Kaës’ Internal Groups and Actual Groups: A Relational Perspective

Abstract

Rene Kaës (2007), an influential French psychoanalyst relatively unknown to English-speaking readers, extends the field of psychoanalytic investigation and practice to groups. Building on Klein, Anzeiu, Bion, and Lacan, Kaës presents a dual-axes theory in which early oedipal and sibling complexes structure unconscious dynamics of internal groups. According to Kaës, analytic group psychotherapy provides access to the phantasies, affects, and action tendencies contained within internal groups that would be otherwise inaccessible. While a few reference articles have appeared in the English literature, Kaës’ bold assertions, core concepts, and praxis have not been subject to critical evaluation. I introduce Kaës’ main ideas, demonstrate their influence on my group work, and by comparing two case examples, from his practice and mine, articulate our differences, some of which arise from different conceptions of and approaches to intersubjectivity. The discussion continues in the final section which briefly considers the nature of psychoanalytic learning and how we may employ the therapeutic group to reach this goal.

Keywords:

• Group psychotherapy
• group dynamics
• Kaës
• intersubjectivity
• Klein
• Bion
• Lacan
• internal groups
• early oedipal complex
• siblings
• unconscious alliances

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Dr. Charles Raps and Hilary Callahan for their editorial assistance, and also, the journal editor, Dr. Steven Goldberg and the anonymous reviewers whose patience and vision guided me through the revision process.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

The authors do not have any relevant financial or non-financial competing interest.

DISCLAIMER

Potentially personally identifying information presented in this article that relates directly or indirectly to an individual, or individuals, has been changed to disguise and safeguard the confidentiality, privacy and data protection rights of those concerned, in accordance with the journal’s anonymization policy https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/upaq20.

Notes

1 Unless otherwise noted, page numbers without an accompanying citation year are from: Kaës, R. (2007). Linking, Alliances and Shared Space. Groups and the Psychoanalyst. London: International Psychoanalytic Association.

2 The basic assumption group takes one of three mental and behavioral configurations, noted as D (dependency), F/F (fight/flight), or P (pairing). The basic assumption group co-exists with the work group (W) in which “intellectual activity of a high order is possible” (Bion 1961, p. 175). In productive circumstances under the auspices of its leader, the regressed and sophisticated aspects of the group interact and each supplies energy to the other. In addition to the influence of Anzieu (1984) and other French colleagues, Kaës (2016a) acknowledged S. H. Foulkes (1964), who also originated a whole group approach, referred to as Group Analysis. Unlike Bion and Kaës, who emphasized regressive forces and the interpretative function of the leader, Foulkes had confidence that the group itself could come to serve as the matrix of change.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard M. Billow

Richard M. Billow, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, faculty and supervisor of the Derner Institute’s Postgraduate Programs in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy at Adelphi University. He formerly directed Derner’s Postgraduate Group Psychotherapy Program. He practices in Great Neck, NY.