and kind. I remind the group of the personal
conflicts we explore involving family members and other significant
persons who are part of our ongoing life but not present in the group.
I tell them that I see one of my roles as their facilitator to not only
repair relationships from the past but to prepare for the reality that
conflicts arise in all relationships, even ones here and now in our
group. I say, “We have a supportive environment here. What better place
to learn to “stand in our truth”. I talk about each person’s need to
know about the impact we really have on each other rather than having
to guess, and sometimes imagining the worst. I tell them I have worked
with groups who have had similar doubts about exploring intergroup
relationships but had found it helpful to take small steps in this
direction.
I begin to describe what I could see the group
doing which would be a “small step” Right now I think it would be a
good idea to begin working with the fear to hurt someone. We need to
know what to do. I would like each of you to imagine that at some time
in the group your feelings get hurt. One by one each of you will show
the group what you imagine you will look like and what you are likely
to do. Then, I want you to pick someone in the group to be you doing
this very same behavior. YOU show the group what action approach and
what words you want spoken in the event this happens. Each of us will
watch what you do. Then you reverse back into your own position, and
you choose someone from the group to play the role of a group member
who makes the same approach as you have just shown. You go into those
feeling of being hurt and receive the action you showed.
At the
same time the group is involved in this activity I am making mental
notes that the exercise is actually producing two action sociograms.
The criteria are:(1) “ whom do I chose to play me in a role play of me
with hurt feelings”; and, “whom do I choose to make an approach to me
should I have hurt feelings.” Some group members will be aware these
choices are being made. Some will choose more broadly to accommodate
people’s need to be seen as helpful, and some will not have this
awareness. After the exercise I like to follow up with an invitation
to anyone who would like to be in the role of “making the approach” to
try out the role. This gives opportunities to those less highly chosen
to be in the role without making a big case out of not having been
anyone’s first choice to do this. If someone brings this up, you can
have group members respond while you facilitate. It also gives you an
opportunity to speak to one of the values of doing group wide
sociometric exploration. “When we choose for roles in the group we
rarely get a complete picture of the choices which might have been made
for other people when the first person chosen accepts. Doing a
sociometric exploration we can learn more about whether we are chosen
or not and have a chance to learn more of the reasons. Following this
group activity I will continue to offer other small steps.
The
example above was chosen because the group members were afraid of
hurting someone. After the exercise, group members will now have ways
they can each help if this should occur. It helps to build confidence
and trust in the group. And, the group leader has demonstrated being
respectful, not overriding their reluctance, and able to move to an
activity which immediately relates to one of their concerns. Moreno
writes: (J. L. Moreno, Who Shall Survive, Beacon, NY, Beacon
House, 1953, p.94) “Sociometric procedures should be greeted favorably
as they aid in bringing to recognition and into realization the basic
structure of a group. But such is not always the case. They are met
with resistance and even with hostility by others. Therefore a group
should be carefully prepared for the test before submitting to it.”
Also see, “Warmup to a sociometric exploration” (Thesis submitted as
required for Certification as Director...by the Moreno Institute, 1974)
by Ann E. Hale, Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, Vol. 27, no.1-4, 1974, p. 157-172.
