In recent days, the headlines have been ripe with explosive stories about the abuses of power at the hands of misogynistic men who run the movie and TV industries. While these revelations are egregiously shocking, they are nothing new, as tales of the casting couch go all the way back to the beginnings of the motion picture business. As is the case with most businesses, making money is the highest priority. One consequence of money as the ultimate reality is that people become objects, to themselves and to each other. Although many people inside these organizations have publicly reacted with shock and surprise and say, “We never knew!” The rest of us are incredulous and wonder, “Who are they kidding?” Or ‘are they lying?” Or even, “are they so naïve not to see what’s right before their eyes?” Truth be told, the conflict between belief systems and reality is a dynamic that characterizes the social structure of many groups in the present, and indeed has existed throughout history.
In light of these recent accusations of abuses of power and the concomitant conspiracies of silences tacitly protecting the abusers, and even more recently the conspiracy of silence within the White House itself, an age old question can be raised;” Why do group members, who are free to leave, choose to stay with leaders whose groups do harm?” The answer probably lies within the purview of theories in sociology, psychology and social psychology. Ironically, we need not look any further than our own profession of group psychotherapists for an answer.
The community of analytic group psychotherapy training institutes across the country that establish dual relationships promulgate an environment that by definition sets the stage for abuses of power. When senior group leaders are in multiple role relationships with their trainees, that is, when they are simultaneously their group therapists, supervisors, teachers, administrators, friends and even relatives, and patient/trainees are in complicated multiple role relationships with each other, as colleagues, friends, fellow group therapy patients and fellow training group members, the line between transference, countertransference and reality is so contaminated that the treatment is virtually worthless. According to my research and the research of others like Temerlin & Temerlin, Kirsner, and Raubolt the existence of dual relationships at analytic training institutes, is independent of both theoretical orientation of these organizations and the personalities of the organization’s leaders. The irony of groups is that there can be no leaders without followers. In groups led by charismatic and powerful men, the leader makes an implicit deal with his followers: “Follow me and I will take care of you.” But who then protects the followers from the leader? As Philip Slater has pointed out “sooner or later, all protection contracts eventually become protection rackets”. The danger is often unseen by naïvely dependent, somewhat masochistic group members. Michael Lewis, writing in another context, where he tries to make sense of the factors that cause panic in the stock market; said: “You cannot really see a thing unless you know what you are looking for.” This is stunningly exemplified in an interview with the world renowned group therapist, Eliot Zeisel PhD. CGP, DFAGPA, who describes his journey to becoming a group therapist. Dr. Zeisel states that he entered group treatment with Lou Ormont and then casually mentions a momentous decision that he made along the way. ”At some point, I joined one of Lou’s training groups”. Apparently, without a shred of awareness of how this decision forever complicated, and may have even contaminated his treatment, Zeisel goes on to say that he tells his trainees…”when you work with unconscious material, it’s wise to remain in treatment and supervision.” Of course, this is good advice, but what if the treatment and supervision are with the same leader? Then all bets are off. The reader may ask:”how can bright, psychologically-sophisticated group members be so willing to abdicate their personal responsibility to be eternally vigilant?” For an answer to that question, read Chapter 3 of my book: “Emotional Incest in Group Psychotherapy–A Conspiracy of Silence”. The chapter title is : “The Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Systemic Forces of Cult-Like Group Training Institutes.
