Phases in Group Development

(Mendoza, 2003)

Hartford Garland, Jones Northen Sarri and Trecker Henry

and Kolodny Galinsky
Pre-group Phase Pre-affiliation Preparatory Stage Origin Phase Initial Convening
- Pre-group Planning Stage and Intake
Phase
- Public Pre-
group Phase

- Convening Phase
Group Formation Phase Orientation Stage Formation Phase Beginning Stage Formation
Emergence of some group
feelings, organization, and
program

Integration, Power and Control Exploring and Testing the Intermediate Phase Development of bond, Conflict/
Disintegration, Group I purpose, and disequilibrium
Reintegration Phase Intimacy Revision Phase cohesiveness
Intermediate Phase

Group Functioning and Differentiation Problem solving and Maturation Phase Strong group feeling, goal Maintenance
Maintenance Phase stabilization attainment
Decline in interest; less
group feeling

Termination Phase Separation Termination Termination Ending Stage Termination

A. Pre-termination Phase
B. Termination

- No significant differences among the 6 authors

- All groups have a beginning, a middle, and an ending phase.
- The phases can be discerned – condensed in short-term groups; more apparent in long-term groups.
 Figure 1.

THE HELPING PROCESS AND THE PHASES IN GROUP DEVELOPMENT

HELPING
PROCESS ASSESSMENT PLANNING PLAN IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION TERMINATION

WORKER

Terminal Pre-termination
A Conceptualization; Focus: Individual Action/Intervention; evaluation; Termination
announcing pre-group Periodic evaluation
C group program; interviews;
individual; Post-termination
T group
recruiting problem
I members; definition;
V preparing goal-
logistics; formulation;
I enlisting action
T support planning Group Goal –
I Focus: Group Formulation
group Action-
E Planning
composition;
S group (program
formation; media,
problem extragroup
definition activities

Pre-Group Group Formation Integration Separation

PHASES IN Formation Disintegration Phase
GROUP Reintegration Phase;
DEVELOPMENT Group Functioning
and Maintenance
Phase