Enhancing Group Effectiveness through creating and maintaining a ‘Reflective Space’
T. Martin Ringer
Socio-Analysis 3,2: 2001 (85-108)
GenAi, democracy under threat, pandemic, climate change, fake media and the great resignation. We live in challenging times. For the next three months we are looking at the importance of potential space or reflective space in creating a place where we can think about and make sense of some of the challenges that we are facing in contemporary society. Martin Ringer. ‘Enhancing group effectiveness through creating and maintaining a "reflective space" ‘. (Socio-Analysis, 3 (2), 2001, pages 85-108). Martin Ringer highlights the importance of reflective space in facilitating the effective functioning of groups. The author explores why reflective spaces are important and what is needed to create and maintain them. Issues such as secure containment and effective linking are identified as important to helping to build reflective spaces.
Explore these ideas in greater depth at the Socioanalysis reading group.
Socioanalysis
Socioanalysis is an academic journal proudly published by Group Relations Australia.
Socioanalysis is an international journal about groups, organisations and society from the systems psychodynamic perspective. Its role is to provide opportunities for practitioners and scholars to connect with each other, contribute to the field of systems psychodynamics and promote new ideas and opportunities to explore themes that emerge in groups and society.
Socioanalysis includes quality international and Australian papers covering a wide spectrum of topics in the fields of socioanalysis, group relations and system psychodynamics. Seasoned authors and newcomers are welcomed to submit original papers.
Papers can include, for example, group, organisational and societal case studies and/or research, theoretical expositions and critiques, consultancy and educational interventions, methodological papers and literature reviews. Reviews of books relevant to the field are also welcomed.
Socioanalytic theory and practice studies conscious and unconscious dynamics in groups, organisations and society. The emotional experience of people in their roles is fundamental to socioanalytic perspectives. Group Relations is a theoretical and practical stance towards discovering group, inter-group and institutional dynamics. It relies on systems and psychodynamic thinking and practice and uses data from the here-and-now experience of participants and staff in group relations conferences. Systems psychodynamics originates in the fields of systems thinking, group relations theory and psychoanalysis. This approach is an in-depth way to gain an understanding of why certain dynamics, processes and structures exist within groups and society. Examples include racism, sexism, bullying and corruption. Dynamics include power, authority and accountability, to name a few.
The journal is of interest to those practising, studying or simply interested in leadership, group dynamics, management, unconscious processes in organisations and society, ethical dynamics in organisations, organisational consultancy processes and methodological approaches to group and organisational research. Managers, board members, social scientists and academics alike will find the journal provides insights that can be applied to their work.
The journal is edited by Prof Susan Long and headed by a committed editorial board and an erudite international advisory board.
Editorial Board
Susan Long Editor in Chief, Tanya Lewis Editor, Neo Pule Editor, Kristina Karlsson Book Review Editor, Julian Manley Board member, John Newton Board member, Brigid Nossal Board member, Joanne Fitzgerald Board member, Fiona Martin Board member
International Advisory Board
Mr David Armstrong; Prof Siv Boalt Boethius, Prof Gouranga Chattopadhyay, Dr Kenneth Eisold, Emeritus Professor Yiannis Gabriel, Dr Larry Hirschhorn, Prof Paul Hoggett, Prof Emeritus Richard Holti, Dr Manfred Kets de Vries, Dr James Krantz, Prof Ajeet N. Mathur, Anton Obholzer, Dr Mannie Sher, Mr Jon Stokes, Professor Emeritus Russ Vince, Dr Simon Western and Dr Kathleen Pogue White.
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Call for papers
The editorial board is calling for papers…..
Volume 27 Issue 2. July 2026
Please submit papers by 30 September 2025
General Issue
Socioanalysis is ‘the activity of exploration, consultancy and action research which combines and synthesises methodologies and theories derived from psychoanalysis, group relations, social systems thinking, organisation behaviour and social dreaming’.
This journal addresses the need to provide a vehicle for the publication of scientific papers in the area of socio-analysis. Our policy is to invite papers of an international standard whilst supporting both established and new writers.
Socioanalysis publishes scientific papers and book reviews. The journal is now expanding to include:
- Opinion Pieces that address current societal concerns from a socioanalytic perspective.
- Creative Products that express socioanalytic concepts and practices eg, poetry, short stories.
The Editorial Board calls for papers appropriate to the journal. Please send your paper to socioanalysis@grouprelations.org.au
The Editorial Board also calls for book reviews, creative products and opinion pieces relevant to socioanalytic perspectives.
For submission details click here.
There are no fees or charges required for manuscript processing and/or publishing materials in the journal.
Socioanalysis Peer Review Policy
