GROUPS AS NUCLEAR MEDIATORS IN THE FORMAT ION AND CHANGE OF ATTITUDES

Contributions from the ''minimal group'' paradigm which emphasize cogn itive dimension does not invalidate Lewin's original line of the need to integrate such mecanism in the group activity analysis. This perspe ctive makes the group a nuclear mediator between the individual and th e social, able to take into account the pluralistic phenomena in the f ormation and change of attitude's. The attitude concept requires to be inserted in a sufficient bio-psycho-social conceptualization. The imp lications for this triple articulation demands to take in the consider ation multiple situational and funtional modalities which operate in r eal interaction of small groups as a privileged field for group resear ch.