1,e~er or Facilitator Figure 6. 1 Lines of Interaction wlthln group when leader-centered The Stage of Conflict This stage is characterized by the group·s concern over dominance. cont Tol and power, Toe e. xperience on connict is behveen members or between members and the leader. Each member tries to establish for himself his prcft::rrcd amount of initiative and power, and graduall y a control hierarch y within the ~roup is established. Members become judgemental of others. Negative comments and inter-member criticism become more frequent. Members make su"estions or gh·e t1dvice, not as a manifestation of acceptance and understandin g but as part of their attempts to establish their places in the control hierarchy within the group. The struggle for control is part of the dynamics of every group; it is always present. sometimes too tranquil to be recognized, at other times suppressed, and al some other time may become a full blown eiq>ression akin to a blazing fire. The emergence of hostility toward the leader is an ine Yitable occurrence in the life sequence of the group. Wbile hostility toward the leader may be present even as early as stage one, hostility toward the leader becomes more ob,-ious in sta~c two. Tho. : sources of hostility toward the leader become clear when we recall Lhe members· perceptions of the leader in stage one. TI1e members' expectations of him a.-; a powerful being are so limitless that regardless of11is competence, he will disappoint them. Gradually. as the recognition of his limitation s becomes obvious, members st. art tn fctl di,rnppointed about his behavior. By no means is this a clearly couscious process. The members may intellectually advocate demo<.-ratic group which draws on its own resources. However, they may on a deeper level wjsh for dependency and attempt first to create and then to destroy an authority figure. The leader refuses to fill the traditional authority role: he does not lead in the ordinary manner; he does not pro,idc answers and solutions; he urges the group to explore and to mobilize its own resources. The members' wish lingers howeve l" and it is usu~y only after se,·eral sessions·tbat the group comes to 133 