By stereotyping, humans attack, scapegoat, or avoid differences. Stereotyping can be attractive because analytical thinking is not necessary. However, authentic connection is sabotaged by stereotyping. Honest appraisal, though more energy intensive, leads to an accurate knowledge of reality. This approach requires one to acknowledge not knowing, and risk getting it wrong, in the hope of accurate discovery. This workshop will explore these concepts through an SCT lens by using didactics, and both small and large experiential exploration.
Category:
Conference Afternoon Workshop
Track:
General Interest
Level:
Open to All Levels
CE credits:
2.0
Format:
Didactic, experiential
Day(s):
Thursday
Start: 2:00 End: 4:00
Learning Objectives
Based on attending this event, I know, or am able to:
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Describe the difference between stereotyping and prejudice
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Apply the systems-centered method of functional subgrouping to explore one's responses to differences
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List three driving and three restraining forces of stereotyping towards the goal of survival
Presentation Content
Agazarian’s (1997) theory of living human systems, with its systems-centered approach to group practice, represents a developed and comprehensive systems theory applied to groups, individuals and couples. The theory of living human systems has defined theoretical constructs and operational definitions that implement and test the hypotheses in its practice. This theory and its methods are accepted among group practitioners as evidenced by SCTRI’s 2010 recognition for “Outstanding Contributions in Education and Training in the Field of Group Psychotherapy” awarded by the National Registry of Certified Group Psychotherapists. SCT methods are regularly cited or included in handbooks and reviews of group psychotherapy practice. There is also significant peer-reviewed published support for the theory and its practice, including articles in the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, Group Dynamics, Small Group Research, Organizational Analysis, and Group Analysis.
The systems-centered approach to group and organizational work has been in the field for over 20 years, presented in approximately 30 articles in peer-reviewed professional journals. Its methods incorporate techniques linked to successful strategies for improvement in group and individual psychotherapy, for example, modifying cognitive distortions, increasing group cohesion, lowering scapegoating, and reducing somatic defenses. The Theory of Living Human Systems states that living human systems survive, develop and transform from simple to complex by discriminating and integrating differences. Stereotyping and prejudicial thinking are some of the ways that humans discriminate differences. Frequently, differences are attacked, scapegoated, or avoided by us as humans. The awareness of one’s impulse to scapegoat, attack or avoid differences, e.g., by thinking “us vs. them,” gives us data which can lead to insight and alternative choices when we respond to differences.
Supporting References
Burkley, E., Durante, F., Fiske, S.T., Burkley, M., & Andrade, A. (2017). Structure and content of Native American stereotypic subgroups: Not just (ig)noble. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 23(2), 209-219. doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000100
Fiske, S.T. (2015). Intergroup biases: A focus on stereotype content. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 3, 45-50. doi.org/101016/j.cobeha.2015.01.010
Gantt, S.P., & Adams, J.M. (2010). Systems-centered training for therapists: Beyond stereotyping to integrating diversities into the change process. Women & Therapy, 33(1), 101-120. doi: 10.1080/02703140903404812
Hammond, M.D., & Cimpian, A. (2017). Investigating the cognitive structure of stereotypes: Generic beliefs about groups predict social judgments better than statistical beliefs. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 146(5), 607-614. doi.org/10.1037/xge0000297
Lamont, R.A., Swift, H.J., & Abrams, D. (2015). A review and meta-analysis of age based stereotype threat: Negative stereotypes, not acts, do the damage. Psychology and Aging, 30(1), 180-193. doi.org/10.1037/a0038586d
Roth, J., Deutsch, R., & Sherman, J.W. (2018). Automatic antecedents of discrimination. European Psychologist, 1-12. doi:10.1027/1016-9040/a000321
Zhang, S., & Deng, D. (2009). Stereotypes communication. International Education Studies, 2(4), 25-27.
Presenters
Verena Murphy, Ph.D., LCSW-C, LISW. Verena Murphy, Ph.D, LCSW-C, LISW, began training with Yvonne Agazarian in Philadelphia 1993, and has used SCT theory and practice in her personal development, as a partner, mother and grandmother, as a clinical Social Worker in inpatient and outpatient settings, as assistant professor in Management and Information Systems, and as trainer in Portugal and Switzerland. She resides in Oregon, where she has a private, systems oriented practice online.
Dayne Narretta, LCSW, CGP, BCD, FAGPA . Dayne Narretta, LCSW, CGP, BCD, FAGPA, is a clinician in private practice and has been facilitating groups since 1992. She has done most of her group training through Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute, American Group Psychotherapy Association and its local affiliates including Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Association. She was introduced to Systems-Centered group work in 2004 and continues her training in the Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute. Attachment Theory and Modern Analytic Theory have also influenced her. She is a clinician and runs systems oriented groups. She has presented workshops and trainings on SCT and Functional Subgrouping.
Debbie Woolf, MS, MSS, LCSW, PHR, SHRM-CP . Deborah Woolf, MS, MSS, LCSW, PHR, has been training in Systems-Centered Theory (SCT) since 1999 and been a member of Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute since 2001. She is a clinician working in an outpatient setting with individuals and groups. She has worked in Human Resources and in Organizational Development and applies SCT to that work as well. Psychoanalytic Theory as well as other theories have also influenced her. She has trained in the use of the System for Analyzing Verbal Interactions (SAVI) since 20o1 and has presented workshops and trainings on Diversity, Mentoring and SCT.