Bion's assumption: Folklore and ideology around the group-as-a-whole

Abstract

However disparate the theories about groups, their vocabularies are largely the same. Constructs are formulated in everyday language, obscuring fundamental differences between the underlying paradigms. This circumstance leaves open the option of popularising theories by combining elements from irreconcilable sources. The field of group relations conference work is not saved from this phenomenon, evidenced by the diversity of interpretations of two constructs in psychological group theory as originally developed by Wilfred Bion: group-as-a-whole and basicassumption. After an introductory section on folklore in group theory, a popularised version of Bion's theory is confronted with its relevance to our work in today's world.