A THEORETICAL PARADIGM FOR ANALYZING THE DYNAMICS OF TASK AND PROCESS COMPONENTS OF GROUP LIFE AS THEY ARE RELATED TO THE MANIFOLD FORCES OPERATIVE IN THE CLASSROOM IS PRESENTED. PUPILS ARE VIEWED AS MEMBERS OF A PREDOMINANTLY WORK-ORIENTED CULTURE--THE CLASSROOM. WITHIN THIS CULTURE, TWO KINDS OF CONFLICT-PRODUCING DEMANDS TO WHICH PUPILS MUST YIELD ENERGY ARE POSTULATED--INTRAPERSONAL DEMANDS AND EXTERNAL DEMANDS OF TASK, PROCESS, AND TEACHER. THE TEACHER'S ROLE IS VIEWED AS THAT OF A DIAGNOSTICIAN AND CONSULTANT FOR THE SOCIAL SYSTEM IN WHICH HE IS ALSO A PARTICIPANT. (AUTHOR)