Exploring the Unconscious Dynamics of the Balint Group Process

Abstract

This preliminary study should be regarded as a pilot piece of research designed specifically to explore some of the unconscious dynamics that operate within the Balint Group process. A brief history is offered by introduction, which aims to set this research in the wider context of the influences that shaped Michael Balint's thinking, particularly the view that the primary obstacles in therapeutic work derive from the analyst's own resistances. The study itself attempts to highlight the presence or absence of ‘domains of implicit relational knowing’ between Balint Group participants, within which ‘moments of meeting’ may take place, leading to a change in the thinking/feeling of the Presenter about their case. It is suggested that such domains emerge through unconscious interactions and that the Group Matrix contains and fosters such activity. The rationale for the use of a 7-point scale of participants' subjective evaluations of feeling attuned/connected or mis-attuned/unconnected towards the Group, the Presenter and the Conductor is drawn from Attachment/Neuroscience research. The data gathered from two groups, each engaging in two presentations, reveal patterns of identical scores suggesting the presence of ‘domains’, and marked discrepancy scores suggesting their absence. Sufficient ‘domains’ accompanied a change in thinking/feeling for the Presenter, while few ‘domains’ and marked discrepancy scores did not do so. These observations are tentatively discussed with reference to the early origins of unconscious communications.