As the interaction with the public increases, some members may receive more recognition than others. The question of who deserves credit for what idea may lead to divisions and antagonism. For authors, the order of their names on publications may cause tensions. For artists, the visibility of each artist’s paintings at exhibits, or the degree of recognition for originating a style may become a matter of contention. For scientists, credit for an important discovery may be a subject of dispute. Behind many of the conflicts is a sense of resentment and betrayal because of confusion about ownership of ideas and inequities in recognition. As these stresses mount, the members develop even stronger urges to strike out on their own.
7. The Nostalgic Reunion Stage
As the members become more distant from one another, one member may emerge as the group’s “alumni representative.” This member gathers information about the whereabouts of the others, and may attempt to bring them back together. Although some reunions may occur, reunited circles rarely achieve the synergy they had in the earlier stages of their development.
The circle as a whole, or individual members within the circle, may acquire loyal disciples during this stage–younger protégés who attempt to codify the group’s vision or construct a narrative account of the group’s history. The attempts to construct a final vision and an official history of the group may divide the group even more, as some members’ roles are seen as more important than others. But often the bonds of affection transcend the divisions over history, intellectual property, and differential success, and the members support one another during the personal crises of later life.
To begin our examination of the stages in the development of a collaborative circle, we turn first to the French Impressionists, a prototypical case against which to measure the group dynamics in other collaborative circles.
