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The purpose of this research was to examine patterns of information-processing over time in self-analytic groups. The communication in two groups was categorized by means of the Systems Information Processing Analysis (SIPA) category system. Messages were coded on four dimensions of information-processing: (1) source of information, ( 2 ) time orientation, (3) evolution of information, and (4) reduction of equivocality. The sequence of coded messages was then compared with a first-order Markov chain model. The results indicate the communication data from the groups are first-order; the groups are nonhomogeneous; stereotypy (predictability of patterns) is low to moderately high across the four dimensions; patterns in the evolution of information dimension are stationary over time. Patterns in the three other SIPA dimensions are nonstationary (time dependent) and suggest nonlinear changes. The information-processing patterns in the groups indicate that most information was spontaneously generated within the groups; the predominate time orientation was "present"; the form of message generally was either neutral opinion or new information; and moderate to moderately high uncertainty existed over time.

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Human beings are constantly thinking about others and about what others are thinking about them, and what others are thinking about the others, and so on. One may be wondering about what is going on inside the other. One desires or fears that other people will know what is going on inside oneself. . . . One sees both that this area is the very heart of many relationships, and that we have in fact very little systematic and scientifically tested information about it."What he thinks she thinks" and "what she thinks he thinks" about each other's performance of instrumental and companionship roles is more important to marital satisfaction than whether the husband's and wge's perceptiorw are in fact accurate. (1,2, 13). Static, individual-centered models of marriage (6) have been replaced by dynamic, relationship-centered models (11). These interpersonal models view the marital relationship as a matrix of mutually defined, interlocking, and interdependent Arthur P. Bochner is Professor of Speech Communication at Temple University. In recent years the focus of research on communication in marriage has shifted from the individuals in the relationship to the relationship between the individuals

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