MEASURING SMALL-GROUP PROCESS - A METHODOLOGICAL APPLICATION OF CHAOSTHEORY

Research on group therapy typically defines one dimension of the thera peutic process (i.e., cohesion, feedback, self-disclosure) in space or evolving through time. As a result, little is learned regarding the i nterconnectedness, relatedness, or interaction of these important dime nsions of what is occurring within the group. In recent years, the art iculation of chaos theory-the science of process rather than of state- has unfolded and found application in the behavioral sciences. In this article, central principles underlying chaos theory are described and the mathematics of chaos are applied to interaction from a short-term psychotherapy group. Differences in the pattern of complexity inheren t in interactions of group members were found in the individual sessio ns when compared to the group as a whole.