Kassandra Remmel

Cassi Anderson

Sweta Patel

Survivor, Borneo: Analysis of Individual and Group Communication

Survivor, Season 1, takes place on a little fishing village called Borneo. Two tribes--Tagi

and Pagong--compete. After each challenge, one member from the losing team is voted off.

Season 1 is particularly interesting because the members don't know what to expect (unlike

members of future seasons), which gives us an opportunity to analyze more spontaneous

behaviors. This paper progresses from (1) a communication profile of each cast mate as an

individual member of the larger group to (2) a reflection on their group communication to (3) our

recommendations for increasing communication effectiveness.

Individual Communication Profiles: Tagi Tribe

From the first moment the Tagi tribe arrives on their part of the island, confusion ensues

about what to do first. Some are looking through what they found, some are thinking about how

to build a shelter. Richard is the only one who wants to talk first before acting. From his

interviews, it is clear that he understands how groups work best from the business sector. He

wants to get to know everyone and to communicate as a group ("Episode 1"). Upon first glance,

it appears that he genuinely wants to build a supportive climate, where individuals are

recognized and trust is established. However, as episodes progress, it is clear from the other

members' perceptions that the wheels are always turning in his head on how to create situations

that benefit himself. For example, he decides to join an alliance so he can "control who is getting

voted off, control fate." Even when he is called out on being in an alliance by the host during a

tribal council, he is quick on his feet and calls the alliance a mere friendship among many

friendships within the team ("Episode 4"). He doesn't allow himself to be caught so early in the

game.

Given this need for control ("a need for status and power" (Beebe and Masterson 54)), we

can return to his attempt to get the whole group together on the first day with a fresh eye. Did he

want to build a supportive climate, or more likely, did he want to establish a dominator role?

Dominators in a group "[make] an effort to assert authority by manipulating group members or

attempting to take over the entire group" (74). It's ironic then that he tells the group, "When

people get together and everyone isn't headed towards the same goal, individual goals will take

over ('Episode 1')." He is always operating with the hidden agenda of dominating the group to

establish control, rather than working together.

However, in his favor, he does pull back on his overt dominating behavior. He learns

from Rudy's example, another cast mate, who struggles with the younger members. Richard

acknowledges the generation gap between himself and the other members as well (Episode 2).

Perhaps, for this reason, he attempts to gain control in other ways. For example, he becomes the

sole member who can spear fish. He goes on to remind the group multiple times that as long as

they keep him in the group, he will always feed them ("Episode 5"). He establishes his role and

importance through actions, rather than voice. And it works, as he is invited to join the sole

alliance.

Rudy is another cast mate who adapts well to fit in with the group. Initially, he is a

blocker, "generally negative, stubborn, and disagreeable without apparent reason" (Beebe and

Masterson 74). In the first episode, he wants to start acting, rather than talking with the group

first about the best plan of action. His preference for action over talk has roots in his military

past. He says himself that if it were up to him, everyone would get haircuts and stand in

formation every day. He is used to one person giving orders with no back talk. However, his

awareness of his relationship as an individual member within a larger group is what saves him.

He realizes that there are "more of them [young people] than me ('Episode 2')." His inclusion

need spurs his adaptation. For example, when building a stretcher for a challenge, he draws

various plans in the sand, rather than pushing everyone on his own vision of the perfect stretcher.

His inclusion need is further met when he joins the alliance with Richard, Susan, and Kelly. He

doesn't want to initially, but he has come to realize that the best way to survive is to stick

together. He also has an esteem need, where he wants to help out the group in his own way. He

fulfills this need by taking over some of the cooking responsibilities ("Episode 4"). Because of

these behavioral changes, the younger members begin to accept him.

Susan is the third member in the alliance with Richard and Rudy. Communication is

always filtered through an individual's perception, and Susan's perception is very gendered. She

tries to keep up with the physical labor of finding food and helping build the shelter. And in one

challenge, she has to throw a spear at a target. She is ecstatic about the possibility of beating a

man (a member from the Pagong tribe) on national television ("Episode 5"). She displays

Maslow's esteem need as she attempts to prove her worth as a woman.

Yet, to complicate her gendered communication, Susan originally joins an alliance with

two young women, Stacey and Kelly. She openly says, "These chicks think I'm voting one way,

when I'm not ('Episode 2')." When Stacey is voted off, and Rudy joins the alliance, she says, "I

feel good about this alliance ('Episode 4')." So, while on one hand, she attempts to prove her

worth as a woman, on the other, it almost seems the presence of a man in the alliance is

comforting. Could this be a fulfillment of Maslow's safety needs? Ultimately, we see both

strength and vulnerability in her communication.

Also, according to Julia Wood in Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters,

women generally use language to build relationships, while men use language instrumentally

(118). Susan is able to do the latter. When she feels Sean and Dirk are wasting their time not

catching any fish during daylight hours, she states her mind openly in order to get them to

change their behavior ("Episode 5"). She has a voice and uses it, not merely to bring harmony,

but to bring members to action. Sean and Dirk do ultimately stop fishing and search for food,

instead.

Kelly is the fourth and final member of the alliance within the Tagi Tribe. She shows an

inclusion need when she continues the alliance with Susan after Stacey is voted off. She is also

the one who brings in Richard. Her inclusion need is further demonstrated by her adaptation to

Susan's and Richard's needs. As Richard and Rudy adapt to the younger members' behavioral

norms, Kelly adapts to the older members' norms. Richard and Susan both call Kelly more

mature than the other girls. She participates in all the work, for example, in reworking an old

parachute to give shade ("Episode 4"). This norm of hard work carries over when she describes

the other team as "just having fun, being silly, getting mud facials, and don't have anything to do

('Episode 6')" When the groups merge, she may have a difficult time if she doesn't adapt once

again to the majority's norms.

While the others have their alliance, Sean and Dirk enjoy a friendship of their own. They

both share a hidden agenda of wanting to have fun. This is possibly one reason why they aren't

asked to join the alliance; there is a lack of mutuality of concern, which is "the degree to which

members are concerned with the group's task needs" (Beebe and Masterson 58). In this case, the

group's task should be to win challenges and essentially, to survive. However, Sean and Dirk

enjoy going fishing for hours and hours, knowing they won't catch anything. Sean even puts

some effort into building a bowling alley in the sand. Dirk also admits that he came to have a

good time: "The minute I'm not having a good time, I'm ready to go ('Episode 4')" After Susan

talks to them about their wasting time and not helping out the group, they change. Perhaps, for

the first time, they recognize their individual role within the group. They go into the woods to

look for Tapioca, but come back empty handed ("Episode 5"). Their attempt isn't enough, as Dirk

is the next to go.

Along with wanting to have fun, Dirk is also a self-confessor, someone who "uses groups

as an audience to report personal feelings" (Beebe and Masterson 74). Throughout many of the

episodes, we can see him sitting alone, reading the Bible. Often times, he is preaching about

Jesus to the group. In this way, he is also trying to meet Maslow's self-actualization need, or a

need for personal growth. He is there to become more self-aware, rather than to win any

competition. He also openly displays his annoyance for Richard for being gay ("Episode 3"). He

is focused on personal attacks rather than attacking the group's goal of winning head on. When

members put their individual needs and goals ahead of the group's, they don't contribute their

part in moving the whole group forward. And so Dirk is voted off. To note, while the others in

the alliance may have their own individual needs and goals of control and survival, they blend

into the group's overall goal of winning. Dirk's and Sean's goals of having fun, on the other hand,

do not blend. Thus, they're excluded from the alliance.

The last two members of the Tagi Tribe are Stacey and Sonja. We know the least about

them because they were both voted off within the first few episodes. Stacey was the first to

create an alliance with Kelly, partly because of her hatred for Rudy (generational gap). The

alliance also reflects a control need. She even says she's not worried because she and Kelly have

paired up and are talking strategy. Also, her choice of members to include in the alliance is

guided by similarity interpersonal attraction. She first chooses Kelly, a young woman like

herself, and then Susan, a woman. She perceives Susan will cooperate based on gender, when in

fact, Susan dislikes her because she doesn't work and doesn't fit her norm of hard work ("Episode

2"). Because Stacey chose like members to align herself with, it reveals her unwillingness to

adapt and build relationships with the other, different, members. Even if she hadn't been voted

off so soon, this unwillingness to accept or adapt to diversity would have been her downfall.

Lastly, we see Sonja very briefly. During the first episode, she plays the role of the

harmonizer as she starts to play on her instrument and sing a song and bring everyone together.

Also, she is among the older generation. Maybe she would have survived if she had performed

better in the first challenge, instead of lagging behind? Perhaps the similarity interpersonal

attraction would have led the others in the older generation to keep her in? Maybe they would

have formed their own alliance? These questions remain unanswered as she was voted off in the

first episode.

Individual Communication Profiles: Pagong Tribe

When the Pagong tribe is first marooned on the island, they work as a team. Even though

they're meeting for the first time, they work together to get their supplies off the boat and into the

raft.  During the first night, after being marooned, they all sleep together side by side even

though they don't know each other. The next day after the immunity challenge, we start to see

how the group truly communicates when B.B. (the oldest of the tribe.) starts to build a shelter for

the tribe to sleep in that night.

B.B. is a 64 year old reality manager from Kansas City. On the second day of being

marooned, the tribe quickly learns that B.B. is an aggressor.  He thinks it is out of the norm to

take a break while working. He even says, “Working is my hobby" ('Episode 1'). As the tribe

decides that building a shelter is what they need to accomplish first, B.B. directs the tribe during

the process. He is seen as the leader in the group; however, when other group members try to

offer him their opinions on where to build the shelter, he doesn’t listen. On the other hand, he

doesn’t mind sharing with the tribe his life story: Colleen says, “That man has more stories than

anyone I have met in my entire life” ('Episode 1'). According to Shultz's theory, B.B. has an

attention need, which is a “need for affection [that] drives people to give and receive

emotion”(Beebe and Masterson 54). Other group members decide not to argue with him and

accommodate him: “Whatever B.B. says, goes" ('Episode 1'). In addition, according to Maslow’s

theory, B.B. shows an esteem need (53).  We see this as he demands that people respect him

because of his age. He even says once that when they're 64 years old, they can give orders. He

assumes power and expects everyone to work constantly until the shelter is done. 

He also shows that he has a hidden agenda of only being concerned with himself. For

example, he washes his clothes in fresh water even though the tribe wants to vote first as how to

how the water should be used. Also, while trying to find the fresh water with Ramona, B.B. jokes

around about not being able to get voted off now because they were the only ones who knew

where the water supply is.  He may joke, but ultimately, his individual role in the group is of a

blocker. A blocker is someone who is “generally negative, stubborn, and disagreeable with no

apparent reason" (Beebe and Masterson 74.) We can especially see this in his relationship with

Joel, who often bumps heads with B.B. and claims, “He disagrees with me just to disagree”

('Episode 1'). Ultimately, when the group loses an immunity challenge, he offers to be the one is

who voted off, perhaps to maintain his self-esteem.

During Ramona’s stay on the island, she proves to be a seeker, someone who “tries to

evoke a sympathetic reaction from others” (Beebe and Masterson 74.).  She spends most of the

days on the island sick. She even complains the entire time she is on the island about the

conditions and doesn't help her team members. Gretchen says, “I don’t think this is what she

expected. I don’t think she wants to admit that she isn’t successful because at home she is

successful” ('Episode 3'). She also displays a belongingness need. She says she doesn't feel a part

of the group and thinks there a lot of cliques. She also mentions that she hasn’t had a white friend

since high school. This might be a reason why she cannot find a place in her group ("Episode

3").

After a pep talk from Gervase about improving other people see her in order to fit in

more, she does start to work. The others notice and complement her. Because she meets this

belongingness need, she's even able to eat rats that Joel caught. Up until now, she has been very

picky about what she eats. Ultimately, even though Ramona changes and begins to contribute

more, most tribe members feel that it is too late for Ramona to redeem herself and vote her off

the island in episode 4.

Gervase doesn't do much work, either, but his charm gets him by. It isn't till episode 6

that the tribe starts to notice what he is trying to do.  Colleen even says that she can’t believe no

one has voted him off yet because he hasn’t contributed anything ("Episode 1"). He offers a

complimentarity attraction, where “at times people may be attracted to others who exhibit

qualities that they do not have but that they admire” (Beebe and Masterson 60). So even though

he can offer nothing to the group, the group doesn’t want to vote him off because he offers the

group a certain charm. He tends to do things for his own benefit. For example, he accompanies

Joel on fishing trips only to enjoy the sun. He even eats the food others cook, without offering to

cook himself. Also, he said in episode 5 that he would rather vote for Jenna rather than Colleen

because he thinks Colleen is prettier. Every time, he acts in a way that benefits himself first.

Colleen is the follower of the group. As a follower, she “goes along with the suggestions

and ideas of other group members” (Beebe and Masterson 74). She even admits herself that she's

not one of the major competitors in the groups. Also, during the S.O.S. challenge, she admits she

didn't like the final idea of the group and knew it wouldn't win. Yet, she follows along and

doesn't offer any of her own ideas. In addition, she tries to fill a belongingness need by sneaking

off with Greg to explore the island. Lastly, during the immunity challenge she becomes the

encourager of the group who “offers praise, understanding, and acceptance of others ideas and

suggestions” (74). CAN ANYONE THINK OF AN EXAMPLE HERE?

Greg is considered the joker of the group. He brings the group together in episode 2 by

hosting the tribe's very own Survivor Newlywed Game. He clears up tension with jokes and

allows everyone to share in laughter. He even leads the tribe in a dance to the starting line during

one the challenges. Like Garvose, he attracts others through complimentarity. He draws people

in with his charm.  When B.B. is the tribe leader, he is treated like a child. For example, when

Greg helps the tribe to build a shelter, B.B. grabs him from the back of the pants and lifts him up

like a two year old ("Episode 1"). However, once B.B. leaves, Greg truly shines. Gretchen says

several times that Greg is probably the leader of the group ("Episode 3"). His charm is so

magnetic and powerful that he can lead without trying.

Jenna is a follower. She only wants best for the group showing that she has an

esteem and inclusion need. She showes this when the group represents her to go to the

award meeting in episode 4 and she tries getting the tribe a spice rack. She has a

belongingness need to be a part of the group and shows to be an encourager during

immunity challenges and sometimes acts as a compromiser by trying to solve problems that

the tribe sometimes have.

  At first Gretchen  complains that B.B. has been building a shelter all morning long

and tried helping B.B. but, B.B. keeps criticizing her work. She shows a lot of patience with

B.B. and soon after they started to bond.  She votes B.B. off because he keeps talking about

going home so she thinks she is doing him a favor. She knows how to adapt behavior and

action better to keep harmony in group and keep herself liked.  She starts to show

leadership after the fourth episode when it raines on the island for the first time and the

shelter didn’t keep them dry. She has the tribe build a new shelter back in the woods to

stay away from the high tide. She thinks she deserves respect because she has a

background in air force survival school. In episode 5 she admits that Greg has become the

male leader but, still continues her role as leader as well. Before the merger she also shows

that she is looking out for her own agenda by being the only one who doesn’t form an

alliance when the tribe decides to only vote the other tribe members off.

Joel is the first of the tribal member to cook a rat and eat it. He shows he has a

belongingness need and tries to do what is best in the group. When he goes fishing in

episode 5 with Garvose he does all the work while Garvose sits back and watches. He shows

that he is the aggressor in the tribe, but no one accepts him as a leader. He also exhibits

gender issues and automatic power when he agrees with Gervase's comment that women

are stupid next to cows. B.B. and other tribe members think he is a hard worker in till

episode 6 when he starts to his gender issues and ends up getting voted off.

I think we need a better tie between examples and theory for Jenna, Gretchen, and

Joel (with quotes from the book)

Group Communication Profile

Stranded on a deserted island with fifteen strangers and competing against half of them

for one million dollars makes a great setting for analyzing the interactions that occur. Some

members want to work as a group, some members want to build an alliance, some members just

want to have fun, but all members want the money. What happens when sixteen strangers are

put into a situation where they have to find their own food and figure out how to work as a team

but win as an individual makes the interpersonal communications between the members all the

more interesting. Now that we have analyzed each individual member's communication, we will

look at group communication.

On an island with no shelter aside from trees and no food aside from rice, the contestants

need to find food and build shelter. All members of the Tagi tribe and the Pagong tribe have

these physiological and safety needs (Beebe and Masterson 52-53). They have physiological

needs because in order to stay on the show and to survive, they need food and water and this

ends up becoming one of their biggest tasks. Secondly, both tribes demonstrate safety needs by

constructing shelters that all members are able to sleep in ("Episodes 1 and 2").

As each tribe tries to meet their basic needs, they begin to form interpersonal

relationships. In the first episodes, we can see that Colleen and Greg share similarity and are

interpersonally attracted to each other (Beebe and Masterson 60). In interviews, Greg and

Colleen state that they feel very comfortable with each other because they share the same views

and have friends similar to one another back home (“Episode 2"). Greg and Colleen sleep apart

from the rest of the group as well. They find comfort in each other. Also, as described in their

individual profiles, Sean and Dirk of the Tagi tribe share similarity as well. Both men reveal that

they want to be able to relax and be comfortable, and fish on their raft for hours on end

(“Episode 5"). They share a mutual desire to have fun.

While some relationships are formed through similarity, others are formed through

complementarity. For example, Greg is a joker and this makes the other members of the Pagong

tribe admire him because he is able to relieve tension in the group. They feel complementarity

towards Greg because his personality offers a nice balance to the group's stress at times. For

example, when tension is high as the Pagong tribe is moving their shelter further into the woods,

Greg speaks into a shell as if it were a phone to make the others laugh. This is also the moment

where the other tribe members realize his power to manipulate others without even trying

(“Episode 4"). His complementary personality actually has the effect of drawing the other

members towards him and ultimately, following him.

Gervase is another Pagong member who offers complementarity attraction. He even

admits numerous times that he does nothing to contribute to the group, but survives each tribal

council vote because of his charm (“Episode 6"). His charm, like Greg's comedy, makes him

very likable and the group is drawn towards him. They both reveal the power of personality in

giving someone control.

While interpersonal attractions form because of similarity and complementarity, physical

attractiveness has very little influence. Aside from Dirk feeling attracted to Kelly for a short

period of time and Gervase implying that he voted Jenna off because she was not as attractive as

Colleen, physical attractiveness does not play a very big role (“Episodes 6"). In Survivor,

physical attractiveness takes a back seat to physical strength, at least initially. At first, cast

members are voted off based on their performance in immunity challenges; the weaker players

go first. Once the tribes are balanced and all team members are strong and able to compete,

personality becomes the reason people are voted off over others. In the Pagong tribe, for

example, at first, they vote B.B. and Ramona off for their weak physical strength (B.B. is old and

Ramona is always sick). Later, however, they vote Joel off because of his chauvinistic

personality. Also, in the Tagi tribe, Sonya and Stacey are voted off, as Sonya is old and Stacey

lost the rowing challenge. However, later, Dirk is voted off for his preachy personality. Again,

we see power in personality.

In addition to individual personalities cementing members to each other and the group,

there is also group attraction through group activities and group goals. According to Beebe and

Masterson, people who are interested in the same activities or in achieving the same goals tend to

form groups (62). In Survivor, members of both tribes are attracted to the prize of one million

dollars. To achieve this goal, they have to participate in the group activities of reward challenges

and immunity challenges. Tribe members are motivated to do well because on an individual

level, they can gain a better standing within the group, and on a group level, they can help gain

rewards or immunity. A bad performance only means getting further away from the prize. We

see a display of a common group goal and activity cementing the group when the Pagong tribe

comes to a challenge, dancing and chanting together ("Episode 3"). We see further group

attraction every time a tribe wins a challenge and hurrahs each other for the win.

When participating in group activities, members should avoid groupthink. Groupthink is

the "illusion of agreement--a type of thinking that occurs when a group strives to minimize

conflict, maximize cohesiveness, and reach a consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and

evaluating ides" (Beebe and Masterson 168). The Pagong tribe displays groupthink with B.B. In

the first two episodes, B.B. is very controlling. He decides where to build the shelter, how to

build it, and calls the others lazy repeatedly. The others go along with what B.B. says because

they do not want to offend him or feel his wrath, but, in their personal interviews, most of them

admit they do not like the way he run things. Ultimately, when B.B. uses the tribe's only fresh

water supply to wash his clothes, they vote him off ("Episode 2").

The Tagi tribe isn't immune to group think, either, at least initially. In the first episode,

when they're deciding to build a fire, they accept Sean's first idea and start working, even though

the others admit they didn't think the idea through. Later, we see improvement during the S.O.S

challenge, where they have to build a help sign on the beach. We can see Rudy drawing

different configurations in the sand before one is decided on. With groupthink, the group misses

out on a variety of ideas to draw from.

Group think essentially effects how each tribe responds to conflict. There are times in

each tribe that an argument could have ensued, but the argument is quickly squashed by the

response of the person being attacked. This is also called accommodation, where "some people

simply give in to avoid a major blow-up or controversy" (Beebe and Masterson 160). For

example, Sue of the Tagi tribe confronts Dirk about his fishing being a waste of time, and in a

rude manner, points out the fact that he has not caught anything. Dirk could have started a

conflict here, but instead, agrees, stops fishing, and begins searching for Tapioca the next day

("Episode 5"). Dirk accommodates Sue's complaint (Beebe, Masterson, 160). Rudy is also in

constant conflict with the younger members initially. However, he too recognizes that he has to

adapt. He takes more of a backseat role and follows the role of others, for example, by giving in

to joining the alliance. Other examples of adaptation/accommodation include Pagong's accepting

B.B.'s demands, Ramona's working harder after others imply she's not working enough, and

Sean's dropping his bowling and fishing ideas to search for food. On the flip side, those who

don't accommodate suffer. For example, B.B. says that he can do what he wants when he wants

("Episode 2"). Even Joel doesn't change his attitude when the girls tell him he's been

chauvinistic. They're soon voted off. It seems then that accommodation is the key to survival.

Because leadership involves confronting conflict, yet accommodation is the key to

survival, neither tribe has definite leaders. The Tagi tribe does not have a definite leader, but they

have a lot of members with leadership qualities. At first, Rudy is very upfront and it seems as if

he will become the leader. In Episode 2, however, he recognizes that he is the minority and has

to fit in with them to survive. Richard also has leadership abilities. He is able to manipulate the

members of the tribe by acting very friendly, not being demanding, and by gathering food for

them. He is not a true leader, however, because he knows that if he puts himself in that position,

he will likely be voted off ("Episode 3"). In the Pagong tribe, B.B. is the leader at first. He

forces himself upon others. After B.B. is voted off, Greg is thought to be the leader. Gretchen

states in Episode 2 that he manipulates people and they do not even know it. Greg, later in the

episode says that he does not want to be the leader (“Episode 2"). In both tribes, it seems as if

the role of leader will hinder someone rather than help them.

As the tribes negotiate conflict, norms are established which all members obey. For

example, being scantily clothed in casual clothes is a norm for both tribes. This norm starts right

away because of the warm climate, where they're working to build and create a place to call

home for 39 days. An exception to this norm is Richard's being naked a lot. But this too

becomes a norm for the Tagi tribe. Although he does spend a lot of his time clothed, seeing

Richard running around in his birthday suit is no longer surprising after a while for both the

audience and his tribe members. Another mutual norm is calling each other by first name. In

this type of setting, being formal would not have been appropriate. This is seen in every episode

when the tribe members speak to each other.

We also see food-related norms in the Tagi tribe. After the tribe wins a reward challenge

and gets a spear, Richard's catching fish becomes a norm. Sean and Dirk generally spend a lot of

time making fishing poles, but the norm for the women is to check and set the fishing traps every

day and search the woods for edible plants. And Rudy cooks. Kelly even sews a sign to post in

their dining area that says, “Rudy’s Rowdy Diner” ("Episodes 5 and 6"), confirming this norm.

Pagong’s norms change drastically after B.B. leaves. When B.B. is a part of the group, it

is a norm to wake up very early and get working on what he thinks needs to be done around their

living area. After B.B. is voted off, however, sleeping-in becomes the norm. Gretchen, the

member who was closest to B.B., often comments that the camp has fallen into disarray and

should be cleaned up and looked after. However, she is now in the minority. ("Episode 4"). The

work in the group is also now divided up equally, where most members rotate between checking

the fishing traps and setting them up, going to get water, cooking, and finding different types of

food in the forest.

Unfortunately, voting off team members is another norm for both tribes. When a tribe

loses immunity, they have to vote a member off because that is the name of the game. Because

of this overall norm, other norms develop, such as practicing for challenges when they are given

hints or props beforehand. Another norm that arises from this is talking about strategy before

each immunity challenge. Both tribes discuss their plans based upon the clues they are given

before each challenge.

While both tribes share similar norms, their group climates are very different. The

Pagong tribe slowly becomes very close to one another. At first, for example, Ramona mentions

that she feels there are a lot of cliques and she feels excluded. Gretchen also mentions that she

didn't come to make friends ("Episode 2"). However, after losing the first few immunity

challenges, the tribe members all start to speak about how hard it is to lose a tribe member.

Gretchen states that it is the part that she likes the least (“Episode 5"). Colleen states that she

does not like doing it and that it hurts the whole group when they lose one of their tribe members

(“Episode 5"). Because the Pagong tribe becomes so close to one another and displays empathy,

their climate becomes more supportive: "Involvement and concern for the group task and for

other group members are perceived as supportive" (Beebe and Masterson 104).

As Pagong's norms changed drastically after B.B.'s departure, their climate does also.

While B.B. is there, the climate is defensive. He is very blunt and ridicules tribe members and

says, "You people are lazy" ("Episode 2"). He makes them feel as if they are not worth very

much, as he evaluates members in "you" language (Beebe and Masteron 103).

After B.B. leaves the tribe, a supportive climate is developed through empathy, as

described above, but also through problem-orientation and equality. Members attempt to find

solutions to problems and enter into discussion with mutual respect (Beebe and Masterson 104).

For example, their shelter almost gets washed away because it is too close to the shore. Gretchen

advises they move it further away. The group members automatically start discussing where the

shelter should be moved and how to move it ("Episode 4"). They work together to make it

happen and are successful. Equality plays an additional role as the Pagong members know that

they respect each other for the individual roles that they play. Some may help build a shelter,

while others search for food, but as Gervase says, everyone's job is equally important ("Episode

2").

The Tagi tribe’s climate is more defensive. This tribe makes no real personal

connections--they do not really care about one another, just about the game. Control is shown

within the group by Richard, Sue, Kelly, and Rudy. These four members create an alliance so

that they can stay longer. Although they do not outwardly demand things from other group

members, they take control behind their tribe’s backs. One of the key points to a defensive

climate is strategy over superiority (Beebe and Masterson 104). Members often point out that

always feel Richard, for example, carefully chooses what he says and does ("Episode 4"). Even

the tribes' campsites reflect their climates. Pagong's tribe is disorganized, with their flag on the

ground, with tools and utensils everywhere. Their climate is more loose and informal. Tagi's

tribe, however, is very organized, where every object has its place ("Episode 7"). Their climate is

more rigid with members watching over their own shoulders.

Another shared trait between the tribes is their nonverbal communication. Members

often show their importance through their actions and how much they contribute and benefit the

tribe. For example, in the Tagi Tribe, Susan is always seen searching for food, Richard fishes,

and Rudy cooks. Sean and Dirk's nonverbal communication, on the other hand, of building

bowling alleys or taking long fruitless fishing trips, communicate ineffectiveness. In the Pagong

tribe, in episode 6, they show a montage of Gervase's nonverbal communication. Similar to Sean

and Dirk, he accompanies Joel on fishing trips to sunbathe, plays cards, and enjoys food made by

others. He also openly admits numerous times that he does very little. It appears that because his

words honestly reflect his behavior, the group continually keeps him around. Honest

communication appears to outweigh tangible contributions, in this instance.

Ramona’s nonverbal communication gets her voted off of the island. In the first few

episodes, she continuously appears sick. She also does not contribute to building the shelter.

Even after Ramona tries to redeem herself by working harder, the tribe agrees that she should

leave. Jenna says it best, “She did a little too little too late” (“Episode 4"). In all cases,

nonverbal communication is used to form judgments about a person.

The Systems Theory is one of the best ways to analyze the Pagong and Tagi tribes in a

big picture view. The Systems Theory has several parts: environment; interdependence; input,

process, and output variables; synergy, entropy, and equifinality (Beebe and Masterson 40).

Openness to environment states that the group is affected by the environment and has to work

with it. If the group suddenly has a high demand for something, the goals will be changed. Both

tribes display this openness to environment: The temperature and resources directly affect the

goals that the tribes focus on as they strive to build shelter and find food. In the Pagong tribe,

they are unable to find substantial food aside from rice and fruit. This takes a toll on them and

also alters their goals. In episode 4, the tribe actually eats rat because they are so desperate for

protein. The Pagong tribe eventually wins a reward challenge and gets three chickens, and this

boosted group morale (“Episode 5"). Similarly, in the Tagi tribe, the morale is lowered after they

are unable to catch fish. However, after they win a reward challenge and get a spear, the tribe is

very excited. Richard is able to catch rays and this boosts group morale.

Interdependence also plays a role in both tribes. Interdependence reflects that a "change

in one component will alter the relationships among all the other components" (Beebe and

Masterson 40). We see this in the Pagong tribe when Colleen says in an interview that when a

tribe member is voted off, it is felt throughout the whole group ("Episode 6"). To the Pagong

tribe, losing a member affects all of the members emotionally. Interdependence is also shown

when two of their chickens are eaten by a lizard. A resource that they thought they had was

taken away from them and this affected them in a negative way. Morale was lowered and the

remains of the chickens were actually salvaged and eaten because they had such a high want for

protein (“Episode 6"). In the Tagi tribe, interdependence is shown through the alliance between

four of the members. It changes the voting pattern.

Input variables determine the lasting power of tribe. They include the tribe members, the

resources that are available to them, the tools that the tribes have or can make, the resources that

they can win, and the physical environment. The input variables for both tribes start out roughly

the same: They all have the same amount of members and the same kinds of food available to

them such as rice and fruits found on the island, fish, and certain types of edible plants. The

teams also have the same amount of resources to build shelter. Reward challenges give the tribes

more input variables. Rewards that add to the tribe’s input include waterproof matches, fishing

gear, chicken, fruit, hammocks, towels, and canned foods. Again, through interdependence,

adding to input variables affects group morale.

The knowledge that each tribe member has is also part of the tribe's input variables. For

example, both Rudy and B.B. have knowledge of building shelters. The process variables

involve the other tribe members' following their lead. Before several challenges, we also often

see members practicing (Susan and Joel with the spear, for example), or even discussing ideas, as

Tagi did with the S.O.S. challenge ("Episodes 4 and 5"). However, it's important to remember

that given a strong set of input and process variables, the output isn't always positive. For

example, after the group followed B.B.'s lead in building a shelter, it got washed away. In this

case, the process of variable of following someone's lead in where to build the shelter versus

discussing it was the problem. Also, in one of the challenges, the teams have to row in the ocean.

Kelly of the Tagi tribe is a professional rower in Las Vegas, so the Tagi tribe believed they

would win. Gervase from the Pagong tribe had absolutely no experience rowing, could not

swim, and did not perform very well in other water-related challenges. In this case, the input

variable--Kelly--may have overestimated her abilities and underestimated Gervase's, and so the

output was losing.

Another part of the Systems Theory is synergy. It is reached when “the whole is greater

than the sum of its parts” (Beebe and Masterson 40). Synergy is very evident in the Pagong

tribe. The tribe’s morale is lowered when they lose a tribe member and worked very well as a

team. It was also evident that each individual would not be as healthy or able to survive on their

own.

In the Tagi tribe, they never seem to reach synergy. Richard, Susan, Rudy, and Kelly

seem as if they would be able to sustain themselves. They are strong and have established

individual roles--Richard fishes, Susan and Kelly find food, and Rudy cooks. his tribe also

emphasizes the lack of importance in the roles of Sean, Dirk, and Stacey. Susan complains

numerous about their lack of work ("Episode 3"). There is never a sense of a true team. The

alliance prevents group synergy from occurring.

Entropy is also a part of Survivor. It is defined as “randomness or chaos” within a group

(p. 40). We often seen entropy during immunity challenges. All tribe members perform their

best, but the outcome is never predictable. Also, after immunity challenges are lost and a

member is voted off, it disrupts the tribes and throws them off kilter.

Lastly, equifinality states that there are many roads a group can choose, but they all may

bring them to the same destination, and conversely, groups may start in the same place but end

very differently (p. 41). We see the latter throughout. While both tribes start out essentially the

same, differences in the knowledge of team members, resources, and morale affected the

outcome of the challenges.

Overall, there are similarities and differences between the tribes. Both groups strive to

meet their basic needs, but approach interpersonal attraction differently, either through similarity

or complimentarity. All attractions, however, reveal the power of personality to cement

relationships. Group activities also help to from group attraction, which often leads to groupthink

to minimize conflicts. It also appears that those more willing to accommodate others have

staying power. Thus, no leaders emerge in either tribe. Leaders have to confront conflict, and in

Survivor, this often leads to getting voted off. Both tribes also establish norms, which create two

different climates (supportive in Pagong and defensive in Tagi). Both tribes display nonverbal

communication as well, by which other members judge their importance. Lastly, the big picture

of their group communication can be explained through Systems Theory with tribes affected by

the environment, displaying interdependence, using input and process variables to get output

variables, and displaying varying levels of synergy, entropy, and equifinality. Ultimately, the

Tagi tribe and the Pagong tribe are the first to experience Survivor. They set the tone and

expectations for the tribes to come.

Recommendations

Beebe and Masterson offer several characteristics of an effective team, which include a

clear goal and unified commitment; a results-driven structure and a collaborative climate; and

principled leadership (8). From the individual profiles, we observe that many of the cast mates

have their own hidden agenda. Sean and Dirk are there to have fun. Richard acts in a way that

benefits himself first, the group last. B.B. dominates from the start and attempts to set goals for

the group. There is a lack of unified commitment in defining and abiding by the group's goals. In

the first episode, Richard attempts to get the Tagi tribe together and just talk, but the rest want to

start acting. They view talk as a waste of time. If the tribes could have come together as one from

the start by establishing a common goal of winning each challenge, a sense of unity may have

carried them to wins. However, throughout, there is always a sense of every man for himself. For

example, Ramona starts working harder to establish her spot on the team, versus for the reason of

moving the team forward.

A results-driven structure involves a "method of organizing how they [groups] work

together" (8). The process of attacking problems is undermined by groupthink and an emphasis

on personality. For example, B.B. starts building a shelter, and the others follow suit to avoid

conflict. There is no talk of how to do it or where to do it. Tagi faces the same when attempting

to build the first fire. Everyone acts on the first idea-Sean's. Members accommodate each other,

rather than respectfully giving and hearing other ideas. Also, neither tribe talks about strengths

and knowledge that each member has to offer. Instead, they focus on personality. When Ramona

starts working after days of lying around, she says that this was the real her, that this is what she

could do at a 100% ("Episode 4"). However, by the time, her ability to work is revealed, the

group has already judged her on personality and soon voted her off. Rudy is a ex-Navy Seal and

Tagi tribe members even ask why he only cooks. He may have knowledge they can use, but he is

never given an opportunity to share them. He tries at first, when they're building a shelter, but he

comes off as controlling. This is unfortunate: He is unable to show them his skills for the fear

they will judge his personality as controlling and vote him off. And so, he only cooks. Both

teams could have increased their effectiveness by creating a collaborative climate, rather than

attempting to minimize conflict. In doing so, they would have had more solutions to work with

for each problem, had a clear idea of each person's knowledge, and assigned appropriate tasks to

members.

Lastly, a lack of leadership is also a weakness. Beebe and Masterson clarify that effective

leadership isn't authoritarian dictatorship (9). Instead, the tribes needed leaders who can help

sustain the group's overall goal of winning challenges and support a collaborative climate. B.B.

attempts to lead, and the other follow for a while; however, it doesn't last because he doesn't

include other voices. His is the final word. Rudy attempts to be leader as well, but quickly

realizes he will be painted as a dictator and voted off. Instead, to increase effectiveness, both

tribes could have collaboratively decided on the need for a leader and how this leader would

operate. Then, when it came time to attack a problem--for example, of building a shelter--the

leader could have offered a climate of sharing and listening to ideas, help to fairly decide on the

best idea, and aided in listing tasks and assigning the best person to each task. In this kind of

climate, everyone's voice could have been heard.

Beebe and Masterson also offer characteristics for effective members, including

openness, supportiveness, and action-oriented (10). Openness means members are

"straightforward and willing to appropriately discuss delicate issues" (10). We see many

members accommodate others in order to minimize conflict. Colleen is a harmonizer who only

reveals her thoughts in one-on-one interviews. She doesn't agree with B.B.'s aggressiveness, but

doesn't voice her opinion to the group. Jenna also spots weaknesses in all of her tribe members,

but does not have the heart to voice them. B.B. definitely shows a lack of openness, as he shoots

down others' ideas and does as he wants. Ultimately, if the other tribe members had stood up

against B.B. or had been more aggressive in their thoughts, the tribe could have been much more

successful. Instead of avoiding or accommodating a person like B.B., the tribe could have gotten

further by setting up a democracy and standing up to him, or better yet, helped him to be a better

leader. Had B.B. stayed on the island, the group’s productivity could have been much higher and

they could have had a leader that led them to more successes. B.B. may have been stubborn, old,

and arrogant, but his knowledge was unmatched by any other tribe member.

Effective members also show supportiveness, where they "listen to others, are willing to

pitch in and accomplish the job, and have an optimistic outlook about team success. Non

supportive members try to control team members and focus on individual interests" (Beebe and

Masterson 10). In the Tagi tribe, Richard, Susan, Stacy, and Kelly want to control the members

through an alliance. From the start, by forming a small group within a group, they show little

faith in the tribe as a whole. Instead, they could have learned about the others' skills, supported

them, and organized them into winning challenges, rather than just focusing on keeping their

own alliance strong.

Lastly, effective members are action-oriented, where they "respond when action needs to

be taken" (Beebe and Masterson 10). Tagi loses the first challenge because of Sonja. Had Sonja

been able to perform better physically, she could have been an asset to the Pagong tribe. Sonja

could not help her age, but could have gotten more physically fit before coming to the island.

Her frailty shows the other tribe members that she earned the title of being the first person voted

off of Survivor. Also, Ramona is sick in the first few days and does not help the group in any of

their tasks. She doesn't contribute to the group. Gervase is also an extremely weak contributor to

the group and his charm is the only thing that keeps him on the show. Gervase does not actively

partake in any tribe tasks aside from building the shelter. If Gervase had used all of his talents

and skills in other areas and had contributed to the tribe’s tasks, they could have been much more

efficient and productive. Sean and Dirk both don't respond when action needs to be taken, either.

When the Tagi tribe needs food, Sean and Dirk fish for hours, knowing they won't catch

anything. Sean even puts effort into building a bowling alley, acting on his own agenda.

Finally, Greg, Joel, Gretchen, and Rudy also show a lack of being action-oriented when

they display leadership skills, but don't step up to the plate. They are all associated with the term

"leadership" at one point, but Greg and Rudy openly reject the title. They believe being leader

will in turn associate them with being controlling. Gretchen also has many opinions about how

the tribe should be run, for example where the shelter should be and where utensils should be

kept. She can only critique from a distance. Joel tries to take the reins, but he doesn't do enough

to earn the respect of his cast mates, and thus, earn the title of leader. He makes one too many

chauvinistic comments.

In sum, as a group, the tribes needed to develop a clear goal and unified commitment, a

results driven structure, and leadership. As individuals, members needed to offer openness,

supportiveness, and be action-oriented. Tagi and Pagong were the first group of survivors. They

blazed a trail for future “survivors." We can only hope the others can learn from their

experiences.

Works Cited

" Episodes 1-6." Survivor Borneo. CBS. 13 March 2000. Television.

Beebe, Steven, and John T. Masterson. Communication in Small Groups: Principles and

Practices. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2009.

Wood, Julia. Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. California: Thomson

Wadsworth, 2007.