This paper presents a view of group problem solving based on Heider's balance theory (Cartwright & Harary, 1956;Doreian, Kapuscinski, Krackhardt, & Szczypula, 1996;Heider, 1946Heider, , 1958, which conceptualizes the problem solving process as a progression towards increasing structural balance. Balance theory provides a means of representing problems in ways that capture both gestalt restructuring and incremental search properties of problem solving.Results of a group problem solving experiment are reported, which investigates the effects of certain properties of problem structure on problem solving behavior and performance.