The class that would not read: Utilizing Bion's affect theory in group

While Bion's group theory continues to inspire contemporary group psychothe rapists, his theory of human emotion is not as well known. Bion also introd uced a system of alphabetical and mathematic symbols to offer a shorthand f or his epistemology in order to make his ideas accessible, flexible, and pr actical for the working clinician. This article presents aspects of Bion's theory and metapsychological shorthand to conceptualize affectual dimension s of group process, thinking operations, and countertransference. The const ructs considered include Klein's paranoid-schizoid and depressive positions ; manic defenses; basic assumptions; "proto-mental" and "pre-monitory" emot ions; instinctive drives L, H, and K (plus or minus); beta elements; and al pha functioning. With these ideas, the author was able to work through aspe cts of a group experience in which, as leader, he unknowingly found himself at an opposite affective pole from the members.