Restrictie van affectieve betrekkingen in een toneelgezelschap. Een studie over de preventie van duurzame voorkeursverhoudingen in een primaire groep

Samenvatting

A study of affective relations in a Dutch theater Co, based on a PhD dissertation for Amsterdam University (name and title not given). The general impression is that of absence of strong affective relations in this particular group. This is contrary to the findings of G. C. Homans (in The Human Group) that frequent personal interaction increases personal likings, and to the view of T. Caplow (in 'Elements of a Theory of Organization,' Sociologisch Jaarboek, 1955, 9) that affective relations must occur in primary groups. 3 alternative explanations are considered and rejected: (1) the theater Co is not a primary group (it clearly is); (2) it is or recently was in a conflict situation (it was not); and (3) the view of the writer of the dissertation would prove to be erroneous upon observation by the author (it was not so proven). Further study indicates that the absence of affective relations can be explained with reference to the following factors: (A) fear of cliques; (B) fear of overdue identification with the Co; (C) desire to prevent emotional conflicts; (D) an unstable social structure; (E) the fashionable view of actors; (F) the author's psyche; (G) the autonomization of a behavior norm. I . l angna s.