The initial stage of group development is characterized by which behavior?

• A. Avoidance-avoidance conflicts.
• B. Tendency for members to compete with the leader for power.
• C. Approach-avoidance behavior.
• D. Members working on the interpretation of unconscious behavior.

Answer: (C)

In the early forming stage, members are feeling both drawn to participate and wary about joining in. This mixed motivation shows up as approach-avoidance behavior: they want the benefits of belonging and contributing, but they also hesitate out of fear of judgment, making mistakes, or exposing vulnerabilities. This ambivalence is typical as people test boundaries, seek acceptance, and look to the leader for structure.

Why the others don’t fit as well: avoidance-avoidance would describe choosing between two undesirable options, not the internal pull between engaging and retreating. competing with the leader for power is more indicative of the storming stage, when authority and roles are actively contested. interpreting unconscious material aligns with deeper psychodynamic work and isn’t characteristic of the initial forming phase.