Group Dynamics

Code:

P306

Acronym:

DG

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2019/2020 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIPSI	147	Official Curricular Structure	2	-	3	30	81

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This subject constitutes an introduction to Group Psychotherapy. Students integrate a training group, as participating members. This methodology allows that relevant theoretical concepts be assimilated through practice. Globally, it is expected that students develop skills in the domain of group psychological intervention. How to create a group and core group phenomena are addressed, linking the practical experience of the class with theory.

Learning outcomes and competences

The experience as participating members promotes the development of communication skills, which are essential to lead a group. Additionally, this subject enables students to acquire practical skills in leading a group, such as being able to select and implement group techniques according to different stages of group development and the aims of intervention.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

There are no prerequisites

Program

This subject covers the following topics:

. The potential of group therapy

. Forms of group therapy based on the distinction between" therapeutic groups vs. non-therapeutic groups"

. How to plan a group intervention

. General principles in the use group dynamic techniques

. The importance of feedback in personal and group change

. Stages of group development

. Basic skills for group leaders

. Group cohesion (positive and negative impact in group)

. Selecting and using activities in groups

Mandatory literature

Guerra Marina Prista; Intervir em grupos na saúde. ISBN: 978-972-796-339-3
López-Yarto Luis Elizalde; Dinámica de grupos cincuenta anos después. ISBN: ISBN 84-330-1254-1
Corey Gerald; Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. ISBN: 978-0-8400-2854-9
Corey Gerald; Theory and practice of group counseling. ISBN: 978-1-305-08801-6
Yalom Irvin D.; The^theory and practice of group psychotherapy. ISBN: 978-0-465-09284-0
DeLucia-Waack, J, Kalodner, C. R., & Riva, M. T.; Handbook of Group Counseling and Psychotherapy , Sage Publications, Inc , 2014. ISBN: 9781452217611
Jacobs, E., Schimmel, C. J., Masson, R. L., & Harvill, R. L. ; Group Counseling: Strategies and Skills, Thomson Brooks/ Cole , 2016. ISBN: 1305087305

Complementary Bibliography

Burlingame, G. M., Fuhriman, A., & Johnson, J. E.; Cohesion in group psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Theory Research Practice Training, 38, pp. 373-379., 2001
Vopel Klaus W.; Juegos de interacción. ISBN: 84-7043-851-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical classes. Active participation method is valued in this subject. Students integrate, as participating members, a training group oriented towards the knowledge of core group phenomena (feedback, communication, cohesion, leadership). From the experience of participating in group dynamics, students are encouraged to examine their impact both on personal and group level. This discussion promotes new knowledge that is further theoretically contextualized by the teacher, according to the more recent approaches in this domain. At the same time, this methodology promotes students' personal development and, especially, the training of important communication skills in group leadership.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Psychotherapy

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	25,00
Trabalho escrito	75,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	21,00
Frequência das aulas	30,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance at classes is required. Students must be present in 75% of the taught classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Calculation formula of final grade

Final mark is obtained from the following components:

1) Participation in classes (25%);

2) One assignments based on classes’ contents (75%)

(25% + 75% = 100%)

 

The evaluation of the participation in classes requires class attendance. The classification is obtained from teacher’s observation regarding the following criteria:

. Ease of communication in group

. Spontaneous participation in open discussions (e. g., give opinion, volunteer to participate)

. Demonstration of reflective capacity in class

. Compliance with the class timetable (beginning and end)

At the end of the semester the student will also be asked to fill out a self-assessment form for these criteria.

 The two components and the final mark are expressed into a scale ranging from 0 to 20.

A minimum of 10 values (0 to 20 scale) on both components are required to get approval at the subject.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Students who have attended the subject in previous years without getting approval can attend the subject again, and in this case the current assessment conditions will be applied. Students who choose to ask dispense from class attendance (only granted if there is previous attendance of at least 75% of the taught classes), the assessment to get approval consists of the following components:

1) The assignment proposed for the current academic year (75%), performed individually;

2) The remaining 25% is relative to the practical component assessed during the year in which students attended classes.

 (75% + 25% = 100%)

The two components and the final mark are expressed into a scale ranging from 0 to 20.

A minimum of 10 values (0 to 20 scale) on both components are required to get approval at the subject.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with special condition who choose not to attend classes must do (individually) the assignment proposed for the current academic year (75%).The remaining 25% is relative to a written assignment over the main contents of the subject, done individually.

(70% + 25% = 100%)

 The two components and the final mark are expressed into a scale ranging from 0 to 20.

A minimum of 10 values (0 to 20 scale) on both components are required to get approval at the subject.

Classification improvement

It is only possible to improve the assignment, which has a weighting of 75% in the final grade.
It is not possible to improve the practical component. (25% of the final grade)

(75% + 25% = 100%)

Mark’s improvement can only be done once, until supplementary assessment of the year in which students attended classes.

The two components and the final mark are expressed into a scale ranging from 0 to 20.

Observations

Due to the pandemic COVID-19, two changes were made to the evaluation components initially planned: a) the weighting of practical work in the final grade was increased from 75% to 90%; b) the participative posture in classes (with an initial weighting of 25%) was replaced by the presentation of a group dynamic activity (weighting in the final classification of 10%).

Thus, the final mark is obtained from the following components:

1) Search and selection of a group dynamic technique (10%);

2) One assignment based on classes' content (90%)

(10% + 90% = 100%)

The two components and the final mark are expressed into a scale ranging from 0 to 20.

It is only possible to improve the assignment described in 2), which has a weighting of 90% in the final grade.