Hatred Of The Group

I explore Bion's concept of 'emotional links' and the function of basic assumption mentality for group functioning. Drawing on case material from an organisational consultancy, in which a group of university library managers are observed to be locked in a relationship of 'Hate', I suggest that 'emotional links' underpin group mentality and merit further consideration in studying group behaviour. I further suggest that without a functioning basic assumption mentality, the group has no capacity to transform its emotional experience and resorts to primitive modes of emotional connectedness.