Group Analysis throughout the Life Cycle

Book excerpt: Arturo Ezquerro and María Cañete present a captivating journey through human development, group lives and group attachment from infancy all the way into old age. Co-constructed with meticulous anthropological, psychosocial, cultural and clinical research, as well as true, stirring stories and insights which contain a rare blend of common sense and inspiration, this book offers an exciting new outlook on attachment and group analysis. Group Analysis throughout the Life Cycle first assesses psychosocial, peer group and other group developmental studies, within a broad evolutionary and cultural context, looking into changes and constancies, continuities and discontinuities, as well as overlaps that occur throughout each developmental stage. It then presents a thorough review of psychoanalytic, group-analytic and wider group literature. The book concludes with a consideration of qualitative group-analytic research which examines clinical group phenomena that can be present in all age groups, as well as distinct phase-specific characteristics and developmental tasks, as they find expression in the therapeutic process. Presented with frankness, self-reflective thinking and compassion, Group Analysis throughout the Life Cycle will be essential reading for psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, group analysts, psychiatrists and other professionals in practice and in training. It will also appeal to healthcare professionals interested in human development and attachment theory.