Exploring the concept of boundaries in a training group encounter

Abstract

The concept of boundaries in group theory gained prominence in the 70s and 80s mainly as a construct to describe significant group events. A contributing factor was when general systems theory, in which boundaries are central, was applied to living systems. Boundaries continued to be used predominantly to refer to structural aspects of a group, such as time structuring, membership, role, subgroupings, and task, and, to a lesser extent, as an abstract construct to refer to group processes and dynamics. In group practice, the use of boundaries as a guide and instrument to gauge group dynamics has been limited. In general, boundaries are not used to assess group events in order to determine a course of action or intervention. The first part of the research explores the concept of boundaries in three theoretical frameworks. The second part of the research explores the application of boundaries as a construct central to the understanding of group dynamics in an experiential time-limited training group. It also examines ways in which this can lead to enhanced group practice. The focus was on boundaries as psychological dimensions in the group space. In the exploration of boundaries in existing theoretical frameworks, an important link between boundaries and trauma, which inevitably involves a breach and violation of boundaries, was highlighted. A novel qualitative content analysis method was designed to reveal boundary changes systematically and to show how boundaries were redefined over a period of time. A unique feature of this computer assisted (Atlas.ti) method is that boundary shifts are quantitatively tracked, allowing further qualitative exploration. This method was applied in a case study of a training group, so demonstrating the applicability of the method to the study of small groups. Results of the case study revealed the impact that events prior the group had on group boundary development, in particular emotional linking in the group. Shifts in psychological boundaries were clearly visible in the quantitative analysis of boundaries in focus, across boundaries, indicated by transactions across boundaries. South Africa, as is the case in other societies in transition, is characterised by continuous breaches and violations of boundaries. By viewing group interactions through a boundary lens, group leaders can understand the complexity of group dynamics better. With this understanding, facilitators and leaders of groups can deliberately influence psychological boundaries. In so doing they can create opportunities for individual transitions and societal transformation.