Team Dynamics and Cohesion

Question 1

Define a group?

Answer 1

• A group is two or more people who interact and exert mutual influence on each other.

Question 2

Define a team?

Answer 2

• A team is any group of people who must interact with each other to accomplish shared objectives.

Question 3

what are the Four characteristics of a team ?

Answer 3

• Collective sense of identity: “we” rather than “I”
• Distinctive roles: all members know their job
• Structured modes of communication: lines of communication
• Norms: social rules that guide members on what to do and not do

Question 4

what are 3 Theories of Group Development?

Answer 4

Linear perspective -
Groups develop in stages or in a linear fashion

Cyclical (life cycle) -perspective
Groups follow a cyclical pattern

Pendular perspective -
Groups develop in a pendulum-like manner

Question 5

What are the 4 parts of the linear perspective?

Answer 5

Forming:
Familiarization, formation of interpersonal relationships, development of team structure

Storming:
Rebellion, resistance to the leader and to control by the group, interpersonal conflict

Norming:
Development of solidarity and cooperation; group conflicts resolved; a sense of unity

Performing:
Channeling of energies for team success; focus on problem-solving

Question 6

what is the Cyclical (Life Cycle) Perspective?

Answer 6

development of groups is similar to the life cycle - birth, growth and death.

the assumption that as the group develops, it is psychologically prepares for its own breakup.

This model is especially relevant for groups and teams that last 10 to 15 weeks (e.g. recreational teams that play together for a season)

Question 7

what is the pendular perspective?

Answer 7

• The pendular model emphasize the shifts that occur in interpersonal relationships during the growth and development of groups.

Question 8

what are the Five stages of group development in the Pendular Perspective?

Answer 8

1. Orientation- Cohesion and feelings of unity are high
2. Differentiation and conflict- Teams subdivide into smaller groups and conflicts arise as players compete for positions.
3. Resolution and cohesion- Cohesion increases as group members share concerns and feelings.
4. Differentiation and conflict-Team unity is weakened as some are rewarded and punished.
5. Termination-With team success, feelings of cohesion are high. Cohesion is low when the team are unsuccessful.

Question 9

what is a formal role?

Answer 9

• Formal roles (e.g., coach, instructor, captain) are dictated by the nature and structure of the organization.

Question 10

what is a informal role?

Answer 10

• Informal roles (e.g., comedian, enforcer, mediator, mentor, team player, star player, etc.) evolve from the group’s dynamics or interactions among group members.

Question 11

What is Role transmission?

Answer 11

in sport many roles are transmitted from coach to athlete.

Question 12

what is Role satisfaction?

Answer 12

Role satisfaction is a multidimensional construct that encompasses the degree to which athletes are satisfied with their role.

Question 13

what is the 6 points that have a effect on role satisfaction?

Answer 13

Their skill utilization

Significance for the team

Personal significance

Feedback regarding how well they performed their role

Autonomy in fulfilling role responsibilities

Recognition of their role contributions

Question 14

when does role conflict occur?

Answer 14

• Role conflict exists when the role occupant does not have sufficient ability, motivation, time, or understanding to achieve the goal.
• Can lead to role ambiguity which has a negative impact on their confidence to fulfil their role responsibilities

Question 15

why is creating an Effective Team Climate important for team cohesion?

Answer 15

Team climate develops from how players perceive the interrelationships among the group members.

Player perceptions and evaluations set the team climate.

Coaches have the final say on establishing the team climate.

Some factors of team climate are more easily changed than otheres., but all can influence the effective functioning of a group.

Question 16

What are the benefits of social support?

Answer 16

• Provides appraisal, information, reassurance, and companionship.
• Reduces uncertainty during times of stress.
• Aids in mental and physical recovery
• Improves communication.
• Increases feelings of team cohesion and team climate

Question 17

what are the Seven Types of Social Support for Team Building?

Answer 17

1. Listening support
2. Emotional support
3. Emotional-challenge support
4. Reality-confirmation support
5. Task-appreciation support
6. Task-challenge support
7. Personal-assistance support

Question 18

what are the points to creating a effective team climate?

Answer 18

Social support: Mutual respect and support enhance team climate.

Proximity: Closer contact between members promotes team interaction

Distinctiveness: The more distinctive the group feels, the better the unity and climate.

Fairness: can bring a group closer together (or lack fairness can tear it apart)

Similarity: Greater similarity = closer climate.

Task interdependence: outcome interdependence refers to the fact that all group members benefit or suffer from groups performance.

Question 19

what is the ringlemann effect?

Answer 19

• Ringelmann effect is the phenomenon by which individual performance decreases as the number of people in the group increases.

Question 20

what is social loafing?

Answer 20

• Social loafing is when individuals within a group or team put forth less than 100% effort due to loss of motivation due to diffusion of responsibility.
• E.g. this could be due to expecting others to pick up the slack!
• Similar to the bystander effect (the more people available to help, the less likely anyone will)

Question 21

what is group cohesion?

Answer 21

• Group Cohesion
• “A dynamic process reflected in the tendency for a group to stick together and remain united in the pursuit of its instrumental objectives and/or for the satisfaction of member affective needs” (Carron, Brawley, & Widmeyer, 1998)
• An important factor influencing participation, motivation, and performance in sport and exercise settings
• Two factors act on group cohesion: attractiveness of the group (desire to be involved in interpersonal interactions) and means control (benefits from association with the group)

Question 22

define task cohesion?

Answer 22

The degree to which group members work together to achieve common goals and objectives

Question 23

define social cohesion?

Answer 23

The degree to which members of a team like each other and enjoy each others company (interpersonal attraction)

Question 24

what are the factors associated With Cohesion?

Answer 24

Types of measures
* Increases in task and social cohesion were associated with increases in performance

Task demands
* Interactive sports require team members to work together and coordinate their actions.
* Coactive sports require less team interaction and coordination for the achievement of goals.
* Cohesiveness is related to better performance in both types of sports.

Direction of causality
* The circular relationship: Increased cohesion leads to greater performance and brings teams together, which in turn leads to still more cohesion.

Team satisfaction:
* Increased cohesion is related to increased satisfaction.
Conformity:
* The more cohesive a group is, the greater its pressure to conform to the attitudes and behaviors of the group.
Injury:
* When athletes become injured, it is likely to influence the group interaction processes between the injured athletes and the rest of the team.

Adherence:
* More cohesive exercise classes have better attendance, are more likely to arrive on time, are less likely to drop out, are more resistant to disruption, are more likely to experience positive affect related to exercise, and have stronger efficacy for exercise.
* This positive relationship between cohesion and adherence appears to remain constant regardless of the leader-to-participant ratio.

Emotions and Anxiety:
* Cohesion reduced perceived pre-competitive anxiety, depression, and fatigue.
* Cohesion reduced intra-team jealousy.
* Cohesion enhanced emotional agreement among teammates.
* Cohesion was related to perceived coping abilities.
* Cohesion facilitated perceptions of anxiety being facilitative rather than debilitative.

Social support:
* There is a positive relationship between the social support an individual receives and that person’s evaluation of group cohesion.

Communication:
* Effective communication in groups is linked to team cohesion.

Stability:
* Teams higher in cohesion can better resist disruption; teams staying together longer tend to be more cohesive.

Question 25

what are the Strategies for Enhancing Cohesion

Answer 25

Exercise settings
Classes with feelings of high group cohesion have fewer dropouts and late arrivals than do classes low in cohesion.
Intervention strategies:
Facilitate group distinctiveness,
Create individual positions,
Develop group norms,
Facilitate group members making individual sacrifices,
Enhance interaction and communication

Sport settings
Teams with feelings of high group cohesion have fewer dropouts and late arrivals than do teams low in cohesion.
Intervention strategies:
Enhance team structure (facilitate role clarity and acceptance, use participatory leadership, encourage conformity to social and task norms),
Enhance the team environment (feelings of togetherness and distinctiveness),
Enhance team processes (encourage group members to make sacrifices, set goals and objectives, and enhance cooperation)

Question 26

Strategies for Leaders in Building Team Cohesion

Answer 26

Communicate effectively.

Explain individual roles in team success.

Develop pride within subunits.

Set challenging team goals.

Encourage team identity.

Avoid formation of social cliques.

Employ transformational leadership.

Avoid excessive turnover.

Conduct periodic team meetings.

Enhance team efficacy.

Know the team climate.

Get to know others; enhance personal disclosure.
Reduce self-handicapping