Some Observations on Encounter Group Casualties

Abstract

The negative impact of encounter groups on participants has been subject to more speculation than good research. The necessity of stringent research designs and the use of behavioral indices of change are stressed by this paper, and specific criticisms are offered of some recent research on encounter group casualties. A research project using behavioral indices and comparing the impact of encounter groups with changes noted in a "placebo control" group and a control group is described. The results indicate that the group differences immediately after the group experience dissipated by the time of the six-month follow-up and that the negative indices were undifferentiated among the three groups.