Esther Silvius
Psychology N-206
Dr. McCormick
May 17, 1961
1. The most obvious advantage of group therapy is the fact that it enables a few trained therapists to treat large numbers of people, thus saving time and money. The patients have the opportunity to express themselves and each member provides support for the others because of the reassuring social aspect of the group. Group therapy gives the individual patient a sense of “belonging”, and that they are members of a group where they feel they have some value. This sense of belonging makes individual behavior more meaningful and so increases the desire to improve. Therefore, another major advantage is the fact that it can especially help those persons who are lonely, feel isolated, and are socially inept.
Most therapists agree that the group method is less effective than individual therapy and helping those who have strong personal conflicts. Since these people also have pronounced feelings of anxiety and hostility it would be difficult for the therapist to pay sufficient attention to the complex behavior of so many people at one time. It would also probably increase the patient’s anxiety to hear others talk of their painful experience since they are so like his own. His feelings of hostility and aggression could be increased by the therapist’s interpretation of problems similar to his own. These feelings of aggression toward the therapist could interfere with the help gained from the group.
2. Psychodrama is especially helpful to those who have interpersonal conflicts such as those between an engaged couple, [or] mother and daughter[,] and is used with soldiers suffering from “combat fatigue”. In psychodrama the therapist would have to have some personal knowledge of the patient’s difficulty and the help of other trained assistants.
The special advantage of this method is that the patient can reveal his feelings and tensions without the added burden of shame, since he knows it is only acting. It enables him to express his fears and hidden desires, thus helping him to gain a better perspective of himself and others.
3. Consensus does not create several different factions in a group since there is no formal voting. The subject is discussed, if one solution to the issue is not agreeable, then others are brought to attention until everyone is satisfied, thus stabilizing the cohesiveness of the group.
The greatest disadvantage is the tremendous amount of time it could take for the entire group to reach an agreement.
4. I am the second child in a family of three children, a sister older and a brother younger. My sister studied and made good grades so, therefore, when I went to school it was expected that I do as well or better. I had several of the same teachers she had and they fostered the feeling of competition by saying, in effect “Yes, I had your sister and I expect you to be as good a student as she was”. I felt I had no other choice but to equal or better her scholastic achievement.
The most poignant memory of competition, and one that still, I believe, has an effect on me, happened in junior high school. I entered an oratory contest, prepared and delivered what I felt, and was also told by the instructor, was a good speech. But, I didn’t win. First place was awarded to a girl who came from a socially prominent family, mine wasn’t. Her family had money, we were very poor. She wore nice clothes, I wore hand-me-downs. She won, I didn’t! Since the winner was selected by teachers, I felt that all these things influenced their decision. I well remember that I decided that never again would I try for anything where the choice would be made by anyone else. If it were something that depended on ability or study, such as making better grades or becoming a member of the honor society, etc. then I did it. If something like an election or where the selection was dependent upon other people and not my personal accomplishment, then I avoided it. To this day, although not so strong, this same feeling still persists.
5. The editorial titled “No Galahad After All” is, as I see it, propaganda against President Kennedy. It states that he has won approval from Congress for 10% of his requests, which seems to be a high score at this point in a congressional session. The editorial then states that “this is not as stunning a victory for the White House as it might seem on the surface”. The words used such as “bold political compromise” and “political pressures” are name calling words. Other examples are “votes bagged by”, “Democrats put relentless pressure on the House members to vote and vote right”. “Both parties have been warned by the White House and the Democratic majority leaders that they’ll vote right or get nothing for their district”. It ends by stating that this is a far cry from the kind of crusading leadership senator Kennedy promised...
Since I did not vote for Kennedy and can see that this is propaganda against him, how much more apparent it must be to those who did. The news report “Drastic CIA Shakeup Looms With Dulles Ouster Expected” has a number of examples of propaganda terms—“Informed members of Congress”—why aren’t all of them? “Possible changes to be made in the agency’s set up”. Why not definite? “Assumption is that general Taylor will head the revamped organization”. Who assumes?
The propaganda advertisement shows one Dodge car parked at Pier #41 and the other parked in a home driveway, and a couple washing windows. The propaganda words in the ad are these[:] “If you’re driving the commonplace and dreaming big dreams, do this”. “Shed the common place. Drive your dream. On a very small budget.”
I do not believe that most people would recognize these things as attempts to influence them because by means of propaganda large sections of the public may be induced to behave in ways which are actually contrary to their own interests.
6. Psychology, the hardest, yet the most interesting and challenging course, has enabled me to see myself and others in an entirely new concept. We are a combination of factors I never knew existed. Through psychology I understand myself better, even though I can’t predict my future behavior, I, through this knowledge, should be able to control it.
Had the class been smaller, with more discussion and especially of the questions “Thought Starters,” we might have learned in a more personal way, how the lessons applied to us.
I liked and hope to continue with other courses on related subjects.
Teacher’s comment: A thoughtful paper. Good work. B.
I have enjoyed your contributions to the class. You are an earnest student.