Activity Group Therapy (1950)

[Music] [Music] you remember we you remember we [Music] want with Bob playing leader the boys began to break the locks of cabinets that contain materials belonging to other groups show you how to pick them out to [Music] help yeah may need to use a few hey yeah no one that one hey I wonder what they got c [Music] yeah all the locks broken the boys ransack the cupboards best time I the object the boys are throwing chewing and trampling on are lumps of sugar they found in one of the cabinets oh my all this time the therapist does not interfere but keeps careful watch against the danger of injury to the boys however having become convinced that the excitement will not Abate by itself the therapist has decided this is one case where he must tell the children to go home but I got the best thing of no I got enough get me the destructiveness we have witnessed is a natural phase in the development of the group a part of the therapeutic process if the group is properly balanced such Behavior should disappear in later sessions but the degree of destructiveness in this case makes us suspect that this group is not properly balanced and some changes will have to be made regularly supervision conferences are held to discuss both group dynamics and the development of each child at this conference the group balance is analyzed it's decided to remove Robert who is the real focus of infection and replace him with Jack age 10 brilliant but extremely withdrawn and effeminate diagnosis compulsive Neurosis one of his idio synes is that he spends hours drawing maps of the city transportation system [Music] [Applause] [Music] Henry's favorite occupation for some weeks has been playing table tennis with a therapist the therapist's support and Henry's testing of the reality of group living have diminished his fears Henry is now also able to share the game with another boy despite his original Terror of children he now accepts quite freely direct physical contact but the gleeful manner in which he expresses his Joy Reveals His basic infantile character [Music] Henry and Morton now turn to playing tag Henry is free and spontaneous so different from the Henry we knew at the first [Music] session the boys do not seem annoyed by all this again demonstrating the group's tolerance [Music] Bob stays close to the therapist because his disturbing actions in recent sessions brought the Wrath of the group upon him being afraid he seeks the therapist's support he has also brought a friend the boy at the vice for additional security Albert's oscillatory movement behind the new effeminate boy Jack and his use of the ruler is significant in view of the original problems for which he was referred come on the the the CL despite the therapist's efforts to withdraw from the group's activities the boys repeatedly involve him at this stage this can be interpreted as positive transference rather than mere dependence again we see Henry make a social contact with relative ease and with a stranger now what the bo cooking the Frank Footers and setting the stage for Refreshments a task previously carried out by the therapist the assurance and promptness with which they enter into the activity reveal their security and growth hey the therapist deliberately remains apart from the group on please I'm next's next Henry has made a list of the boys present and checks off their names as he serves them yeah that's right do any you don't like the rules okay then off the table I I don't know where he St look blindfold what's the number on it look a great deal of conversation en livens the refreshment table among other things the boys on their own initiative plan a trip we all going to be there Saturday at 10:00 no where the Stadium gate 16 11 11 that's the bleach yeah and that's where the where um when you go to the C that's where all yeah so 11 so we'll wait at that pole in front of gate 11 yeah well I don't know need the wi let's go to [Music] our got me you miss it and that [Music] mine oh do I get any money for no [Music] Albert now Cuts wood and is less effeminate it is significant also that Albert for the first time has taken to wearing [Music] dungar I need aook Bob the third boy from the left is no longer distractable he concentrates on the job at hand for a time he was afraid of the others but is now free and spontaneous with them I know as Albert comes forward we note his more vigorous bearing and manner as he helps another boy he further demonstrates his Growing Power and self assurance father got a big one his father got a big one I mean he got $100 second in the houseing try it try it try it do it try it come on oh you want to something one shape printed as for Henry he now cooperates with Morton setting PPE on a printing project the therapist's neutral role does not vary if anything he withdraws even more from the group Jack starts a fire with the electric plate used for cooking rather than forbid this interest the therapist has previously placed an ASB bestus pad under the electric plate for safety [Music] hey you want to this thing down after a while Bob and Henry join in for Henry this is a desirable development Hey where's the water get one see paper put that thing on the therapist remains watchful and ready to intervene but only if absolutely necessary it doesn't f look at that thing soon the boys on their own take steps to prevent the fire from spreading one boy rakes the fire onto the asbest pad another pulls out the electric plug you're stupid getting up plug what Albert is now able to stand up against Bob the most aggressive boy noop huh now look at him later in the session Henry also has the courage to challenge Bob leave that next week despite the interference Bob continues to concentrate on his work [Music] [Music] now everybody quiet firster move morning about the trip yeah third all that is all that are in favor of steeple chase raise their hands at the start of the refreshment period the boys again plan a trip on their own and for the first time take a vote to decide where to go in the Z you I'm want to go down ro ro roller Coter I want to go that you know that they take I was sitting there when I I was only around he was sitting there leave you up here I say do that spon no vending spoon no bending someone else's property I want to leave M what did you [Music] say you Just sh your hand oh there I in the C I sit with my fingers no for the first time a number of the children use [Music] profanity people mine is stay to the May is Mayon Mayon shut the door you know why the Tomato face turned red because he was putting the ice box from the Mayon dressing why today he want to see ceiling frag why throw a hunk of butter out of the window who wanted to see butter drop he wanted to see the price drop butterfly why the morning and justum walk the big wool wor building she wants it off a wool cuz he he wanted to make a big hit on Broadway where building is located on Broadway 34th Street that's right the big 34th Street in Broadway sound [Applause] H Refreshments were delayed to test the boy's frustration tolerance but they were not disturbed by the delay next time you come get snow what you know man on you what snow what with you that's a joke why do one have so much water stop yelling what I planted in the spring what now look I'm going toide this this I love dungeons I don't know if I said it or not kind of dirty this guy shut up okay this guy loved onions tell let me here if it's diry I'll wash his mouth Bob decides to tell a profane joke in the presence of the took the this is the ultimate test to which children submit a therapist what happen if you what um would you have left if you took the farm it is this consistent acceptance of all types of self-expression by the children that lies at the core of the therapeutic process in activity group therapy I get it but would you see if there's any soap down there it's good don't let him get out I don't get it I don't get it I get it but I Bob went a little too far and the boys decide to wash his mouth with [Music] soap would F go down the boys strike a bargain if Bob will bring firecrackers to the next session they'll let him off without the oral cleansing you got do you get you get you get a long 1 in firecrack 2 [Music] in [Music] trips and outings give the boys an opportunity to continue in their masculine identification through participation in typical boys activities [Music] the opportunity is also provided to match themselves against one another and accept the reality of their strengths or weaknesses the competitive Factor however is underplayed neither success nor failure evoke special comment from the therapist or the children [Music] Bob's restlessness has completely disappeared his tidiness is in sharp contrast with his earlier disheveled appearance and is particularly significant in view of his refusal to bathe when he reports the he no longer has temper tantrums he no longer wets his bed does not resist attending school and does his homework unassisted he now has friends and when last seen the mother said for the first time in my life I am enjoying Bobby as a son she further suggested that in view of Bob's Improvement treatment would no longer be necessary Bob has been treated exclusively in activity group therapy the satisfaction of Bob's social hunger coupled with a therapist's calm accepting attitude and the restraining action of the group have served to strengthen his ego and his self-control if you break this by banging the whole thing I take you got the keys yeah [Music] thanks Albert's physical bearing and coordination too present a contrast to the feminine demeanor displayed at the first session the fact that he repeatedly works with a hard resistive material such as wood further reveals a fundamental character change Albert's mother reports that he no longer plays with girls and has given up his interest in housework he now Associates with boys Albert's in Ordon and attachment to his mother has decreased and the school reports that that he works up to capacity like Bob Albert has been treated exclusively through group therapy the group provided Albert with models for masculine identification and a testing ground for his masculine drives that proved adequate and supportive Bob now applies himself industriously to a painting which could be interpreted as a portrait of his former self there is a striking resemblance in the expression on Bob's face at this moment and the Imp is drawn a while later Bob blots out the Imp one might ask is Bob blotting out his former self as for Henry it is clear that he is neither moping nor withdrawn as at the start he is purposeful and confident Henry no longer avoids children and his bearing is erect in contrast to his former stooping posture Henry's mother reports that he belongs to a baseball club and has friends who visit him at home he is much less dependent on his mother and no longer follows her about hen 's withdrawal and Defiance at school have also disappeared Henry 2 was treated exclusively an activity group therapy the support supplied Henry by the therapist and the consistent group acceptance of his emerging Powers broke through his defensive withdrawal enabling him to develop the courage to deal with reality later Henry plays Checkers with Bob the decrease in Bob's hyperactivity and the increase in Henry's animation have brought these two boys to a common level this leveling off is one of the basic aims of activity group therapy [Music] tra keep going back and forth not a tra him the game over no I got that tra and and I got my men surrounding in such a way but I can't do anything with him and he just keep them going back and forth would that be a draw the draw is when you both con see that the game can't be won by either one I know so that's it can be won not say that can be de how to play with you don't know how to play do that good the calm and orderly atmosphere of the group epitomized during the refreshment period reflects emotional growth and inner control each boy's ego has been strengthened and his self-esteem built up through experience with actual situations and interaction with the others in the presence of an accepting substitute parent the change in each boy however has been gradual almost imperceptible take Albert for example when we first saw him his movements and actions were markedly effeminate by the 18th session a slight increase in masculinity could be observed in succeeding sessions albertt took to wearing dungarees and engaged in boy work with his hands he overcame his timidity to an extent that he was able to stand up against aggression and in this session Albert's physical bearing and coordination are in full evidence as for Bob in early sessions his hyperactivity and distractability were sharply displayed he acted out as a aggressiveness and hostility reaching a peak of destructiveness then Bob changed to withdraw and for a while seemed afraid of the group but in time Bob developed Freer relations and ease as well as control enabling him to concentrate on his project and in this session Bob is a tidy calm controlled individual as we saw the other boys have to varying degrees all also made progress Jack originally completely isolated in morose can now laugh spontaneously Mortimer once timid and Restless now has more confidence and control David originally very withdrawn has developed a certain amount of ease in group relations finally there is Henry who was so fearful and never played with children at first he stood Frozen in a corner his mouth twitching isolated then gradually he began to move about the room still anxious and making no contact with the other boys in later sessions Henry took part in play his twitch disappeared but he still acted out his joy in an infantile manner soon he was able to assume the responsibility of serving the refreshments in time he joined in projects with other boys and developed to the point where he dared interfere with the activity of an aggressive boy like Bob finally we see him a more mature confident individual and thus towards the end of the 65th session a considerably changed group of boys sits at the refreshment table each now is more prepared to face life on his own to cope with the stresses and strains of modern living each now has a better chance to develop into a happy constructive adult and fruitful citizen of the [Music] community