Group Counseling and Group Work

Question 1

Prior to the 1960s most counseling took place

• *a. in a group setting.**
• *b. with the entire family present.**
• *c. in a dyadic relationship.**
• *d. in Behavior Therapy clinics.**

Answer 1

c. in a dyadic relationship.

A dyad is a unit of two functioning as a pair. In this case the
counselor and the counselee form the pair.

Question 2

A group has:

• *a. a membership which can be defi ned.**
• *b. some degree of unity and interaction.**
• *c. a shared purpose.**
• *d. all of the abov**e.

Answer 2

d. all of the above.

Question 3

The term group therapy was coined in 1931 by

• *a. Frank Parsons, the Father of guidance.**
• *b. Jacob Moreno, the Father of psychodrama.**
• *c. E. G. Williamson, associated with the Minnesota View-**
• *point.**

d. Fritz Perls, the Father of gestalt therapy.

Answer 3

b. Jacob Moreno, the Father of psychodrama.

Psychodramatic techniques are appro-
priate for family therapy as well as group work.

Question 4

• *In the 1940s the two organizations for group therapy were cre-**
• *ated:**
• *a. NASW and NBCC.**
• *b. ASGW and AAS.**

c. the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and the American Group Psychotherapy Association.

d. AACD and APA.

Answer 4

c. the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and the American Group Psychotherapy Association.

Question 5

• *Which theorist’s work has been classifi ed as a preface to the**
• *group movement?**
• *a. Freud.**
• *b. Jung.**
• *c. Jessie B. Davis.**
• *d. Adler.**

Answer 5

d. Adler.

Adler was actually engaging in group treatment during the early

1920s at his child guidance facilities located in Vienna. His ra-
tionale for group work was simply that “…man’s problems and

confl icts are recognized in their social nature….”

Question 6

• *Primary groups are:**
• *a. preventive and attempt to ward off problems.**
• *b. always follow a person-centered paradigm.**
• *c. generally utilized for long-term psychotherapy.**
• *d. always focused on the client’s childhood.**

Answer 6

a. preventive and attempt to ward off problems.

A primary group stresses a healthy

lifestyle or coping strategies which can reduce the occurrence of
a given diffi culty. A group which teaches birth control to prevent
teen pregnancy would be a fi ne example.

Question 7

A group is classifi ed as secondary. This implies that

• *a. it is preventive and attempts to ward off problems.**
• *b. a diffi culty or disturbance is present.**
• *c. two therapists are utilized.**
• *d. all of the above.**

Answer 7

b. a diffi culty or disturbance is present.

In a secondary group
a problem or disturbance is present but not usually severe.

Question 8

• *When comparing a tertiary group with a primary or secondary**
• *group:**
• *a. the tertiary focuses less on individual members.**
• *b. the tertiary focuses more on the here-and-now.**
• *c. the tertiary is less likely to deal with severe pathology.**
• *d. the tertiary is more likely to deal with severe pathology.**

Answer 8

d. the tertiary is more likely to deal with severe pathology.

The tertiary group usually deals more with individual diffi culties that
are more serious and longstanding. (The word tertiary literally
means the third rank.)

Question 9

Group norms:

• *a. exist only in encounter groups.**
• *b. exist only in career counseling groups.**
• *c. are not related to group cohesiveness.**
• *d. govern acceptable behavior and group rules.**

Answer 9

d. govern acceptable behavior and group rules.

Question 10

Group therapy initially fl ourished in the United States due to

• *a. Freud’s lectures in this country.**
• *b. a shortage of competent career counselors.**
• *c. a shortage of individual therapists during World War II.**
• *d. pressure from nondirective therapists pushing encounter**
• *groups.**

Answer 10

c. a shortage of individual therapists during World War II.

During World War II many individuals were plagued with se-
vere psychological problems, yet a personnel shortage made it

impossible for each and every person to be treated using indi-
vidual therapy. Moreno had brought the idea of group therapy

to the United States in 1925, but the supply and demand issues
sparked by the war effort were the catalysts which generated this
idea whose time had come.

Question 11

• *Group content refers to material discussed in a group setting.**
• *Group process refers to:**
• *a. analysis of the unconscious.**
• *b. analysis of the ego.**
• *c. the T-group paradigm.**
• *d. the manner in which discussions and transactions occur.**

Answer 11

d. the manner in which discussions and transactions occur.

Group
process refers to analyzing the communications, interactions,

and transactions. The process is the way in which the discus-
sion takes place.

Question 12

Group cohesiveness refers to

• *a. forces which tend to bind group members together.**
• *b. an analysis of group content.**
• *c. a common coleadership style.**
• *d. a style of leadership.**

Answer 12

a. forces which tend to bind group members together.

Question 13

Some theorists feel that group therapy differs from group counseling (which is also called an interpersonal problem solving group) in that:

a. group counseling would be of longer duration.

• *b. group therapy, also dubbed as a personality reconstruc-**
• *tion group, would be of longer duration.**
• *c. group counseling requires far more training.**
• *d. group therapy addresses a less disturbed population of**
• *clients.**

Answer 13

• *b. group therapy, also dubbed as a personality reconstruc-**
• *tion group, would be of longer duration.**

in the context of group work, therapy is implied when the problem is more severe and more individual work is needed for a longer duration.

Question 14

• *Most experts would agree that overall:**
• *a. structured exercises are more effective than unstructured**
• *techniques.**
• *b. structured exercises are less effective than unstructured**
• *techniques.**
• *c. all well-trained therapists favor structured exercises over**
• *unstructured techniques.**
• *d. ethical guidelines must forbid unstructured techniques**
• *because they can be dangerous to the depressed or anx-**
• *ious client.**

Answer 14

• *b. structured exercises are less effective than unstructured**
• *techniques.**

Although struc-
tured group exercises are very popular and benefi cial, they are

generally not as effective as unstructured methods. This answer
could surprise you if you are new to group work. The well-known
existentialist and group theorist Irvin Yalom pointed out that
structured exercises can create a situation where group stages
are passed over.

Question 15

One advantage of group work is that a counselor can see more

clients in a given period of time. One disadvantage is that a counselor can be too focused on group processes and:

• *a. thus individual issues are not properly examined.**
• *b. the group becomes too behavioristic.**
• *c. a and b.**
• *d. thus the group focuses too much on content.**

Answer 15

a. thus individual issues are not properly examined.

Question 16

According to the risky shift phenomenon, a group decision will:

• *a. be less conservative than the average group member’s de-**
• *cision, prior to the group discussion.**
• *b. be more conservative than the average group member’s**
• *decision, prior to the group discussion.**
• *c. often be aggressive or illegal.**
• *d. violate the group’s confi dentiality norms.**

Answer 16

• *a. be less conservative than the average group member’s de-**
• *cision, prior to the group discussion.**

The risky shift phenomenon dispels the popular notion that groups are very conserva-
tive.

Risky shift occurs when people change their decisions or opinions to become more extreme and risky when acting as part of a group, compared with acting individually; this is one form of the phenomenon known as group polarization

Question 17

• *T-groups often stress ways employees can express themselves in an effective manner. The “T” in T-groups merely stands for**
• *a. techniques.**
• *b. taxonomy.**
• *c. training.**
• *d. testing.**

Answer 17

c. training.

The “T” merely stands for “training.” It is not unusual for T-
groups (i.e., training groups) to be called “laboratory-training

groups” or even at times “sensitivity groups.”

The exam you will be taking may use the word
nosology in place of the word taxonomy, since nosology is the
classifi cation of disease.

Question 18

• *A counselor suggests that her client join an assertiveness training group. Most assertiveness training groups are:**
• *a. unstructured.**
• *b. psychodynamic or person-centered.**
• *c. focused heavily on existential concerns.**
• *d. behavioristic and highly structured.**

Answer 18

d. behavioristic and highly structured.

Behavioral groups such as an as-
sertiveness training group are generally highly structured.

Question 19

• *Weight Watchers is a:**
• *a. T-group also called a training group.**
• *b. self-help or support group as is AA.**
• *c. psychotherapy group.**
• *d. marathon group.**

Answer 19

b. self-help or support group as is AA.

A self-help group (also known as a “support group”) is composed
of a group of people who are all attempting to cope with a given
issue (e.g., alcoholism, gambling addiction, or weight control).The distinction is that a support
group is conducted by an organization (say AA or Weight
Watchers) and might charge fees, while a self-help group
(say a group of neighbors getting together to brainstorm
ways to clean up after a fl ood) would not have either or
both of these features.

Question 20

ACA and the ASGW division recommend screening for potential group members

• *a- For all groups**
• *b. only when the group is in a hospital inpatient setting.**
• *c. only when the group is composed of minors.**
• *d. only if the group deals with chemical dependency.**

Answer 20

a- For all groups

Question 21

• *A counselor is conducting a screening for clients who wish to**
• *participate in a counseling group which will meet Tuesday nights at his private practice offi ce. Which client would most likely be the poorest choice for a group member?**
• *a. A shy librarian.**
• *b. An anxious salesman with no group experience.**
• *c. An extremely hostile and belligerent construction worker.**
• *d. A student with 16 hours toward her M.Ed in counseling.**

Answer 21

c. An extremely hostile and belligerent construction worker.

Hostile individuals who act out aggressively (choice “c”), persons
who are actively suicidal or homicidal, paranoid clients, those
who are totally self-centered, or psychotic individuals (psychotic

implies that the person is not in touch with reality) are not ap-
propriate for most counseling groups.

Question 22

• *A counselor is screening clients for a new group at the college**
• *counseling center. Which client would most likely be the poorest choice for a group member?**
• *a. A fi rst-year student who is suicidal and sociopathic.**
• *b. A second-year student who stutters.**
• *c. A graduate student with a facial tic.**
• *d. A fourth-year student with obsessive-compulsive (OCD)**
• *tendencies.**

Answer 22

a. A fi rst-year student who is suicidal and sociopathic.

Question 23

• *A screening for group members can be done in a group or pri-**
• *vately. Although private screening interviews are not as cost**
• *effective or as time effi cient, many group leaders feel they are**
• *superior inasmuch as private screening sessions**
• *a. intensify transference.**
• *b. encourage catharsis.**
• *c. intensify abreaction.**
• *d. are generally superior in terms of counselor/client inter-**
• *action.**

Answer 23

• *d. are generally superior in terms of counselor/client inter-**
• *action.**

Question 24

• *Most experts in the fi eld of group counseling would agree that**
• *the most important trait for group members is the ability**
• *a. to open up.**
• *b. to listen.**
• *c. to trust.**
• *d. to convey empathy.**

Answer 24

c. to trust.

Question 25

Groups can be open or closed. The two differ in that

• *a. open groups are limited to hospital settings.**
• *b. in an open group members can socialize between group**
• *meetings.**
• *c. closed groups always employ coleaders.**
• *d. closed groups allow no new members after the group be-**
• *gins**

Answer 25

• *d. closed groups allow no new members after the group be-**
• *gins**

Question 26

• *One major advantage of a closed group versus an open group is**
• *a. cost effectiveness.**
• *b. it promotes cohesiveness.**
• *c. it lessens counselor burnout.**
• *d. it allows the members to meet less frequently.**

Answer 26

b. it promotes cohesiveness.

Question 27

One major disadvantage of a closed group versus an open group is that:

• *a. if everyone quits, you will be left with no group mem-**
• *bers.**
• *b. closed groups cannot provide depth therapy.**
• *c. it promotes paranoid feelings in group members.**
• *d. closed groups are much more structured.**

Answer 27

• *a. if everyone quits, you will be left with no group mem-**
• *bers.**

Question 28

• *The number of people in an open group is generally**
• *a. more stable than in a closed group**
• *b. much smaller after an extended period of time than in a**
• *closed group.**
• *c. signifi cantly larger than in a closed group.**
• *d. more dependent on the group leader’s marketing skills**
• *than in a closed group.**

Answer 28

a. more stable than in a closed group

In the open group, if six people drop out
you could replace them with six new members.

Question 29

One distinct disadvantage of an open group is that:

• *a. new members are not accepted after the fi rst meeting.**
• *b. the leader does not control the screening process.**
• *c. a member who begins after the fi rst meeting has missed**
• *information or experiences.**
• *d. the group is generally too behavioristic for depth therapy**
• *to occur.**

Answer 29

• *c. a member who begins after the fi rst meeting has missed**
• *information or experiences.**

groups have changing membership, and thus different
members have been present for different experiences.

Question 30

• *When a group member is speaking, it is best for the counselor**
• *to**
• *a. try to face the group member.**
• *b. not face the group member, as this does not appear genu-**
• *ine in a group setting.**
• *c. smile while listening.**
• *d. suppress genuine emotion.**

Answer 30

a. try to face the group member.

Question 31

• *A group setting has a fl exible seating arrangement in which clients are free to sit wherever they wish. In this setting it is likely that**
• *a. an African-American client and a Caucasian leader would**
• *sit close together.**
• *b. a Hispanic client and an African-American leader would**
• *sit close together.**
• *c. an Asian-American client and an African-American leader**
• *would sit close together.**
• *d. an Asian-American leader and an Asian-American client**
• *would sit close together.**

Answer 31

• *d. an Asian-American leader and an Asian-American client**
• *would sit close together.**

“homogeneity.”

Question 32

A group setting has a fl exible seating arrangement in which clients are free to sit wherever they wish. In this setting it is likely that

• *a. a male leader in a designer suit and a female client in cut-**
• *off jeans will sit close together.**
• *b. a Hispanic male leader in a designer suit and an Asian**
• *male client in another brand of designer suit will sit close**
• *together.**
• *c. a Caucasian female leader in a designer outfi t and a Cau-**
• *casian male client in a pair of old jeans and an undershirt**
• *will sit close together.**
• *d. a male leader in a designer suit and a female client in a**
• *jogging suit and old tennis shoes with holes in them will**
• *sit close together.**

Answer 32

• *b. a Hispanic male leader in a designer suit and an Asian**
• *male client in another brand of designer suit will sit close**
• *together.**

Forget the poles of a magnet; in groups “likes” attract. The
likelihood is that people who are similar or believe they have
“something in common” initially will sit together. Some evidence
points to the fact that social class means more than race in terms
of group seating.

Question 33

• *Which statement made by a doctoral-level counselor is illustra-**
• *tive of a leader focused on process rather than product?**
• *a. “Jim seems more relaxed today.”**
• *b. “Sally seems a bit self-critical this evening.”**
• *c. “I hear a lot of sadness in Betty’s voice.”**
• *d. “You wince whenever Jane raises her voice.”**

Answer 33

d. “You wince whenever Jane raises her voice.”

Process focuses on the “process,” or manner in which the communication transpires. All of the other choices focus primarily on the analysis of the client’s material, or what is called “content.”

Question 34

• *Which statement made by a group leader in a residential center for adolescents focuses on product rather than process?**
• *a. “Ken has not stolen for a week and thus is eligible for**
• *supplementary tokens.”**
• *b. “And Karen looks down when Bill discusses relation-**
• *ships.”**

c. “It sounds like there is a deep sense of hurt….”

• *d. “Oh, so you fold your arms and sort of close up when Car-**
• *ey mentions the angry side of your personality.”**

Answer 34

• *a. “Ken has not stolen for a week and thus is eligible for**
• *supplementary tokens.”**

Question 35

• *Groups promote the concept of universality, which suggests**
• *that**
• *a. we are unique and so are our problems.**
• *b. there is a universal way to solve nearly any diffi culty.**
• *c. a and b.**
• *d. we are not the only ones in the world with a given prob-**
• *lem.**

Answer 35

• *d. we are not the only ones in the world with a given prob-**
• *lem.**

Question 36

• *In the late 1930s researchers identifi ed three basic leadership**
• *styles:**
• *a. directive, nondirective, and semipassive.**
• *b. autocratic (authoritarian), democratic, and laissez faire.**
• *c. relaxed, anxious, and tense.**
• *d. assertive, nonassertive, and aggressive.**

Answer 36

b. autocratic (authoritarian), democratic, and laissez faire.

Question 37

• *In the late 1930s researchers identifi ed three basic leadership**
• *styles:**
• *a. directive, nondirective, and semipassive.**
• *b. autocratic (authoritarian), democratic, and laissez faire.**
• *c. relaxed, anxious, and tense.**
• *d. assertive, nonassertive, and aggressive.**

Answer 37

b. autocratic (authoritarian), democratic, and laissez faire.

Question 38

• *The autocratic or authoritarian leader may give orders to the**
• *group, while the laissez faire leader**
• *a. assigns a group member as the authoritarian.**
• *b. has a hands-off policy and participates very little.**
• *c. has the most desirable style of leadership.**
• *d. nearly always run open-ended groups.**

Answer 38

b. has a hands-off policy and participates very little.

Question 39

• *When comparing the autocratic, democratic, and laissez faire**
• *styles,**
• *a. the autocratic is the most desirable.**
• *b. the laissez faire is the most desirable.**
• *c. the democratic is the most desirable.**
• *d. there is no discernable difference in effectiveness.**

Answer 39

c. the democratic is the most desirable.

Again, the democratic style is not the most effective
in every case; however, it probably lends itself to more situations

than the other two.

Question 40

• *A group with more than one leader is said to utilize coleaders.**
• *Coleadership is desirable because**
• *a. the group can go on even if one leader is absent.**
• *b. two leaders can focus on group dynamics better than one**
• *leader.**
• *c. leaders can process their feelings between sessions.**
• *d. all of the above.**

Answer 40

d. all of the above.

Question 41

Coleadership

a. reduces burnout and helps ensure safety.

• *b. increases burnout.**
• *c. has no impact on burnout.**
• *d. should not be used for open groups.**

Answer 41

a. reduces burnout and helps ensure safety.

Question 42

Coleadership

• *a. is helpful when one leader is experiencing countertrans-**
• *ference.**
• *b. exacerbates the harm of countertransference.**
• *c. has no impact on the issue of countertransference.**
• *d. eliminates all diffi culties associated with countertransfer-**
• *ence.**

Answer 42

• *a. is helpful when one leader is experiencing countertrans-**
• *ference.**

Reminder: Transference refers to a client’s issue, while
countertransference implies that the helper has issues
that are interfering with the treatment process.

Question 43

• *Coleadership, also referred to as cofacilitation, can be a disad-**
• *vantage when**
• *a. leaders are working against each other; this can fragment**
• *the group.**
• *b. leaders are intimate with each other.**
• *c. leaders question each other’s competence.**
• *d. all of the above.**

Answer 43

d. all of the above.

Question 44

Coleaders are apt to work at cross-purposes when

• *a. they do not meet between group sessions.**
• *b. they do meet between group sessions.**
• *c. they are master’s level practitioners.**
• *d. they are doctoral level practitioners.**

Answer 44

they do not meet between group sessions.

Coleadership is an excellent way for new lead-
ers to learn the ropes, if they can be paired with a seasoned pro-
fessional.

Question 45

Gerald Corey, who has written extensively on group therapy, believes _______ is necessary for an effective group leader.

• *a. a master’s degree in guidance and counseling**
• *b. a doctorate in counselor education**
• *c. participation in a therapeutic group and participation in a**
• *leader’s group (even if the individual is well-educated and**
• *is licensed and certifi ed)**
• *d. three credit hours in a graduate course in group theory**

Answer 45

• *c. participation in a therapeutic group and participation in a**
• *leader’s group (even if the individual is well-educated and**
• *is licensed and certifi ed)**

but according to some experts a wall fi lled with de-
grees, plaques, and certifi cations is not enough; specifi c training

in group work is necessary in order to become a group leader.

Question 46

• *Most experts would agree that an effective adult counseling**
• *group has _______ members.**
• *a. 9 to 12.**
• *b. 3 to 5.**
• *c. 11 to 16.**
• *d. 5 or 6 to 8.**

Answer 46

d. 5 or 6 to 8.

An ideal group would have about eight adults. An adolescent
group might be slightly smaller, perhaps fi ve or six members.
Some experts feel that a group conducted over a long period of
time (say six months) can safely have as many as 10 members.

Question 47

• *Most experts would agree that an effective counseling group for children has**
• *a. more members than an adult group.**
• *b. less members than an adult group.**
• *c. at least two group leaders.**
• *d. 9 to 12 members.**

Answer 47

b. less members than an adult group.

Three or four children is usually recommended, versus about
eight people in an adult group.

Question 48

Although the length of group counseling sessions will vary, most experts would agree that _______ is plenty of time even when critical issues are being examined.

• *a. three hours per session.**
• *b. one hour per session.**
• *c. six hours per session.**
• *d. two hours per session.**

Answer 48

d. two hours per session.

One and a half to two hours is suffi cient for adult group work.
Longer groups often beget fatigue in the group members. With
children, the group leader should note the members’ attention
span, which is generally shorter than for adults. Since a children’s
group will have shorter sessions, it is often best to rely on more
frequent group sessions.

Question 49

In terms of group risks:

• *a. an ethical leader will discuss them during the initial ses-**
• *sion with a client.**
• *b. an ethical leader should never discuss risks with a client.**
• *c. research has demonstrated that the less said about them**
• *the better the group will interact.**
• *d. an ethical leader allows the group to discover risks and**
• *work through them at their own pace.**

Answer 49

• *a. an ethical leader will discuss them during the initial ses-**
• *sion with a client.**

Question 50

An adept group leader will:

• *a. attempt to safeguard clients against risks.**
• *b. work to reduce risks and dangers.**
• *c. a and b.**
• *d. let the group handle the dangers on their own.**

Answer 50

c. a and b.

Question 51

• *A group participant wants to drop out of a group. Since the group is “closed” ASGW ethics state that**
• *a. the leader must insist that the client stay.**
• *b. the client must be allowed to withdraw.**
• *c. the leader should allow other members to put pressure on**
• *the participant to stay.**
• *d. a and c.**

Answer 51

b. the client must be allowed to withdraw.

Question 52

• *During the initial session of a group the leader explains that no**
• *smoking and no cursing will be permitted. This is known as**
• *a. setting ground rules.**
• *b. ambivalent transference.**
• *c. blocking.**
• *d. scapegoating.**

Answer 52

a. setting ground rules.

Question 53

Group norms refer to

• *a. a statistically normal group composed of 8 to 12 mem-**
• *bers.**
• *b. a statistically normal group composed of 12 to 14 mem-**
• *bers.**
• *c. a normal group with no cultural differences.**
• *d. the range of acceptable behavior within the group.**

Answer 53

d. the range of acceptable behavior within the group.

Question 54

• *The study of group operations is often called**
• *a. group desensitization.**
• *b. the hot seat technique.**
• *c. group dynamics.**
• *d. structuring the group.**

Answer 54

c. group dynamics.

Group dynamics refers to the study of the interrelationships and

interactions between group members. Group stages, cohesive-
ness, leadership style, and decision making are prime examples

of group dynamics. Any factor that has an impact on the group
can be referred to legitimately as a dynamic.

Question 55

The word dynamic means the group is:

• *a. normal.**
• *b. always changing.**
• *c. static.**
• *d. defi ned in an operational manner.**

Answer 55

b. always changing.

Question 56

Experts firmly believe that a common weakness in many groups is

• *a. setting too many goals.**
• *b. using a male and a female coleader.**
• *c. that the leader uses a democratic style.**
• *d. a lack of goal setting.**

Answer 56

d. a lack of goal setting.

Often goals are defi ned yet they

are too vague.

Question 57

A group leader who utilizes an abundance of group exercises is:

• *a. probably not running an assertiveness training group.**
• *b. is running an unstructured group.**
• *c. is running a structured group.**
• *d. is invariably running a self-help group.**

Answer 57

c. is running a structured group.

Question 58

• *Some theorists object to the word unstructured in group work**
• *because:**
• *a. a group cannot not have structure.**
• *b. only structured groups are effective.**
• *c. unstructured groups are hardly therapeutic.**
• *d. unstructured refers only to counseling and not to therapy**
• *groups.**

Answer 58

a. a group cannot not have structure.

Some research indicates that structured exercises in the initial
stages of the group can facilitate better communication.

Question 59

Some research demonstrates that:

• *a. structured exercises early in the group impaired later**
• *communication between group members.**
• *b. structured exercises with feedback early in the group**
• *served to improve communication between group mem-**
• *bers.**
• *c. autocratic or authoritarian leadership styles promote**
• *communication best.**
• *d. structured exercises are never appropriate.**

Answer 59

b. structured exercises with feedback early in the group

• *served to improve communication between group mem-**
• *bers.**

Question 60

In some literature, group cohesiveness, or “we-ness,” is known
as:

• *a. group unity.**
• *b. a sociogram.**
• *c. Karpman’s triangle.**
• *d. the transition stage.**

Answer 60

a. group unity.

The unity is actually a feeling of belonging, oneness, or togeth-
erness.

Question 61

• *Group members assume roles within a group. Which of the fol-**
• *lowing is not a group role?**
• *a. energizer.**
• *b. scapegoat.**
• *c. gatekeeper.**
• *d. reactive schizophrenia.**

Answer 61

d. reactive schizophrenia.

Question 62

A group member who insists on asking other members inappropriate questions is known as a Peeping Tom or

• *a. an energizer.**
• *b. a scapegoat.**
• *c. an interrogator.**
• *d. a follower.**

Answer 62

c. an interrogator.

Question 63

• *The follower goes along with whatever the rest of the group**
• *thinks. From a personality standpoint the follower is:**
• *a. aggressive.**
• *b. assertive.**
• *c. practicing excitation.**
• *d. non-assertive.**

Answer 63

d. non-assertive.

Question 64

• *The _______ may secretly wish that he or she was running the**
• *group.**
• *a. follower.**
• *b. gatekeeper.**
• *c. social isolate.**
• *d. harmonizer.**

Answer 64

b. gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper tries to make certain that everyone is doing his or hertask and is participating. This person may “secretly” or “uncon-
sciously” want to lead the group and could even attempt to es-
tablish norms. The danger is that a gatekeeper often does not

work on his or her own personal issues (e.g., “From now on I’d
like everybody to bring a journal to the group and write down
at least one positive thing which happened during the week”).
Is that the leader speaking out or the gatekeeper blowing off
steam? Only the group members know for sure!

Question 65

• *Everybody picks on:**
• *a. the gatekeeper.**
• *b. the harmonizer, also known as the conciliator.**
• *c. the scapegoat.**
• *d. the storyteller, the intellectualizer, the attacker, and the**
• *joker.**

Answer 65

c. the scapegoat.

Question 66

• *A female group member is obviously not participating. A group**
• *member playing the _______ is most likely to mention this and**
• *urge her to participate.**
• *a. gatekeeper.**
• *b. interrogator.**
• *c. scapegoat.**
• *d. storyteller.**

Answer 66

a. gatekeeper.

Question 67

Cohesiveness, or group unity, is desirable. It promotes bonding and a sense of “we-ness” between group members. When cohesiveness is strong, nevertheless, it also can be negative as

• *a. it can stunt creativity.**
• *b. it can abet conformity.**
• *c. a and b.**
• *d. it can cause the group to split into factions.**

Answer 67

c. a and b.

Question 68

• *In a healthy group, members**
• *a. assume a role and never change it.**
• *b. have no roles.**
• *c. are flexible and can change roles.**
• *d. spend a great deal of time practicing role reversal.**

Answer 68

c. are flexible and can change roles.

In order to meet the “changing needs” of the group, members
often need to “change roles.”

Question 69

In a group, task roles:

• *a. help solve problems.**
• *b. aid in terms of goal setting and keep the group focused.**
• *c. are seen as positive.**
• *d. all of the above.**

Answer 69

d. all of the above.

An entire group could be classifi ed as a task group

or perhaps a task/work group. A group of this nature fo-
cuses on accomplishing work goals. According to former

ACA president, textbook author, and group expert Sam
Gladding, an athletic team would fall into this category,
as would a quality circle employee run group attempting
to improve a business.

Question 70

• *Maintenance roles, like task roles, are positive since such roles**
• *a. help to maintain the group.**
• *b. are self-serving.**
• *c. help promote autocratic leadership.**
• *d. always stress the importance of the here-and-now.**

Answer 70

a. help to maintain the group.

really implies that the role maintains

group interaction. Maintenance roles support the group’s liveli-
hood and hence are seen as positive.

Question 71

• *Self-serving or individual roles are negative inasmuch as**
• *a. they promote democratic leadership.**
• *b. they work against the group.**
• *c. they serve the individual and not the group.**
• *d. b and c.**

Answer 71

d. b and c.

Self-serving or so-called individual roles are counterproductive.

Question 72

• *Although task roles and maintenance roles are indeed positive, the group can suffer if the group is not flexible and remains in one or the other too long since**
• *a. an effective group needs some self-serving roles.**
• *b. if a group gets stuck in task roles, interaction suffers.**
• *c. if a group gets stuck in maintenance roles, little work (or**
• *tasks) will be accomplished.**
• *d. b and c.**

Answer 72

d. b and c.

Question 73

• *Group specialists defi ne role confl ict as:**
• *a. tension between two group members who have assumed**
• *different roles.**
• *b. a situation in which there is a discrepancy between the**
• *way a member is expected to behave and the way he or**
• *she actually behaves.**
• *c. tension between the group leader and a group member.**
• *d. members criticizing other members between group ses-**
• *sions.**

Answer 73

• *b. a situation in which there is a discrepancy between the**
• *way a member is expected to behave and the way he or**
• *she actually behaves.**

which occurs
when a group member maximizes his or her needs and interests
at the expense of someone else.

Question 74

• *A major group dynamic is group development. This is usually**
• *expressed in terms of:**
• *a. the number of hours of group confl ict.**
• *b. theories of group stages.**
• *c. the Rosenthal Effect.**
• *d. the Hawthorne Effect.**

Answer 74

b. theories of group stages.

The fi rst stage generally is known simply as the “initial stage.”

(Now there’s one that’s so simple you won’t need a memory de-
vice!) Others have termed this stage as “orientation and explora-
tion,” or “preaffi liation,” or “forming.” The next stage usually is

designated as the “transition stage,” though you will often see it
termed “power and control” or “storming,” which logically comes
after “forming.” The third major stage is the “working stage,”
“norming stage,” “cohesion stage,” or “negotiation, intimacy, and
frame of reference.” The fi nal stage is sometimes known as the
“separation stage,” the “termination stage,” “the closure stage,”
or “adjourning.”

Question 75

Irvin Yalom is a famous existentialist therapist and a pioneer in

• *the group movement. He suggested these four group stages: orientation, confl ict, cohesion, and termination. In 1977 Tuckman and Jensen reviewed 25 years of research and came up with five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Which stage in Tuckman and Jensen’s paradigm is similar to Yalom’s orientation stage?**
• *a. forming.**
• *b. storming.**
• *c. norming.**
• *d. performing.**

Answer 75

a. forming.

forming, preparation,

engagement, and who knows what some creative theorist will
dare call it next!) is focused on the establishment of norms and
approach–avoidance behavior of group members. Members will
be tentative and size up other members. Members will identify
or get acquainted with others based on culture, language, mode
of dress, or occupation.

Question 76

• *The final stage suggested by theories of group stages generally deals with issues of**
• *a. group tasks.**
• *b. transition.**
• *c. power and control.**
• *d. separation and termination.**

Answer 76

d. separation and termination.

Question 77

• *The initial group stage has been called forming, orientation, or**
• *the preaffi liation stage. This stage is characterized by**
• *a. avoidance–avoidance confl icts.**
• *b. a tendency for members to compete with the leader for**
• *power.**
• *c. approach–avoidance behavior.**
• *d. members working on the interpretation of unconscious**
• *behavior.**

Answer 77

c. approach–avoidance behavior.

approach–avoidance situation taking place in the initial group
stage is a confl ict wherein you are attracted and repelled by the
same goal. In an analogous situation: You want to meet group
members, but it’s scary to think about the fact that you could be
rejected.

Question 78

• *A client would generally feel the most suspicious of others in**
• *a. the fi nal stage of separation or termination.**
• *b. the intimacy stage.**
• *c. the group formation/exploratory stage.**
• *d. a group with coleadership, also known as cofacilitation.**

Answer 78

c. the group formation/exploratory stage.

Question 79

• *Fights between subgroups and members showing rebellion**
• *against the leader generally occur in**
• *a. the second stage known as the control stage or the transition stage.**
• *b. the fi rst stage known as the orientation stage or formation**
• *stage.**
• *c. the separation stage.**
• *d. the intimacy stage.**

Answer 79

a. the second stage known as the control stage or the transition stage.

Garland, Jones, and Kolodny appropriately called stage 2 “power
and control.” This is the stage in which the fi reworks fl y as group
members verbally attack one another, not to mention the group
leader.

Question 80

• *A hierarchy, or pecking order, among members occurs in**
• *a. the stage of storming, also known as the power–control**
• *stage.**
• *b. the orientation stage.**
• *c. the separation stage.**
• *d. the intimacy stage.**

Answer 80

• *a. the stage of storming, also known as the power–control**
• *stage.**

Question 81

• *Group planning occurs**
• *a. in the initial stage.**
• *b. in the stage after the transition or confl ict stage.**
• *c. in the fi nal stage, also known as the termination stage.**
• *d. before the group begins and continues throughout the**
• *life of the group.**

Answer 81

• *d. before the group begins and continues throughout the**
• *life of the group.**

The term ecological planning has been used to describe the pro-
cess of obtaining information to determine whether a group is
the most desirable form of treatment and, if it is, to decide the
exact nature of the group experience. The counselor needs to

look at demographics, community needs, and social consider-
ations.

Question 82

• *The final group stage (also called the termination stage) is geared toward**
• *a. developing intimacy.**
• *b. working through power and control issues.**
• *c. exploration.**
• *d. breaking away.**

Answer 82

d. breaking away.

Question 83

• *A group therapist is constructing a diagram to better understand the dynamics between subgroups and members. This is called:**
• *a. sculpturing.**
• *b. ego state analysis.**
• *c. charting a pictorial sociogram.**
• *d. charting the variance.**

Answer 83

c. charting a pictorial sociogram.

The study of measuring person-to-person relationships regarding
what members in a group think or feel is known as “sociometry.”

In essence, sociometry is a quantitative study of relationship
concerns in a group. The sociogram, credited to Moreno and
Jennings, graphically displays group members’ affi liations and

interactions.

Question 84

• *A group leader who asks each group member to recapitulate**
• *what he or she has learned during a given session is promoting:**
• *a. summarization.**
• *b. clarifi cation.**
• *c. blocking.**
• *d. linking.**

Answer 84

a. summarization.

Question 85

• *A leader who wishes to stop inappropriate discussion should rely on**
• *a. summarization.**
• *b. clarifi cation.**
• *c. blocking.**
• *d. liking.**

Answer 85

c. blocking.

Question 86

• *When a leader attempts to relate one person’s predicament to**
• *another person’s predicament, it is known as**
• *a. summarization.**
• *b. clarifi cation.**
• *c. blocking.**
• *d. linking.**

Answer 86

d. linking.

Question 87

• *Strategies that approach the group as a whole are known as**
• *a. vertical interventions.**
• *b. horizontal interventions.**
• *c. crossed transactions.**
• *d. parallel transactions.**

Answer 87

b. horizontal interventions.

When working in a group setting, the leader needs to decide
whether to work with the group as a whole (called a horizontal

intervention)

Question 88

• *Strategies that focus on an individual member of the group are**
• *known as**
• *a. vertical interventions.**
• *b. horizontal interventions.**
• *c. crossed transactions.**
• *d. parallel transactions.**

Answer 88

a. vertical interventions.

, use your memory device. See that individual sitting or
standing—she’s in a vertical position,

Question 89

• *A group therapist must make:**
• *a. fewer decisions than an individual therapist.**
• *b. the same number of decisions as an individual therapist.**
• *c. modality changes for each group.**
• *d. more decisions than an individual therapist.**

Answer 89

d. more decisions than an individual therapist.

, most experts would agree that it is more diffi cult to do
productive group work than it is individual work. Nevertheless,
in many settings the only way to reach all the people who need
counseling in a fi nite period of time is to use group work.

Question 90

• *When a counselor reads the journals in this field, it becomes**
• *evident that**

a. group counseling has more research than individual counseling.

• *b. researchers and practitioners are working very closely to**
• *provide accurate and effective group strategies.**
• *c. a researcher/practitioner split exists in group work.**
• *d. no journals focus solely on group work.**

Answer 90

c. a researcher/practitioner split exists in group work.

many studies in the fi eld of group work

have not been well controlled. In many studies, the independent
variable (i.e., the experimental variable) has not been scientifi -
cally defi ned. Say, for example, the independent variable in a
study is a “T-group intervention.” This indeed could create a

problem since a T-group to leader A might not seem like a T-
group to leader B.

Question 91

Experts predict that in the future:

• *a. group leaders will be more like life-skills trainers.**
• *b. group leaders will become more person-centered.**
• *c. group leaders will return to a psychodynamic viewpoint.**
• *d. groups will lose their popularity and eventually die out.**

Answer 91

a. group leaders will be more like life-skills trainers.

comprehensive educational life-skills model could stress
preventive mental health skills, hopefully lowering the need for
“therapeutic groups.” Therefore, ultimately the counselor of the
life-skills group would act more like a trainer than a therapist.

Question 92

According to researchers, groups are effective

• *a. although researchers cannot pinpoint precisely why this is**
• *true.**
• *b. due to increased transference in group work.**
• *c. due to better morale in a group setting.**
• *d. due to the emphasis on cognitive restructuring.**

Answer 92

• *a. although researchers cannot pinpoint precisely why this is**
• *true.**

Research in the area of group work is sometimes classifi ed as
“outcome research” or “product research.” Outcome research
addresses the question of whether the group was able to reach

a given set of goals or simply the desired “outcome.” An out-
come study attempts to answer the question of whether or not

the group was successful (i.e., does the group work). Process

research is aimed at the question of “how groups work.” Pro-
cess research asks, “What allows the group to reach a target out-
come?”

Question 93

A major limitation related to group work is that

• *a. REBT cannot be utilized in group therapy.**
• *b. it is not really cost effective.**
• *c. gestalt therapy cannot be used in a group setting.**
• *d. a group leader can lose control and members could expe-**
• *rience emotional harm.**

Answer 93

• *d. a group leader can lose control and members could expe-**
• *rience emotional harm.**

Question 94

• *A major advantage of group work versus individual work is that**
• *a. members learn to give help in addition to receiving it and**
• *group sessions generally cost less (i.e., they are more eco-**
• *nomical) than individual counseling sessions.**
• *b. the leader has a less complex role than that of an indi-**
• *vidual counselor.**
• *c. the group leader nearly always possesses more training**
• *than an individual counselor.**
• *d. all of the above.**

Answer 94

a. members learn to give help in addition to receiving it and

• *group sessions generally cost less (i.e., they are more eco-**
• *nomical) than individual counseling sessions.**

Question 95

• *Which statement best depicts a major advantage of group**
• *work?**
• *a. Group work usually focuses on the here-and-now.**
• *b. Group work is always time limited.**
• *c. Group work is always superior for career counseling.**
• *d. The group setting is somewhat analogous to the commu-**
• *nication and interaction of everyday life.**

Answer 95

• *d. The group setting is somewhat analogous to the commu-**
• *nication and interaction of everyday life.**

Question 96

• *Which of these factors is not delineated by Yalom as a curative**
• *factor?**
• *a. altruism, universality, and existential learning**
• *b. manifest dream content and insight into the unconscious**
• *mind**
• *c. catharsis, cohesiveness, and instillation of hope**
• *d. imitative behavior and reenactment of family experiences.**

Answer 96

• *b. manifest dream content and insight into the unconscious**
• *mind**

Yalom is an existential therapist.

Question 97

• *In terms of research and the group leader’s personality,**
• *a. extroverts are the most effective leaders.**
• *b. introverts are the most effective leaders.**
• *c. qualities such as fl exibility, enthusiasm, and common**
• *sense may be helpful to a very small degree.**
• *d. qualities such as fl exibility, enthusiasm, and common**
• *sense have a tremendous positive impact.**

Answer 97

• *c. qualities such as fl exibility, enthusiasm, and common**
• *sense may be helpful to a very small degree.**

Unfortunately, overall studies have turned up little in terms of
“special characteristics” of group leaders’ personalities. So much
for the concept of super leaders!

Question 98

• *Conyne suggested that group intervention is intended to**
• *a. ferret out unconscious material.**
• *b. enhance rational self-talk**
• *c. illuminate dysfunctional nonverbal behavior.**
• *d. prevent, correct, or enhance behavior.**

Answer 98

d. prevent, correct, or enhance behavior.

R. K. Conyne’s “group work grid” model includes four interven-
tion levels: individual, interpersonal, organization, and commu-
nity population. The intervention can be correction oriented or

enhancement oriented for either personal or task functions.

Question 99

A group leader who wishes to assess the impact of the group ideally would

• *a. hand out a written evaluation form during the final ses-**
• *sion.**
• *b. hold a follow-up session so members can share experi-**
• *ences.**
• *c. have an outside “observer” sit in during group sessions**
• *and consequently rate the level of behavioral change.**
• *d. give each member a pretest and a posttest utilizing a pro-**
• *jective measure.**

Answer 99

• *c. have an outside “observer” sit in during group sessions**
• *and consequently rate the level of behavioral change.**

Research in the area of group work has been criti-
cized for not using independent observers.

Question 100

• *A group leader who is counseling children under 10 years of age could best enhance the treatment process by**
• *a. involving parents and asking them for input.**
• *b. keeping the parents uninvolved.**
• *c. reminding the children to speak softly at all times**
• *d. b and c.**

Answer 100

a. involving parents and asking them for input.

Question 101

• *When an adolescent complains about his or her parents in the**
• *group it is best to**
• *a. jump on the bandwagon and agree with the child.**
• *b. avoid taking sides but help him or her see the parents’**
• *point of view via a therapeutic technique such as role-**
• *playing.**
• *c. talk only about positive experiences.**
• *d. immediately put the child on the hot seat.**

Answer 101

b. avoid taking sides but help him or her see the parents’

• *point of view via a therapeutic technique such as role-**
• *playing.**