Influence of the encounter group processes on the emotional intelligence of the women survivors of child sexual abuse

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is one of the traumatic experiences whose effects are carried into the adulthood. One of the severest impacts of CSA on the survivors is distortion in their emotional experience and expression (Banyard et. al, 20011; Luterek et. al, 20052). This difficulty in dealing with emotions is reflected in the way they experience and express their painful emotions and the coping strategies they develop to deal with the day to day emotion loaded situations. The aspect of personality that deals with emotional experience and expression is called as“Emotional Intelligence” (Mayer and Salovey, 19903). The literature emphasizes the context of the group as a better choice in dealing with the survivors of CSA (Saxe et.al 20054) and in training EI of the individuals (Druskat & Wolff 20015). The groups that emphasize emotional experiences and expressions during the group process are encounter groups (Rogers 19706; Egan 19707). At the same time there is dearth of empirical information regarding the influence of encounter group process on emotional intelligence of the women survivors of CSA. Hence this study aimed at understanding “The influence of Encounter Group Process on the Emotional Intelligence of the Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse.” The group process, for the purpose of this study was conceptualized with 5 phenomena namely: experiencing and expression of intense emotions, self disclosure, feedback, dealing with the conflict and group structures. Garvin’s (19878) conceptualization of group structures i.e. communication structure.