Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:588-591
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
The "relief effect": a sociobiological model for neurotic distress and large-group therapy
M Galanter
The author discusses the new discipline of sociobiology. He develops the
hypothesis that relief of neurotic distress may be associated with
experiencing social affiliation and presents data that demonstrate a
decline in neurotic symptom intensity in individuals who joined a cohesive
religious sect. Anthropological and ethological evidence for the adaptive
value of this "relief effect" provides a basis for the evolution of this
trait. The author proposes a corresponding model for psychotherapy in large
groups.
