Enhance your practice with an in-depth look at group psychology, from a psychoanalytic and sociological viewpoint, designed for New Zealand psychologists. Professor Don Carveth dissects how individual behaviour transforms in groups, examining Freud's foundational ideas and Bion's concepts of group functioning. This essential CPD offers New Zealand professionals tools to analyse and improve their work with groups and organisations, grounded in theory and real-world examples.
How does individual behaviour change in the group context? Why do otherwise rational people sometimes act irrationally, destructively, or regressively in group settings? In this compelling presentation, Professor Don Carveth draws from both psychoanalytic theory and sociological insight to unpack the complex dynamics of group psychology.
Starting with Freud’s foundational text Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego (1921), Carveth offers a critical and accessible analysis of Freud’s ideas about identification, regression, and the role of the leader. The talk then expands to include Wilfred Bion’s influential concepts of “work groups” and “basic assumption groups,” illuminating how unconscious processes shape group functioning - both productively and destructively.
Drawing on literary examples, including Lord of the Flies, Carveth illustrates how regression, projection, and loss of individuality may manifest in real-world group scenarios. This talk is ideal for psychologists working in organisational, therapeutic, or community settings who are interested in the deeper forces at play within group contexts.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:
Gain a foundational understanding of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of group psychology.
Explore Bion’s key concepts: "work groups" vs "basic assumption groups."
Recognise the unconscious forces—including regression and identification—that shape behaviour in groups.
Consider sociological and literary examples to illustrate group dynamics in practice.
Apply psychoanalytic and sociological models to enhance your work with groups, teams, or organisational systems.