Abstract
This paper was drafted in late November and mid-December 2001, two to three months after 9/11/01, in the weeks following the Opening Plenary of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society's Annual Conference held on 11/9/01. It was written from the position of observer-discussant-participant and impromptu large group facilitator, with the aim of reviewing and drawing meaning from what transpired during the Conference's opening plenary, which focused on existential issues in group psychotherapy. The plenary was chaired by Dr. Bernard Frankel and was comprised of a short talk, demonstration group, discussants' responses, and audience reaction. The emphasis in this review is on the process, content, and synchronous impingement of a real-life event on a remarkable demonstration group. Being in the group demonstration on 11/9 so closely paralleled being in the world of 9/11 that a small group turned into a large group.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agazarian, Y. (1989). Group-as-a-whole systems theory and practice. Group 13(3), 131-154.
Balint, M. (1951). The psychological problems of growing old. In Problems in human pleasure and behavior (pp. 69-85). London: Hogarth.
Bion, W. R. (1961). Experiences in groups and other papers. New York: Basic Books.
Burrow, T. (1928). The basis of group analysis or the analysis of the reaction of normal or neurotic individuals. British Journal of Medical Psychology 8, 198-206.
Cohen, B. D., and Ettin, M. F. (2002). The personal group-self and transpersonal groupobject. Group Analysis 35(2), 287-300.
Cohen, B. D., Ettin, M. F., & Fidler, J. W. (2002). Group psychotherapy and political reality: A two-way mirror. Madison, CT: International Universities Press.
Ettin, M. (1967). Existentialism and psychotherapy. Unpublished.
Ettin, M. (1995). From one to another: group consultation for group psychotherapy. Group 19(1), 3-19.
Ettin, M. (1999). Foundations and applications of group psychotherapy. A sphere of influence. London: Jessica Kingsley Publications.
Ettin, M. (2000a). From identified patient to identifiable group: The alchemy of the group as a whole. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy 50(2), 137-162.
Ettin, M. (2002b). Fostering a “group ethos”: Truth or dare. Group 24(2/3), 229-240.
Ettin, M. (in press). A unified theory of group-as-a-whole function: Differentiation and integration in four domains. Group relations reader 3.
Ezriel, H. (1950). A psychoanalytic approach to group treatment. British Journal of Medical Psychology 23, 59-74.
Forsyth, D. R. (2000). The social psychology of groups and groups psychotherapy: One view of the new century. Group 24(2/3), 147-155.
Frankel, B. (2002). Existential issues in group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy 52(2), 215-231.
Gilbert, M. (1989). On social facts. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Greene, L. R. (2000). Group psychotherapy research: Current status and future trends on the dawn of the millennium. Group 24(2/3), 157-165.
Greenspan, S., & Shanker, S. (2002). Toward a psychology of global interdependency: A framework for international communication. Bethesda, MD: Council on Human Development.
Heidegger, M. (1962). Being and time. San Francisco: Harper.
Hopper, E. (1996). The social unconscious in clinical work. Group 20(1), 7-42.
Kauff, P. (2002). Analytic group psychotherapy: A uniquely effective crisis intervention. Group 26(2), 137-153.
Khaleelee, O., & Miller, E. (1985). Beyond the small group: Society as an intelligible field of study. In M. Pines (Ed.), Bion and group psychotherapy (pp. 354-384). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Kleinberg, J. (2002). An anthropologist at group zero, or how I applied my group perspective to the 9/11 organizational relief effort. Group 26(2), 149-153.
Le Bon, G. (1977). The crowd. New York: Penguin Books. Original work published in 1895.
Livingston, M. (2001). Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, Annual Conference. Plenary on Existential approaches to group psychotherapy.
McClure, B. (1998). Putting a new spin on groups: The science of chaos. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Mullan, H. (1992). “Existential” therapists and their group therapy practices. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy 42(4), 453-468.
Nietzsche, F. (1967). The will to power. New York: Random House.
Nitsun, M. (1996). The anti-group. London: Routledge.
Rank, O. (1909). The myth of the birth of the hero and other writings. New York: Vintage, 1959.
Roth, B. (2002). Some diagnostic observations of Post-September 11, 2001 crisis groups. Group 26(2), 155-161.
Rouchy, J. C. (2002). Cultural identity and groups of belonging. Group 26(3), 205-217.
Rutan, J. S. (2001). Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, Annual Conference. Plenary on existential approaches to group psychotherapy.
Saiger, G. M. (1996). Some thoughts on the existential lens in group psychotherapy. Group 20(2), 113-130.
Schwartz-Salant, N. (1998). The mystery of human relationship: Alchemy and the transformation of self. New York: Routledge.
Skolnick, M. (2000). Microcosm-Macrocosm. Group 24(2/3), 133-145.
Slater, P. (1966). Microcosm: Structural, psychological, and religious evolution in groups. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Volkan, V. D. (1988). The need to have allies and enemies: From clinical practice to international relationships. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
Volkan, V. D. (1991). On chosen traumas. Mind and Human Interaction 3, 13.
Yalom, I. D. (1985). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy, 3rd ed. New York: Basic Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ettin, M.F. When a Small Group Turned Large: An Existential Encounter on 11/9 as an Enactment of 9/11. Group 27, 169–189 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027371810946
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1027371810946