Paradoxes of Group Life: Understanding Conflict, Paralysis, and Movement in Group Dynamics

Exploring Paradox

We commence Part Two with an examination of a dozen paradoxes of group life. These twelve are intended to illustrate, not exhaust, the paradoxical aspects of behavior in groups. Our purpose is to explore the implications of a paradoxical frame for our understanding of individual and collective behavior. We are going to examine a number of familiar themes in group life that are often experienced as contradictory or conflictual. By adopting a paradoxical frame, we will attempt to illuminate the self-referential, circular, and repetitive character of many of these dynamics. As we describe each paradox, we will be searching for ...