Introduction Postable Group Dynamic Chapter 1
- 1. Welcome to the study of groups and their dynamics. This course has one purpose: To describe and explain all things related to people and their groups. But, before we start our analysis, we have to ask ourselves one question: Why? Why study groups?
- 2. But Why Study Groups? Because groups hold the secret to the Universe Understanding groups facilitates: Understanding people Understanding the social world Applications to practical problems Understanding yourself *The interpersonal universe, at any rate.
- 3. But Why Study Groups? Because groups hold the secret to the Universe Understanding groups facilitates: Understanding people Understanding the social world Applications to practical problems Understanding yourself We see people as individuals, with private selves; not units in a system; but they are enmeshed in groups Each person you encounter is in dozens of groups, but we* see them as isolated individuals
- 4. What Groups Do . . . They invent nearly everything… Thomas Edison’s team Eli Whitney The Wright Brothers Zworykin (TV, turned down by Westinghouse, hired by RCA) The Lunar Modules The personal computer (PARC ). . . Applications
- 5. Marco Polo (actually, the Polos) Christopher Columbus Lewis and Clark’s “Corps of Discovery” Shakelton’s “Endurance” Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s climb of Everest NASA missions…. Discover nearly everything.
- 6. What Groups Do . . . They make nearly everything Assembly lines Production teams Building crews Construction teams Service teams
- 7. What Groups Do . . . They do much of the world’s work Work crews Surgical teams Custodial staff Office staff Military and police squads Flight crews Team at Johns Hopkins with Dr. Alfred Blalock, Dr. Helen Taussig, and Vivien Thomas
- 8. What Groups Do But they also create its beauty… Bands and orchestras Dance troupes Artist circles and communities Writers clubs Improvs Cast and crew of a play or performance Flash crowds…
- 9. What Groups Do . . . They make all the decisions business decisions: executive boards, executive teams guilt and innocence: juries wealth management: investment groups military decisions: command groups moral and ethical decisions: courts, IRBs (well, most of them, anyway)
- 10. What Groups Do . . . They discover everything... The invent everything... They make everything... They do the work.... They make the good... They make the decisions... They are where leadership happens Is it lonely at the top? President John F. Kennedy with Advisors Or do even extremely powerful leaders work through and with groups?
- 12. Why Study Groups? For personal reasons Chapter 1 Understanding groups facilitates: Understanding people Understanding the social world Applications to practical problems Understanding yourself 12 Are other people the same in every group they are in? Are YOU the same person in every group you are in?
- 13. However, groups, although essential to human existence, are not all good… The Value of Groups Groups also Cause Many of the Problems in the world Gangs Criminal societies Mobs Riots Rebels Intergroup conflict Alternative religious/social groups
- 14. 1 Introduction to Group Dynamics What Are Groups? What Are Group Dynamics? Why Study Groups? Are Groups Good or Bad? (What is value of groups?) Chapter 1 introduces us to our analysis, by asking a few basic questions about groups, and their dynamics: ✔ ✔
- 15. 1c. Characteristics of Groups • Composition • Boundaries • Size • Interaction • Interdependence • Structure • Goals • Origin • Unity • Entitativity 1a. Defining Groups Two or more individuals Who are connected By and within social relationships 1b. Varieties of Groups What are groups? In Out
- 16. What are groups? 1a. Defining Groups Two or more individuals Who are connected By and within social relationships 1b. Varieties of Groups Primary groups Social groups Collectives Categories • Composition • Boundaries • Size • Interaction • Interdependence • Structure • Goals • Origin • Unity • Entitativity 1c. Characteristics of Groups
- 17. Composition Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e 17 Each person who belongs to a group defines, in part, the nature of the group. Who is in the group? How does each person fit in?
- 18. Boundaries Group Dynamics 7e Groups’ boundaries define who is not. Open groups and social networks are more permeable than closed groups.
- 19. Size Groups range in size from 2 (dyads) to the very large (crowds and collectives) The number of possible relations in a group increases as groups increase in size. Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e 19
- 20. Interaction Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e Interaction: Bales’ (1950) Interaction Process Analysis (IPA) system distinguishes between task interaction and relationship interaction. 20
- 21. Interdependence Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e Groups create various types of dependencies among members (e.g., unilateral, reciprocal). 21
- 22. Structure Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e Group interaction is patterned by group structure. Roles Norms Interpersonal relations 22
- 23. Goals Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e Groups seek a variety of goals McGrath Goal Model: Generating Choosing Negotiating Executing 23
- 24. Origins Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e Planned groups (concocted and founded) are deliberately formed, but emergent groups (circumstantial and self-organizing) come into existence over time (Arrow, McGrath, & Berdahl, 2000). 24
- 25. Unity Group cohesion, or cohesiveness, is the unity of a group. 25 Origin •From the Latin “haesus,” meaning to “cling to” (e.g., adhesive, inherit) Definition • The solidarity, unity, integrity of a group Sources • A group’s cohesiveness derives on a number of sources, such as attraction, commitment to a task, and so on.
- 26. Entitativity Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e Some groups “look like” groups, seem to be entities (common fate, similarity, proximity, and so on) 26 SOURCE: Forsyth, 2014; data presented in “Varieties of Groups and the Perception of Group Entitativity,” by B.Lickel, D. L. Hamilton, G. Wieczorkowska, A. Lewis, S. J. Sherman, and A. N. Uhles, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000, 78, 223-246
- 27. What Are Group Dynamics? Labeled “dynamic” because Influential, powerful processes Fluid, changing, developing Group Dynamics 7e 28 Chapter 1 Foundations Introduction Research Methods Formation & Development Inclusion & Identity Formation Cohesion & Development Structure Influence & Interaction Influence Power Leadership Performance Productivity Teams Decision- making Conflict Intragroup conflict Intergroup conflict Groups in context Places and Spaces Groups & change Crowds and collectives
- 28. Development of Groups over Time Chapter 1 Group Dynamics 7e Tuckman’s (1965) theory of group development assumes most groups move through five stages: forming storming norming performing adjourning 29
- 29. Introduction to Group Dynamics What Are Groups? What Are Group Dynamics? Why Study Groups? Are Groups Good or Bad? (What is value of groups?) Chapter 1 introduces us to our analysis, by asking a few basic questions about groups, and their dynamics: ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
- 30. Chapter 3 Inclusion and Identity Just as researchers in the natural sciences use exacting procedures to study aspects of the physical environment, so do group researchers use scientific methods to further their understanding of groups. They measure as precisely as possible group processes, develop theories that provide coherent explanations for the group phenomenon they study, and collect evidence to test the adequacy of their predictions and assumptions. What assumptions do researchers make when studying groups? What are the 3 critical requirements of a scientific study of groups? How do researchers measure group processes? What are the characteristics of and differences between case, experimental, and correlational studies of group processes? What theoretical perspectives guide researchers’ studies of groups? 2 Studying Groups
- 31. 1 Chapter 3 Inclusion and Identity Do humans, by nature, seek solitude or inclusion in groups? When do people embrace collectivism by putting the group’s needs before their own? What processes transform an individual’s sense of self into a collective, social identity? 3 Inclusion and Identity The ancient taoist taijitu symbolizes the synthesis of the individual and the collective. 1. From Isolation to Inclusion 2. From Individualism to Collectivism 3. From Personal Identity to Social Identity
- 32. Isolation to Inclusion Need to Belong Inclusion and exclusion Inclusion and Human Nature Individualism to Collectivism Micro: The Social Self Meso: The Group Culture Macro: Collectivism across Cultures Personal Identity to Social Identity Social Identity Theory Motivation and Social Identity 3: Inclusion and Identity
- 33. Isolation to Inclusion Need to Belong All human beings, “have a pervasive drive to form and maintain at least a minimum quantity of lasting, positive, and impactful interpersonal relationships.” Roy Baumeister & Mark Leary (1995, p. 497).
- 34. Isolation can be rejuvenating, but: • Isolated individuals (e.g., stranded explorers) report negative effects • Solitary confinement recognized as a severe punishment • People seek membership in a variety of groups • People build their “social capital” by creating online and face-to-face relationships
- 35. People affiliate in groups Putnam’s “bowling alone” hypothesis: affiliation patterns are shifting
- 36. Type of Loneliness: social and emotional
- 37. Lovers Regulars at a bar Rescue team Audience Married couple Best friends Hobby club A class in college Small family Commune Work team Therapy group Sorority Space station crew Crowd Support group 0 2 4 6 8 10 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Psychological intimacy (emotional loneliness) Integrated involvement (social loneliness) Different groups reduce different types of loneliness Adapted from Shaver and Buhrmester, 1983
- 38. Rejection Acceptance Maximum Exclusion Active Exclusion Passive Exclusion Ambivalence Passive Inclusion Active Inclusion Maximum Inclusion Group rejects or ostracizes person Group avoids person Group ignores person Group neither accepts nor rejects individual Group allows member to join Group welcomes member Group actively recruits member Inclusion and exclusion The Inclusion/Exclusion Continuum
- 39. Inclusion and exclusion Ostracism: Excluding one or more individuals from a group by reducing or eliminating contact with the person, usually by ignoring, shunning, or explicitly banishing them. Researchers have studied reactions to ostracism in various ways, including • The “life alone” paradigm • The ball-toss paradigm (and cyberball) • The exclusion paradigm
- 40. The Temporal Need-Threat Model of Ostracism: Williams, 2009
- 41. Fight vs Flight Tend and Befriend Withdrawal and freezing Aggressive, combative orientation Attention to social cues Increased motivation Prosocial orientation Reactions to Exclusion Extreme Reactions to Exclusion: Attacks by the excluded on group members— school shootings
- 42. Inclusion and Survival • The evolution of gregariousness (the “herd instinct”) • Leary’s sociometer theory • Neurological reactions to exclusion Is the “need to belong” a FUNDAMENTAL need? 1. Operates in a wide variety of circumstances (does not require special, unusual conditions) 2. Linked to emotional processes (concern, worry, etc., until met) 3. Linked to cognitive processes (planning, monitoring, analysis, etc., until met) 4. Produces ill effects that go beyond temporary distress (needs are stronger than wants) 5. Can be satisfied by substitution and satiation 6. Is universal (seen in all humans in all situations) 7. Not derived from some more basic need 8. Influential (“affects a wide and diverse assortment of behaviors”) 9. Influences more than just psychology, but also has historical, sociological, & economic influence
- 43. The Evolution of Gregariousness
- 44. Leary’s sociometer theory: self-esteem warns of possible exclusion Self-esteem is not the evaluation of your worth—it is an indicator of how well you are accepted into social groups Mark Leary: We need to think about ourselves occasionally, but none of us needs to think about ourselves as much as we do.
- 45. The Biology of Ostracism and Inclusion Anterior insula dACC (dorsal cingulate cortex) Ostracism triggers “pain” areas of the brain
- 46. Isolation to Inclusion Need to Belong Inclusion and exclusion Inclusion and Human Nature Individualism to Collectivism Micro: The Social Self Meso: The Group Culture Macro: Collectivism across Cultures Personal Identity to Social Identity Social Identity Theory Motivation and Social Identity Individualism and Collectivism
- 47. Individualism Collectivism A tradition, ideology, or personal outlook that emphasizes the primacy of the individual and his or her rights, independence, and relationships with other A tradition, ideology, or personal orientation that emphasizes the primacy of the group or community rather than each individual person. Individualism to Collectivism Individualism to Collectivism
- 48. Copyright 2004 by Donelson R. Forsyth The individual is primary, first. His or her rights must be recognized and put above the right of the group as a whole. If the group’s goals aren’t compatible with the individual’s goals, then the individual is free to go his or her own way. Individualism Collectivism The group is primary, first. Its rights must be recognized and put above the right of the individual. The individual belongs to the group.
- 51. Individualism Collectivism Conformity and duty Communal relations Equality or need Sociocentric Ingroup oriented Autonomy and uniqueness Exchange relations Equity Egocentric Reciprocity Meso: The Group Culture
- 52. Macro: Collectivism across Cultures Cultures: East vs. West Subcultures: Some ethnic groups, such as Asian Americans and Latinos, are more collectivistic than individualistic Regions of the U.S.: Culture of Honor in the south Source: Cohen, Nibsett, Bowdle, & Schwartz
- 53. Isolation to Inclusion Need to Belong Inclusion and exclusion Inclusion and Human Nature Individualism to Collectivism Micro: The Social Self Meso: The Group Culture Macro: Collectivism across Cultures Personal Identity to Social Identity Social Identity Theory Motivation and Social Identity Next Topic: Social Identity Theory
- 54. Development of Social Identity Theory • Early sociological influences • Studies of identity, self-definition • European tradition in social psychology Cooley Mead Tajfel
- 55. Personal Identity to Social Identity Social Identity Theory: Basics • Basic assumption: the self- concept is determined by group memberships • Personal identity (individual self) and Social identity (collective self) • Tajfel & Turner’s minimal intergroup situation • Key processes: categorization and identification
- 56. Social categorization: Individuals automatically classify people, including themselves, into groups. Social identification: accepting as self- descriptive (self- stereotyping) the qualities attributed to one’s group (depersonalization) Social Identity Theory I am a member of group X People in group X have qualities A, B, and C I have qualities A, B, and C Categorize
- 57. Social categorization: Individuals automatically classify people, including themselves, into groups. Social identification: accepting as self- descriptive (self- stereotyping) the qualities attributed to one’s group (depersonalization) Inclusion of the group in the self I am a member of group X People in group X have qualities A, B, and C I have qualities A, B, and C Categorize
- 58. Self-esteem depends on an individual’s personal qualities and the value of the groups to which they belong Collective Self-esteem
- 59. Ingroup-outgroup bias: Rating one’s own group more positively than other groups. Basking in Reflected Glory (BIRG): stressing association with successful groups. Social creativity: Restricting comparisons between the ingroup and other groups to stress the ingroup’s relative strengths Stereotype threat: Anxiety-provoking (and self-confirming) belief that others’ are biased against one’s group Social mobility: Leaving the group Motivation and Social Identity
- 60. Social Identity Theory Need for self- esteem Personal Identity Inclusion Achievements Social Identity Group achievements Group favoritism Increased self-esteem Outgroup rejection Not clear if outgroup rejection raises self-esteem
- 61. Isolation to Inclusion Need to Belong Inclusion and exclusion Inclusion and Human Nature Individualism to Collectivism Micro: The Social Self Meso: The Group Culture Macro: Collectivism across Cultures Personal Identity to Social Identity Social Identity Theory Motivation and Social Identity Review Who are you? A complex, hard-to-answer, question.