Four modalities of the experience of others in groups

Abstract

The ways in which group members experience and interact with one another has been explored in philosophy from Greek antiquity to the present. In modern European philosophy, beginning with the Enlightenment, the problem of 'the Other' has been taken up by empirical, idealist, phenomenological and existential philosophers. Based on such philosophical discourse, this article presents a fourfold schema of 'modalities' through which people acquire knowledge of one another in groups. The four modalities are as follows: (1) 'Mind', the use of reason, cognition and sense data to form a model of the other person's mental processes; (2) 'Body', the intuitive, empathic, embodied perception of others; (3) 'Gaze', the establishment of power and authority by scrutiny of each other's presentation of self; and (4) 'Face', the ethical imperative presented by the Other. The ideas of (1) Descartes, Locke and Kant; (2) Merleau-Ponty; (3) Sartre and Foucault; and (4) Levinas are discussed to elucidate each modality. The relationships between the modalities, group analytic theory and neuroscience are explored to build bridges between philosophy, group theory and practice, and the neuroscience of the social brain.

The development of the concept of the Tripartite Matrix: A response to ‘Four modalities of the experience of others in groups’ by Victor Schermer

“…In his idiosyncratic contribution to our thinking about persons, relationships, and social entities, Victor Schermer (2018), a former Foulkes Lecturer and a well-known contributor to the literature in group analysis and psychoanalytical group therapy in the United States and in England, abstracts from the magma four modalities of the experience of others in groups: mind, body, gaze, and face. Schermer provides many examples of these processes and cites a range of sources of his ideas, which has an integrative quality.…”

‘My face in thine eye . . .’: Responding to Vic Schermer’s article

“…Some (in fact from Socrates onward) have also suggested that philosophy can have therapeutic as well as investigative aspects. Appreciating the role of philosophy in both these senses, I read Vic Schermer's (2018) article with much interest, intrigued by his avowed aim to open questions around the 'ways in which group members get to know those who are initially strangers to them, and who present them with their mystery' (p. xx). I am glad he uses that word, 'mystery', with positive implications rather than as a quality that should be on the way to being overcome or resolved.…”

‘I am not a philosopher?’ A response to Vic Schermer’s ‘Four modalities of the experience of others in groups’

“…I was delighted to be invited to respond to Vic Schermer's article (Schermer, 2018). I have long been aware of his significant contribution to group psychotherapy (including group analysis)-Object Relations, the Self and the Group (1994Group ( [1987) (written with Charles Ashbach) and Ring of Fire (1994) (edited with Malcolm Pines) having occupied a place on my shelves even before training as a group analyst.…”