5 cohesion and development 2013

7/27/2019 5 Cohesion and Development 2013

1/26

5Cohesion andDevelopment

A group is not just a set of individuals, but a cohesive whole that joins themembers in interlocking interdepen-dencies. This solidarity or unity iscalled group cohesion and is anecessary, if not sufficient, conditionfor a group to exist. A group may beginas a collection of strangers, but, asuncertainty gives way to increasingunity, the members become bound totheir group and its goals. As cohesionand commitment ebb and flow withtime, the groups influence over itsmembers rises and falls.

What is group cohesion, and

what are its sources?How does cohesion develop

over time?

What are the positive and

negative consequences of cohesion?

Do initiations increasecohesion?


2/26

Cohesion & Development

The Natureof Cohesion

Sources

Social

Task

Collective

Emotional

Structural

DevelopingCohesion

Theories of development

Five Stages

Cycles of development

Consequencesof Cohesion

Satisfaction andadjustment

Dynamics andinfluence

Productivity

ExplainingInitiations

Cohesionand

initiations

Hazing


3/26

The Nature of Cohesion

Sources

Social

Task

Collective

Emotional

Structural

The total field of forces which act onmembers to remain in the group

F e s t i n g e r , S c h a c h t e r , &B a c k , 1 9 5 0 , p . 1 6 4

Origin

From theLatinhaesus , which meanscling to(e.g.,adhesive,inherit)

Definition

The

solidarity,unity,integrity of agroup

Sources

A groupscohesivenessderives on anumber of sources, suchas attraction,commitmentto a task, andso on.

Equifinality: Potential to reach an end state through many paths Multifinality: Reaching different endings from the same starting conditions


4/26

Multicomponent-multilevel model

MultipleComponents

Multiple

Levels

(e.g., member tomember, member

to group)

(e.g., attraction,shared task focus,

identity

Sources of Cohesion


5/26

Components Levels

Attraction betweenmembers

Attraction

to thegroup-as-a-whole

Sources of Cohesion

Social Cohesion

Task Cohesion

Collective Cohesion

Emotional Cohesion

Structural Cohesion

Social Cohesion


6/26

Components Processes

Social Cohesion

Task Cohesion

Collective Cohesion

Emotional Cohesion

Structural Cohesion

Sharedcommitment

to groupgoals

Collectiveefficacy

Grouppotency

Sources of CohesionTask Cohesion


7/26

Components

GroupUnity: WE

Belonging(part of thegroup): IN

Sources of CohesionCollective Cohesion

Social Cohesion

Task Cohesion

Collective Cohesion

Emotional Cohesion

Structural Cohesion

Self-group bondingIdentity fusion


8/26

Components

Sources of CohesionEmotional Cohesion

Social Cohesion

Task Cohesion

Collective Cohesion

Emotional Cohesion

Structural Cohesion

Morale

Esprit decorps

Relational cohesion theory:cohesion increases as the group becomes a source of positiveemotions (e.g., behavioralsyncrony)


9/26

Components Processes

Sources of CohesionStructural Cohesion

Social Cohesion

Task Cohesion

Collective Cohesion

Emotional Cohesion

Structural CohesionOpen groups tend to be less cohesivethan closed ones (e.g., e-groups)


10/26

Red DevilsBulldogs

Sherif & Sherif, 1953, 1956


11/26

Sources


12/26

DevelopingCohesion

Theories of development

Five Stages

Cycles of development


Sources

Social

Task

Collective

Emotional

Structural



Basic Idea

Groups

develop: overtime they exhibitpredictablepatterns of change

Stage Models

Some models

assumegroups movethrough aseries of separablestages as

they develop

Cycle Models

Some models

assumegroupsrepeatedly cyclethroughperiods or

phasesduring theirlifetimes


13/26

Time

P e r f o r m a n c e a n

d c o

h e s

i o n

Formation

Conflict

Stabilizing

Performance

dealing with sourceof tension

creatingthe group

and settinggoals

structureand

stability

monitoring,leading,feedback

Five Stage Model of GroupDevelopment


14/26

Stage Major Processes Characteristics

Orientation: Forming

Members become familiar with each otherand group; dependency and inclusion issues;acceptance of leader and group consensus

Communications are tentative, polite;concern for ambiguity, groups goals;leader is active; members are compliant

Conflict: Storming

Disagreement over procedures;dissatisfaction and tension; antagonismtoward leader

Criticism of ideas; poor attendance;hostility; coalition formation

Structure: Norming

Growth of cohesiveness and unity; roles,standards, and relationships; increasedtrust, communication

Agreement on procedures; reduction inrole ambiguity; increased we -feeling

Work: Performing

Goal achievement; performance andproduction Decision making; problem solving;mutual cooperation

Dissolution: Adjourning

Termination of roles; completion of tasks;reduction of dependency

Disintegration and withdrawal;increased independence andemotionality; regret

Tuckmans Five Stage Model


15/26

Cyclical vs. Stage Models

Tuckman: A successive stagemodel

Bales Equilibriummodel: a cyclicalmodel

Punctuatedequilibrium model

Task Orientation

RelationshipOrientation

Cultural differences in developmentand time perceptions: polychronic vs.monochronic


16/26


DevelopingCohesion




Productivity


Most people, if asked to choose betweentwo groups one that is cohesive and

another that is not would likely pick thecohesive group. But cohesiveness has its

drawbacks. A cohesive group is an intensegroup, and this intensity affects the

members, the groups dynamics, and thegroups performance in both positive and

negative ways. Cohesion leads to a range of consequences not all of them desirable.


17/26


18/26

PositiveConsequences

ProblematicConsequences

Enhanced member

satisfactionReduced tension, stressHigher groupengagementReduced turnoverLonger duration of membership

Intensification of

emotional and socialprocessesIncreased influence,pressure

Hostility Groupthink

What about productivity?




19/26

S o u r c e s : M u l l e n& C o p p e r , 1 9 9 4 ;B e a l e t a l . ,2 0 0 3 ; G u l l y e ta l . , 1 9 9 5

Do Cohesive Groups Outperform

Less Cohesive Groups?

Cohesion

Socialcohesion

Unity (Group Pride)

Task Cohesion(teamwork)

Performance

.51

.25

.24

.,17.25

Norms are also critically important

Task Interdependence

.24

.17


20/26

Studies suggest

that theproductivity of cohesive groupsdepends on thenorms of thatgroup: if thegroup norms donot supporthard work, thencohesive groups will be strikingly unproductive!

Groups with normsthat stressproductivity

Groups with norms thatstress low productivity

P r o

d u c t

i v i t

y

Low Cohesion

HighCohesion


21/26

Application:ExplainingInitiations

Cohesionandinitiations

Hazing

Festingers theory of cognitive dissonancepredicts that people whomust invest in theirgroup will become

committed to it.Festinger, Schachters and

Backs classic study of the Seekers supportedthis predictions

Aronson & Mills tested this hypothesis in anexperimental study of initiation and alsofound evidence of increased commitment


22/26

Application:ExplainingInitiations

Cohesionandinitiations

Hazing

Aronson & Mills tested this hypothesis in anexperimental study of initiation and alsofound evidence of increased commitment

150155160165

170175180185190

195200

Control Mild Severe


23/26

Bonding: Increases dependency on the group

Dominance: Establisheshierarchy, status

Commitment: Increases

psychological costs andcommitment

Tradition: Defended as a sacredtradition

Hazing

Dangers of hazing What sustains hazing?

Ineffective: Not as effective ameans of increasingcommitment as other group-level activities

Dangerous: Harmful and fatalin some cases

Illegal: Banded in most jurisdictions


24/26


25/26

GroupDevelopment

Tuckmans 5 stagemodel of groupdeveloplment

Forming

Storming

NormingPerforming

Adjourning

Forming

Storming

Norming

Adjourning

Task

Performing

Source: Forsyth, 2010


26/26

Sports_Illustrated_Miracle_on_Ice_cover.jpg

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/the_golden_goal/

http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=289718

For images of the 1980 US Hockey team s see
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bd/Sports_Illustrated_Miracle_on_Ice_cover.jpghttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/the_golden_goal/http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=289718http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=289718http://www.usahockey.com/ushhof/default.aspx?NAV=AF_01&id=289718http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/the_golden_goal/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bd/Sports_Illustrated_Miracle_on_Ice_cover.jpg

5 cohesion and development 2013

Documents