Group Cohesiveness, Group-Derived Collective Self-Esteem, Group-Derived Hope, and the Well-Being of Group Therapy Members.

Abstract

I. D. Yalom’s (1995) hypothesis that group therapy cohesiveness is the precursor to the development of group-derived collective self-esteem (CSE), hope for the self (HS), and psychological well-being (personal self-esteem and depression) was tested. Participants were 102 university counseling center group therapy clients from process (n 54) and theme (n 48) groups. Path analyses supported Yalom’s theory that cohesiveness is the primary group factor and that it directly related to curative group factors such as CSE and HS. Additional path analyses showed that the relationship between group therapy CSE and personal self-esteem was moderated by HS, such that a significant relationship between CSE and personal self-esteem was no longer found once HS was entered into the model. Implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed. In his theory, Yalom (1995) described cohesiveness as the primary curative group factor in group therapy, arguing that it facilitated greater collective self-esteem (CSE), hope for the self, and well-being. He described cohesiveness as the “necessary precondition for effective therapy” (Yalom, 1995, p. 50), and he argued that the experience of being in a cohesive group enabled group members to engage in the necessary self-disclosure and the personal exploration that is the hallmark of effective therapy. Yalom (1995) specifically stated that cohesiveness was an agent of change in members’ lives through “the interrelation of group self esteem and self esteem” (Yalom, 1995, p. 107). He described the importance of group self-esteem, as do many group dynamic researchers, and he argued that cohesiveness alters personal self-esteem through acceptance and empathy from the group. Although Yalom did not directly define group self-esteem or cite the CSE literature, he described the importance of the development of group self-esteem, derived from cohesiveness and distinct from personal selfesteem. Yalom also theoretically linked the relationship between group therapy cohesiveness, group-derived self-esteem, and group-derived hope; however, there is little empirical support for the notion that cohesiveness is the primary group factor that facilitates the development of group self-esteem or hope. In addition, social psychologists have recognized the distinction between cohesiveness and group self-esteem, yet group therapy researchers have failed to empirically examine cohesiveness in relation to group self-esteem or group-derived hope.

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