One major advantage of a closed group versus an open group is what?

• A. cost effectiveness.
• B. it promotes cohesiveness.
• C. it lessens counselor burnout.
• D. it allows the members to meet less frequently.

Answer: (B)

A stable, fixed membership allows the group to build strong interpersonal bonds and trust quickly. When people stay together for a period, they learn each other’s communication styles, establish norms, and feel safer to share openly. That ongoing exposure and predictable dynamics foster a sense of belonging and mutual support, which is the essence of cohesiveness. With cohesiveness, members are more engaged, participate more consistently, and invest in the group’s goals, creating a feedback loop that strengthens the group as a whole.

Open groups, by contrast, mix in new members and have turnover, which can disrupt developing trust and make it harder for the group to form deep, shared norms. The other options aren’t guaranteed advantages of a closed group—cost effects, burnout, or meeting frequency depend on many factors beyond membership status.