Week 7 - Group Dynamics & Cohesion Flashcards
Define groups
“2 or more people who interact w/ one another such that each person influences + is influenced by each other person”. (Moorhead & Griffin, 1998).
Characteristics of a group
Collective ID Sense of shared purpose Structured modes of communication Personal +/or task interdependence Interpersonal interaction
What roles are there in group structure
Formal roles Informal roles
Formal roles
Coach, instructor, captain = Dictated by nature + structure of organisation.
Informal roles
Enforcer, mediator = Evolve from groups dynamics or interactions among group members.
What’s important for team success
Role clarity + role acceptance
When does role conflict occur
When role occupant doesn’t have sufficient ability, motivation, time or understanding to achieve goal
List the 11 informal roles
Comedian Spark plug Cancer Enforcer Mentor Informal leader – nonverbal Informal leader - verbal Team player Star player Malingerer Social convener
INFORMAL ROLES Spark plug
Athlete who inspires group towards a common goal
INFORMAL ROLES Cancer
Athlete who expresses -ive emotions that spread destructively throughout a team
INFORMAL ROLES Enforcer
Athlete who’s physically intimidating who’s counted on to retaliate when rough tactic are used by the opposing teams
INFORMAL ROLES Informal leader - non-verbal
Athlete who leads by example, hard work + dedication
INFORMAL ROLES Malingerer
Athlete who prolongs psych. or physical symptoms of injury for some type of external gain.
Define a group norm
Level of perf, pattern of behaviour or belief. — Can be formally/informally developed by a group.
What is norm for productivity
Standard for effort + perf. accepted by team.
Give a method to create +ive norms
Enlist formal + informal leaders of team to set +ive examples.
Gender differences in team norms
Research found that F teams had a better understanding of norms for competition, practice, + social settings than M teams (Bruner, Carreau, Wilson, & Penney, 2014).
Why is it that F teams have a better understanding of norms for competition, practise + social settings than M teams
F have demonstrated that they hold stronger perceptions for social values i.e belongingness than males. — Might have something to do w/ M playing more often in contact + collision sports where there could be fewer social norms than in ind. sports + other noncontact team sports. Applied perspective — coaches of M teams in particular should consider strategies i.e team goal setting + team building to help set appropriate team norms (Bloom & Stevens, 2002).
What are the theories of group development
Linear perspective Cyclical perspective Pendular perspective
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT What are the stages in the linear perspective
Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning (added in 1977)
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT LINEAR PERSPECTIVE Explain forming
Familiarisation Determining ind. roles w/in group Determine groups task
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT LINEAR PERSPECTIVE Explain storming
Resistance to leader Interpersonal conflict Resistance to group methods + task
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT LINEAR PERSPECTIVE Explain Norming
Team roles developed Team norms developed Task cooperation is apparent
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT LINEAR PERSPECTIVE Explain Performing
Clearly defined roles Channeled energy towards completion of task
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT LINEAR PERSPECTIVE Explain Adjourning
Member contact ⬇️ Task is complete
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT CYCLIC PERSPECTIVE
— Emphasis is on terminal phase of group’s existence. — As groups develop, they psych. prepare for their own break-up. = Relevant to exercise groups + recreation teams that last 10-15 weeks.
What assumptions were the linear perspective + cyclic perspective based on?
That groups possess an inherent static development that’s unresponsive to the demands of the env. Gersick, 1988
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT What are the stages in pendular perspective
Orientation Differentiation + conflict Resolution + cohesion Differentiation + conflict Termination
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT PENDULAR PERSPECTIVE Explain orientation
Cohesion + feelings of unity are high.
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT PENDULAR PERSPECTIVE Explain differentiation + conflict
Subdivide into smaller groups + conflicts as they compete for positions
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT PENDULAR PERSPECTIVE Explain resolution + cohesion
Cohesion ⬆️ as members share common concerns + feelings
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT PENDULAR PERSPECTIVE Explain differentiation + conflict
Unity is weakened as some are rewarded while others punished.
THEORIES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT PENDULAR PERSPECTIVE Explain termination
High/low cohesion depending on team success
How do you create an effective team climate
Social support Proximity Distinctiveness Fairness Similarity
Steiners model of team performance
1972 Actual productivity = pot. prod - losses due to faulty group processes
Steiners model of team performance What comes under potential productivity
Knowledge Ability Level of training Adequacy of equipment
Steiners model of team performance What comes under losses due to faulty group processes
Motivation Co-ordination
What does seiners model of team performance establish?
Teams w/ less interactions = less likely to suffer losses in productivity due to faulty processes compared to highly interactive sports. As need for cooperation ⬆️: - Importance of ind. ability ⬇️ - Importance of group processes ⬆️ Equally matched players make best team.
What can come under explanations for group losses
Ringlemann effect Social loafing
Ringlemann effect
Ind. perf ⬇️ as no. of ppl in group ⬆️
Social loafing
Ind. w/in a group or team giving less than 100% effort due to motivation losses.
Why does tendency to engage in social loading increase?
When: Ind. Output can’t be evaluated independently. Perception of task is low in meaningfulness Low Ind. personal involvement in task Comparison vs. group standards isn’t available Ind. contributing to collective effort being strangers
Ways to reduce social loafing
Provide ind. with specific fb about personal + groups perf. Emphasise importance of ind. pride + unique contributions ⬆️ identifiability of ind. perf. Make each ind. feel valued Break team down into smaller units Enhance cohesiveness of group
Define cohesion
“Dynamic process reflected in the tendency of a group to stick together + remain united in the pursuit of its instrumental objectives +/or for the satisfaction of member affective needs.” (Carron, Brawley, & Widmeyer, 1998)
What are the types of cohesion
Task Social
Define task cohesion
Degree to which group members work together to achieve common goals + objectives
Define social cohesion
Interpersonal attractions among group members
Conceptual model for cohesion
Carron (1982)
Benefits of cohesion
Improved perf.
⬆️ adherence
⬇️ anxiety
Higher collective efficacy
⬇️ social loafing
⬆️ satisfaction
