encounter group
noun Psychology.
a group of people who meet, usually with a trained leader, to increase self-awareness and social sensitivity, and to change behavior through interpersonal confrontation, self-disclosure, and strong emotional expression.
Origin of encounter group
First recorded in 1965–70
Words nearby encounter group
encomium,
encompass,
encopresis,
encore,
encounter,
encounter group,
encounter session,
encourage,
encouragement,
encrimson,
encrinite
British Dictionary definitions for encounter group
encounter group
noun
a group of people who meet in order to develop self-awareness and mutual understanding by openly expressing their feelings, by confrontation, physical contact, etc
Medical definitions for encounter group
encounter group
[ ĕn-koun′tər ]
n.
A psychotherapy group in which the participants try to increase their sensitivity and gain insight into their emotions by expressing their own emotions and responding to the emotions of others in the group.
Cultural definitions for encounter group
encounter group
A method of psychotherapy developed in the 1960s, in which a small group of people engages in intensive interactions to increase self-awareness and improve interpersonal relations. Group members are encouraged to be completely honest and open, reacting to one another with their immediate feelings, while exploring the entire range of emotions.
notes for encounter group
Often associated with the
radical social upheaval of the 1960s, encounter groups have been criticized for their potentially damaging effects, because many groups are led by people not professionally trained in psychotherapy.