The Effects of Group Type on Changes of Self-Concept

Tested 72 male and female undergraduates to determine the degree of self-concept changes after 36-hr marathon exposure in encounter and Gestalt groups in laboratory settings. A 6-factor semantic differential measure indexed self-esteem. Pre- and posttest changes in self-esteem scores did not differ between encounter and Gestalt groups, though both were associated with significantly more positive changes in self-esteem than were recorded for a nontherapeutic control group. Results did not significantly differ for males and females.