Aodhán Moran, an executive coach blending tech with psychology, and Brant Elwood, a therapeutic consultant and expert in archetypal theory, dive into the intricacies of group relations. They explore archetypes like the scapegoat and the absence of the wise king in society. Strong emotional responses often reveal deeper projections, while personal narratives shed light on hidden dynamics within groups. The discussion emphasizes experiential learning and provides insightful resources to understand interpersonal relationships better.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
The Wilderness Therapy Scapegoat
Brant Elwood tells a story about a wilderness therapy group that repeatedly scapegoated members.
After one scapegoat left, the group quickly found another, highlighting the group's unconscious need for this role.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Circe's Potion
Aodhán Moran shares an experience where he was drawn to a charismatic group member, becoming silent and withdrawn.
He later realized this was due to jealousy, highlighting how unconscious dynamics can influence behavior.
insights INSIGHT
No Coincidences in Groups
In group relations, there are no coincidences in group behavior.
Seemingly individual actions, like leaving a room, often reflect unconscious group dynamics.
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This book redefines age-old concepts of masculinity by arguing that mature masculinity is not abusive or domineering, but rather generative, creative, and empowering. Jungian analysts Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette identify and define the four mature male archetypes: the King (just and creative ordering), the Warrior (aggressive but nonviolent action), the Magician (initiation and transformation), and the Lover (connection to others and the world). They also explore the four immature patterns that interfere with masculine potential: the divine child, oedipal child, trickster, and hero. The book is an exploratory journey to help men and women deepen their understanding of the masculine psyche.
Gods, Heroes and Groups
Gods, Heroes and Groups
Brant Elwood
Aodhan Moran
Our Inner Ape
Our Inner Ape
A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are
Frans de Waal
In 'Our Inner Ape', Frans de Waal examines human behavior through the lens of our evolutionary cousins, the chimpanzee and the bonobo. He delves into aspects such as power, sex, violence, and kindness, highlighting the dual nature of human beings. De Waal argues that humans are not simply rational beings but are influenced by deep-seated biological and emotional drives similar to those of apes. The book discusses experiments and observations that show primates exhibit moral behaviors like fairness, empathy, and altruism, and how these traits are also present in humans. De Waal's work challenges the notion of a clear distinction between human and ape behavior, instead revealing a complex interplay between our 'inner apes'.
Aodhán Moran and Brant Evans are experts in group relations, exploring the hidden dynamics that shape how groups function and how individuals relate within them.
Their work combines psychology, mythology, and practical insights to reveal the deeper forces at play in teams, families, and communities. From Jungian archetypes to the scapegoat mechanism, their approach helps people better understand and navigate the complexities of group behaviour.
Here’s what we explore in this discussion:
— What group relations are and why they’re essential to understand.
— How group dynamics often reflect myths and archetypes
— The scapegoat mechanism, how to avoid being scapegoated, and what to do if you find yourself in this unfortunate position.
— Why strong emotional reactions often reveal hidden projections.
And more.
You can get a copy of their book by going to https://bit.ly/GHG-2025.
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Aodhán Moran has one foot in psychology and the other in technology. Starting his career in tech and e-commerce, Aodhán worked various roles in start-ups and scale-ups across Galway, San Francisco, and Toronto before pursuing a career in clinical psychology.
Aodhán is a certified executive coach through Dr Simon Western’s Ecoleadership Institute. His practice is grounded in the analytic-network systems psychodynamic lens, which he uses to coach young entrepreneurs toward self-awareness in their work.
As a student of group relations since 2019, Aodhán has attended multiple group relations- style conferences in member, trainee consultant, and staff roles, including The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations’ Leicester Conference. Aodhán draws on Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Jonathan Pageau, René Girard, Simon Western, and others in his explorations of individual and group dynamics.
Aodhán is particularly interested in the intersection of psychology, mythology, and religion, and how these areas can inform our understanding of individual and group behaviour.
Brant Elwood has a MA in Social-Organisational Psychology from Columbia University and is a therapeutic consultant. He has held leadership positions within several therapeutic treatment organizations. During the pandemic, he directed a non-profit that utilised myth and archetypal theory to conduct rites of passage work with young men in the southeast US.
Brant draws from the mythopoetic lineage of Robert Bly, Robert Johnson, and others in an attempt to establish a novel style of thinking about groups in communities and organisations. He first attended a Tavistock-style group relations conference in 2015.
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Interview Links:
— Aodhán & Brant's Book - https://bit.ly/GHG-2025
— X: https://x.com/aodhanpmoran
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