The Dynamics of "Corrective" Groups.

Nothing the limited understanding of group dynamics among health reseachers using corrective group, this papers proposes that a number of principles already estalished in the field of small groups might be used facilite the processes of comformity and social control in correctve groups. An exploratory experiment designed to test the effects of several group charactiristics was conducted wth smoking cessation group. The experiment, with smoker wishing to quit, included four conditions: one with experimeter attention; a second with attention and simple group environment; a commitment, and goal interdependence. it was hypothesized that pressures toward comformity and control would increase with the addition of each successive characteristics, and that smoking reduction among the conditions would be ordered along this pressure dimension. The results of the experiment support the hypothesis; smoking reduction increased directly for use in corrective groups are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]