Group nature and group environment Flashcards
What is a group?
> = 2 people, who share a common fate and have mutual benefits; key defining characteristic is awareness of, relation with and interaction with each other
What is group development?
The degree of maturity and cohesion that a group achieves over time as members interact, learn about one another and structure relationships and roles within the group
How does a group develop?
Group development does not move progressively in a linear fashion, but instead in a pendulum perspective: cycles of development are repeated and resolution to certain issues is temporary as shifts occur in relationship during growth. The five stages repeatedly cycle
What are the five stages of group development?
Forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning
What is each stage of group development split into?
Interpersonal and task characteristics
What occurs during forming?
Individuals become familiar with each other and form relationships and bonds; group task is determined and methods suitable for carrying out task follow
What occurs during storming?
Tension and conflict develops among members and with the leader; resistance occurs to group methods and task, imposing own preferences
What occurs during norming?
Cohesion and group harmony develops and group roles are established; task cooperation occurs
What occurs during performing?
Relationships are stabilised; group is oriented towards productivity and performance
What occurs during adjourning?
Contact and emotional dependency among members decreases; group task and duties are completed
What are the limitations of the stages of group development?
Groups are dynamic, so not always a smooth process and teams may relapse
What is the principle of least group size?
Group be large enough to include sufficient members with the social and task skills necessary for its activities, but not too large to cause social loafing
What is social loafing?
Less individual effort is exerted as the group gets larger than when alone, as the individual is lost in large teams (Ringlemann effect)
How can coaches prevent social loafing (Ringlemann effect)?
Recognise individual contribution and effort within group and to team performance by performance feedback and verbal enouragement; spend time in drills to improve timing and coordination among team members
