Group Greed and Group Need—An Occupational Hazard for Psychiatric Personnel?

Extract

This preliminary communication draws attention to a condition that may adversely affect psychiatric personnel, and to some of its determinants. Personnel working in institutions where meetings are a major occupational activity appear especially at risk. The condition is a pathological response to groups or collections of colleagues met together in circles for professional purposes. Idealization of these groups and their activities leads to a craving to join them and to dependency once membership is achieved; less often rejection symptoms arise.