Group Properties

• Norms
• Cohesiveness
• Roles
• Status
• Size
 Group Properties - Norms
Norms
•Acceptable standards of behavior within a group that are
shared by the group’s members.
•Tell members of a group what they ought and ought not to
do under certain circumstances
Classes
Classesof
ofNorms:
Norms:
•• Performance
Performancenorms
norms
•• Appearance
Appearancenorms
norms
•• Social
Socialarrangement
arrangementnorms
norms
•• Allocation
Allocationofofresources
resources
norms
norms
 Cohesion
and
Development
What is group cohesion?
 Group cohesiveness
• Cohesiveness is understood as the extent
of liking each member has towards others
and how far everyone wants to remain as a
member of the group …..
• Person in highly cohesive group value
their membership and strive to maintain
positive relationship with other group
members
– Cohesion = Attraction, Liking

Attraction
between
members

Attraction Cohesion
Attraction
to the
group-as-
a-whole
Cohesion = Unity: Cohesive groups stick together as
members “cohere” to one another and the group
– The group is unified; solidarity is high in the group
– Members report feeling a sense of belonging to the group

Group
Unity

Unity Cohesion

Belonging
(part of the
group)
Cohesion = Teamwork: Members of cohesive groups
coordinate their efforts to achieve goals
– Collective efficacy: a high level of confidence about
success at the tasks the group accepts
– Esprit de corps: positive group affect

Collective
Task Efficacy
o n : e x !
a t i m pl
p lic Teamwork
c o
s
Cohesion

Im n t i
e m e
r
Group

asu
morale,
Moti-

Me
vation
esprit de
corps
 Cohesion and Performance

.51

Attraction

.03
Unity
(Group Pride)
.18 Cohesio Performance
.25
n

Task Focus .23

(teamwork)

Norms are also critically

important
 Sources of group
cohesiveness
• Interaction
• Threat
• Severity of initiation
• Co-operation
• Shared goals
• Attitude and values
• Size
 Group cohesiveness causes and
consequences
Consequences
Causes

Positive
•Increased morale
•Higher productivity
•Interaction
•Better communication
•Threat
•Severity of initiation
•Conformity and influence
•Co-operation GC
•Shared goals
•Attitude and values
•Size

Negative
•Group think
•Lower productivity
when performance
norms are low
Relationship of Cohesiveness
to Productivity
 The cohesion-performance relationship
is weakest if group norms do not
encourage high productivity
Groups with norms
that stress productivity
Productivity

Groups with norms that

stress low productivity
 Group think
 Groupthink.
– The tendency for members of highly cohesive
groups to lose their critical evaluation
capabilities.
– Groupthink can lead the group to make poor
decisions.
– Group members and leaders should:
• Be sensitive to the occurrence of groupthink.
• Take actions to prevent the occurrence of
groupthink.
 Groupthink
• Because highly cohesive groups
demand conformity, there is a tendency
for members to be unwilling to criticize
one another’s ideas and suggestions.
 Symptoms of Groupthink
• Group members reduce any resistance to
their assumptions
• Members pressure any doubters to support
the alternative favored by the majority
• Doubters keep silent about misgivings and
minimize their importance
• Group interprets members’ silence as a
“yes” vote for the majority
 Roles
Role(s)
A set of expected behavior patterns
attributed to someone occupying a given
position in a social unit.
Role Identity
Certain attitudes and behaviors
consistent with a role.

Role Perception
An individual’s view of how he or
© she is supposed
2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All to act in a given
rights reserved.
situation.
 Roles (cont’d)
Role Expectations
How others believe a
person should act in a
given situation.

Role Conflict
A situation in which an individual is
confronted by divergent role expectations.
 Group Properties - Status
Status: A socially defined position or rank given to
groups or group members by others.
Norms &
Power over
Interaction
Others

Group Member
Ability to Status
Contribute

Personal
Characteristics
Status Inequity National Culture
 Group Properties - Size
Social loafing
The tendency for individuals to expend less
effort when working collectively than when
working individually.
Performance

Other
Otherconclusions:
conclusions:
) • • Odd
Oddnumber
numbergroups
groupsdo
d

g do
te

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afi better than even.
better than even.
ec

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et
Ex

• • Groups
Groupsofof55toto77perform
perform
u better
l ( d better overall thanlarger
overall than largeroror
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groups.
Ac
© 2007 Prentice Hall Inc. All
rights reserved. Group Size
Group Polarization