Installation of hope
Members are inspired and their expectations raised by contact with other group members who have trod the same path and then improved their lives
Universality
Members discover that others have similar problems and have made progress in resolving their problems and improving their lives via group treatment. Members realize that they are not alone in their struggles.
Imparting information
Members gain different types of information from the group (didactic information that typically comes from the group leader, direct information that comes from both members and the leader). Members gain information about psychic functioning, the meaning o
Altruism
Members act as helpers for others without the expectation of anything in return, which can help members gain perspective on their problems, increase their self-esteem, and give meaning to their lives (example: the act of sponsorship in AA)
Corrective recapitulation of the primary family group
Members who have had bad family lives get to understand their past family traumas better through the perspective of the group, which can help them understand and heal their early familial conflicts
Development of social learning techniques
Members receive feedback on their strengths and the challenges they need to work on, which allows them to learn how to communicate more effectively (e.g. learning how to listen better, learning conflict management, etc.)
Imitative behavior
Members imitate the constructive behaviors that are modeled by the group leaders and their peers in the group
Catharsis
Members have the opportunity to ventilate about their feelings, traumas, and concerns. This act can release anxiety and tension, which can improve functioning for individuals in the group and also enhances group cohesiveness
Existential factors
The group functions as a safe space to talk about difficult life realities, which allows members to see that they are in charge of their own lives and to gain comfort from the group by sharing the journey with others in a similar situation
Group cohisiveness
When the group environment creates trust, warmth, empathic understanding, and acceptance, positive changes in members are more likely to occur
Interpersonal learning
Group treatment often facilitates learning to communicate more effectively, learning to be more trusting, and learning to be more honest with others
Social microcosm
Because members eventually come to act like themselves in the group over time, the group can help the member recognize their maladaptive behaviors and attitudes and help them practice more adaptive behaviors