{32} Group Dynamics

Question 1

Explain:

Need to belong?

Ostracism?

Significance of Groups

Answer 1

A pervasive drive to form and maintain at least a minimum quantity of lasting, positive, and impactful interpersonal relationships

Humans seek inclusion over exclusion, membership over isolation, and acceptance over rejection

Ostracism: The deliberate exclusion from groups

Question 2

Explain:

Affiliation (in groups)?

Downward Social Comparison?

Significance of Groups

Answer 2

People join with others to evaluate the accuracy of their personal beliefs and attitudes Affiliates
-To maintain self-worth, people seek out and compare themselves to the less fortunate

Question 3

Explain:

Identity and membership?

Significance of Groups

Answer 3

**Social Identity Theory: ** A theoretical analysis of group processes and intergroup relations that assumes groups influence their members’ self-concepts and self-esteem, particualrly when individuals categorize themselves as group members and identify with the group
Collective Self-Esteem: Feelings of self-worth that are based on evaluation of relationships with others and membership in social groups
Sociometer Model: A conceptual analysis of self-evaluation processes that theorizes self-esteem functions to psychologically monitor of one’s degree of inclusion and exclusion in social groups

Question 4

Explain:

Advantages of living in groups?

Significance of Groups

Answer 4

1. Means to reach goals that cannot be achieved alone
2. Biologically prepapred to seek membership and avoid isolation
3. Natural selction for those who sought to be in groups as opposed to isolated

Question 5

Explain:

Social Facilitation?

Answer 5

The improvement of an individual’s performance when that person works in the presence of other people
For more complex (nondominant responses) problems, groups are worse
For simpler (dominant responses) problems, groups are better

Question 6

Explain:

Social Loafing?

Answer 6

The reduction of individual effort exerted when people work in groups compared when they work alone
- Study done that proved that it wasn’t just group effectiveness that contributes to social loafing… intensity decreases

Question 7

Explain:

How to reduce social loathing?

Answer 7

• Assign individual tasks and responsibilities
• Creating small groups and establishing individual accountability can help
• Establishing clear standards and rules
• Evaluating individual and group performance
• Highlighting the achievements of individual members