Interaction in a Year-Long Program

Abstract

Every group interacts. It is actually impossible for a group not to interact. Even if a group of students are sitting in a room being totally silent, that is a form of interaction. Interaction involves in?uencing others or being infuenced by others. Silence in a group is infuential. Interaction is like communication in that it is impossible not to communicate. If a student walks into a room and refuses to talk to anyone, that is a form of communication. By refusing to interact and communicate with others, the student is communicating that the student is either shy and unsure of how to make friends, feels superior to other group members, fears group involvement, or has other personal concerns which keep the student from getting involved. Such inability or refusal to interact with others is a form of interaction, even though no words were spoken. The student alters the development of the group when the student fails to interact or participate. Any form of disruption to the development of group process, from shyness to blatant refusal, sti?es constructive interaction