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CHAPTER 5: COHESION AND DEVELOPMENT

A. What is group cohesion - the strength of the bonds linking members to a group

a. Cohesiveness - health of the group

b. Multi-component, multi-level approach

COMPONENTS OF COHESIONi. Social - attraction of members to one another and to the group

1. Lewin and Festinger, impact of attraction

2. Hogg,specific form of group-level attraction based on social

identity processes

ii. Task - capacity to perform successfully as a coordinated unit and as part

of the group

1. Team work

2. Collective efficacy

iii. Perceived - construed coherence of the group, sense of belonging

1. Individual Level2. Group Level

iv. Emotional - emotional intensity of the group and when in the group

1. Elan, morale, espirit de corps or positive affective tone

B. Why do some groups, but not others, become cohesive?

ANTECEDENTS OF COHESION

a. Attraction

i. Sherif and Sherif: used a field-study method in a boys summer camp

variables influence liking, group formation and cohesiveness

b. Stability, size and structure

i. Ziller: closed, smaller, particular structural features are more cohesivec. Initiations

i. Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance- initiations can increase

commitment to a group

ii. Aronson and Mills: liking a groups more is due to initiations, except when

it is severe it does not increase cohesiveness

d. Researchers have developed a number of operational definitions of cohesion

i. Observation, structured observation and self-report methods at multiple

levels

C. How does cohesion develop overtime?

a. Consequence of a period of group development - pattern of growth and change

beginning with initial formation and ending with dissolution

CYCLES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT

b. Tuckmans five stage model - successive stage theory

i. Orientation (forming) - familiarity with each other, acceptance of leader

and group consensus

ii. Conflict (storming) - disagreement over procedures, expressions of

dissatisfaction

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iii. Structure (norming) - growth of cohesiveness and unity, establishment of

roles, increased trust

iv. Work (performing) - goal achievement, high-task orientation

v. Dissolution - termination of roles

c. Wheelans Group Development Questionnaire- dissolution

d. Successive-stage theory - specifies the usual order of the phases of groupse. Cyclical models (Bales equilibrium mode) maintain that groups cycle through

various stages

f. Punctuated equilibrium models - groups move through accelerated change

D. What are the positive and negative consequences of cohesion

CONSEQUENCES OF COHESION

a. Increases in member satisfaction and decreases in turnover and stress

i. Roys analysis of Banana Time- groups maintain cohesives through

rituals and social interaction

b. Intensifies group processes

i. Psychological demanding that can cause problems for members1. Old sergeants syndrome

ii. Dependence, pressure to conform and acceptance of influence are

greater

Results to group think

c. Cohesion and performance are linked - success increases a groups cohesions

i. Mullen, Copper- each component contributes to task proficiency

Relationship is strongest when members are committed to the

groups tasks