Exam 2 - Group Dynamics

Question 1

Group

Answer 1

two or more individuals interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular goals

Question 2

Formal Group

Answer 2

defined by the organization’s structure

designated work assignments and established tasks

Question 3

Informal Group

Answer 3

not formally structured or organizationally determined

formed on the need for social contact

Question 4

Ingroup

Answer 4

people with whom one shares a common identity

Question 5

Outgroup

Answer 5

those perceived as different from one’s group

Question 6

Ingroup favoritism

Answer 6

we see members of our ingroup as better than other people and people not in our group as all the same

Question 7

Role

Answer 7

a set of expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit

Question 7

Behavior

Answer 7

groups can influence individual behavior

Question 7

Role expectation

Answer 7

how others believe an individual should act in a given role

Question 7

Role perception

Answer 7

an individual view of how we are supposed to act in a given role

Question 7

Psychological contract

Answer 7

an unwritten agreement between the employer and employee about mutual expectations

Question 7

Role conflict

Answer 7

occurs when the expectations of an individual’s role in different groups are in opposition

Question 8

Conformity

Answer 8

the adjustment of one’s behavior to align with the norm’s of the group

Question 8

Emotions

Answer 8

emotions of one member influence the emotions of other members + members interpret their shared emotions in the same way

Question 8

interrole conflict

Answer 8

occurs when an individual is confronted by divergent role expectations

Question 9

Status

Answer 9

a socially defined position or rank given to group members because:
- the power they have over others

• their ability to contribute to the group’s goal
• their personal characteristics

Question 10

Status and norms

Answer 10

high status individuals often have more freedom to deviate from norms

Question 11

Status and group interaction

Answer 11

high status people are often more assertive

Question 12

Status inequity

Answer 12

perceived inequity creates disequilibrium and can lead to resentment and corrective behavior

Question 13

Status and stigmatization

Answer 13

stigma by association: the status of the people with whom you are affiliated can affect how others view you

Question 14

Large groups

Answer 14

better doing something with input

Question 15

Small groups

Answer 15

good for gaining diverse input

Question 16

Social Loafing

Answer 16

the tendency for individuals to expend less effort when working collectively than when working individuall

Question 17

Free riding

Answer 17

when the social loafer is exploitive (benefits at the expense of the group)

Question 18

Diffusion of responsibility

Answer 18

b/c group results cannot be attributed to any single person, the relationship between an individual’s input and the group’s output is clouded

individuals may be more tempted to become free riders and coast on group’s efforts

Question 19

Strategies to deal with social loafing

Answer 19

Personal Ethics
- stronger individuals work ethic, less likely to engage in social loafing
Group Consciousness
Group Agreeableness

Question 20

Strategies for increasing cohesiveness

Answer 20

• make group smaller
• encourage agreement with group goals
• increase time spent together
• increase status of the group and perceived difficulty of attaining membership in the group
• stimulate competition with other groups
• give rewards to group rather than individuals
• physically isolate the group

Question 21

Pros and Cons of Diversity in Group

Answer 21

Pros
- solving problems in unique ways
- become more open-minded

Cons
- increased group conflict -> lower group morale & higher dropout rates

Question 22

Weakness of group decision making

Answer 22

time consuming

conformity pressures

dominance of a few members

ambiguous responsibility

Question 22

Strengths of group decision making

Answer 22

more complete information and knowledge

increased diversity of views

increased acceptance of solutions

higher effectiveness and efficiency
-accuracy
- speed
- creativity
- acceptance

Question 23

Group think

Answer 23

situations in which group pressures for conformity deter the group from critically appraising unusual, minority, or unpopular views

Question 24

Groupshift

Answer 24

group polarization in which the initial positions of individual members of a group are exaggerated toward a more extreme position

Question 25

Brainstorming

Answer 25

group leader states problem, members “free-wheel” as many alternatives as they can

no criticism is allowed, one idea stimulates others, group members are encouraged to think the unusual

Question 26

Interacting groups

Answer 26

members meet face to face and rely on verbal and nonverbal interaction to communicate