FINALS [Essay Questions] (test bank) Flashcards
includes CH9, 7, 11, 12, 16.
Describe the characteristics of the social identity theory.
Our tendency to take personal pride or offense for the accomplishments of a group is the territory of social identity theory. Social identity theory proposes that people have emotional reactions to the failure or success of their group because their self-esteem gets tied into the group’s performance. The theory has the following characteristics
Similarity: It refers to the tendency of people who have greater uniformity in values and characteristics to have greater identification as well.
Distinctiveness: It refers to the tendency of in-group members to notice and emphasize identities that reflect how they are different from other groups.
Status: It refers to the tendency of people to link themselves to groups of higher social standing in an attempt to define themselves favorably.
Uncertainty reduction: It refers to the tendency of people to link themselves to groups of higher social standing in an attempt to define themselves favorably.
List and briefly describe the stages in the five-stage model of group development.
The five-stage group development model characterizes groups as proceeding through five distinct stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
1) Forming is characterized by a great deal of uncertainty about the group’s purpose, structure, and leadership. Members are testing the waters to determine what types of behavior are acceptable.
2) In the storming stage, members accept the existence of the group, but there is resistance to the constraints that the group imposes on individuality. There is conflict over who will control the group.
3) The third stage is one in which close relationships develop and the group demonstrates cohesiveness. There is now a strong sense of group identify and camaraderie. This norming stage is complete when the group structure solidifies and the group has assimilated a common set of expectations of what defines correct member behavior.
4) The fourth stage is performing. The structure at this point is fully functional and accepted. Group energy has moved from getting to know and understand each other to performing the task at hand.
5) In the adjourning stage, the group prepares for its disbandment. High task performance is no longer the group’s top priority. Instead, attention is directed toward wrapping up activities.
Describe the punctuated-equilibrium model.
Temporary groups with deadlines do not seem to follow the usual five-stage model. An alternative model to explain the growth of temporary groups is the punctuated-equilibrium model. The punctuated-equilibrium model characterizes groups as exhibiting long periods of inertia interspersed with brief revolutionary changes triggered primarily by members’ awareness of time and deadlines. Under this model, group development occurs along the following stages: (1) their first meeting sets the group’s direction, (2) this first phase of group activity is one of inertia, (3) a transition takes place exactly when the group has used up half its allotted time, (4) this transition initiates major changes, (5) a second phase of inertia follows the transition, and (6) the group’s last meeting is characterized by markedly accelerated activity.
Explain the following terms: role perception and role expectation.
Our view of how we’re supposed to act in a given situation is role perception. We engage in certain types of behavior based on how we believe we are supposed to behave. We get these perceptions from stimuli all around us — for example, friends, books, films, television.
Role expectation is the way others believe you should act in a given context. The role of a U.S. federal judge is viewed as having propriety and dignity, whereas a football coach is seen as aggressive, dynamic, and inspiring to his players.
Explain the relationship between role conflict and reference groups.
When compliance with one role requirement may make it difficult to comply with another, the result is role conflict. Since most employees are simultaneously in occupations, work groups, divisions, and demographic groups, these different identities can come into conflict when the expectations of one clash with the expectations of another. In such situations, they conform to the norms and expectations of important groups to which they belong or hope to belong. These important groups are reference groups, in which a person is aware of other members, defines himself or herself as a member or would like to be a member, and feels group members are significant to him or her
What are four common classes of norms?
1) The most common class of norms is performance norms. Work groups typically provide their members with explicit cues on how hard they should work, how to get the job done, their level of output, appropriate levels of tardiness, and the like.
2) Appearance norms include things like dress codes and unspoken rules about when to look busy.
3) Social arrangement norms are norms about with whom group members eat lunch and whether to form friendships on and off the job.
4) Resource allocation norms cover things like assignment of difficult jobs, and distribution of resources like pay or equipment.
