Group Analytic Contexts, Issue 77, September 2017

Newsletter – Autumn 2017 43
This was a tremendous way to approach the symposium - one
of a band of intrepid explorers, most of whom I suspect were also
uncovering unexpected perspectives on recent German history.
Joan Fogel, London: Biker
I learnt about group narcissism. While we were on the ride we spoke
about how we would be the subgroup everyone in the symposium
would envy and wish they'd been part of. How would we cope? Not
a bit of it, most people at the symposium were blissfully unaware there
had even been 'preconference' activity!
I missed this group during the Symposium. My heart
warmed whenever a fellow-traveller appeared out of the crowd in the
Maritim.
And then .. Afterwards
Julie Howley, Wexford, Ireland: Hiker
Despite the failure to develop cohesion in our overall Hike and Bike
group it is nonetheless true that our whole experience was a rich and
powerful one. I think it is always hard for us to bear conflict and my
experience of the Symposium overall was one of closing down
conflict or, as in Hopper’s fourth basic assumption ‘Incohesion:
Aggregation/Massification’ seeking to massify to avoid our fear of
potential annihilation. 9 We may not have been as cohesive as we
would have wished but that does not preclude us from trying to bring
some meaning to the experience. I had a memorable experience and I
made connections and friendships. I learnt a lot about the complexity
of crossing borders – borders of nationality, ethnicity, religion, culture,
class, power and all that we have internalized through our personal
experience and that has been transmitted to us through the foundation
matrices of our various peoples. Thank you all!
Sarah Kalai, Jerusalem, Israel: Hiker
In 3 days people who were strangers became people for whom I care.
It is a great idea to hike together and I hope to meet you again.
9
Hopper, E., (2003). The Unconscious Life in Groups: The Fourth
Basic Assumption: Incohesion: Aggregation/Massification or ba
I:AM. London: Jessica Kingsley.