Group Cohesion Flashcards
Cohesion definition
DYNAMIC VS STATIC PROCESS that is reflected in the groups tendency to stick together and remain united while pursuing its goals and objectives
Groups definitions
- two or more persons INTERACTING in such a manner that each person INFLUENCES AND IS INFLUENCED by eachother person
- characterized by PURPOSEFUL INTERACTION in goal directed and/or interpersonal behavior (not same as a crowd)
- degree of ATTRACTION, COMMITMENT and INVOLVEMENT of the individual members related to the collective totality
Social Cohesion
degree to which members of a team like each other and enjoy each others company
- related to interpersonal attraction
- can vary from low to high
Task Cohesion
degree to which members of a group work together to achieve a specific and identifiable task
- more related to the goal, have reason why they are there and together
- teams “being on the same page” towards certain goal
- importance of this depends on moment and situation
Determinants of cohesion
- cooperation
- choice, decision, consideration
- stability
- how long someone stays on a team
- homogeneity
- similarities of members makes cohesion easier
- need to learn to work with diversity - success
- creates more cohesion
Models of team cohesion
- Pendular Model
- Linear Model
- Life Cycle Model
Pendular model of team cohesion
- cohesion is always in motion like a pendulum
- changes day to day
- can be more or less cohesive
Linear Model of cohesion
- Forming…names, getting to know
- Storming…forming hierarchies; some leaders, quiet, outgoing, etc.
- Norming…putting things in motion, figuring out who does what
- Performing…all previous processes coming together
* *can loop back around in this cycle, if people leave, injury, coaches may learn new strategies, etc
Life-Cycle Model
“cradle to grave” “birth to death”
- cradle…new freshmen @ beginning of year
- grave…graduating seniors leave
Types of sport
- interactive
- co-active
- mixed co-acting-interacting
Interactive sport
REQUIRES team members to work together to achieve success and team goals
-soccer, basketball, team sports, etc…
Co-active Sport
DOES NOT REQUIRE member interaction
ex…individual sports, archery, bowling, golf, fencing, martial arts
Mixed Co-acting-interacting
american football…offense and defense separate
baseball, softball…when team is up to bat, only one batter
***matching test Q
Factors Impacting team cohesion
- group size
- task (who you play, situation)
- team tenure (baseball had optimum 5yr tenure, longer is better)
- satisfaction (can be cause or effect of cohesion)
Ringelmann Effect
(tug-of-war)
- % effort decreases as group size increases
- “social loafing”
- effort and contribution is masked in larger groups
Does cohesion facilitate performance?
- makes sense in linear model because comes before performance
- not necessarily a requirement, team would win without cohesion
Gender differences and cohesion
women more affected in performance by social cohesion
can cohesion be overdone?
yes, can be around teammates too much, facilitated by coach
role of coach and cohesion
BIG ROLE
- can facilitate and be in control of cohesive activities
- can choose team leaders/captains
