Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, working together is success. Henry Ford Henry Ford

Group Development Outline Group Development and Group Cohesion Tuckman’s Basic Group Development Model An Alternative Explanation for Developing Group Cohesion Social Identity Theory Model of Group Socialization Factors Affecting Impact of Membership Change Dyadic Group Development Social penetration theory Relational dialectics

Group Cohesion The strength of the bonds linking the group members to the group, the unity of the group, the feeling of attraction for specific group members and the group itself, and the degree to which the group members coordinate their efforts to achieve goals. (Forsyth, 1999) “A dynamic process reflected in the tendency for a group to stick together and remain united in the pursuit of its goals and objectives” (Carron, 1982)

Cohesion & Performance Performance Success Cohesion

Relationship Between Cohesiveness and Productivity

Group Development Group development How groups develop over time as members interact, learn about each other, structure relationships and roles Sequential stage theories Group development proceeds through a fixed series of stages

Theories of Cohesion Research generally suggests that there are five stages to the development of group cohesion. Tuckman (1965), defined these as 1. Orientation (Forming) 2. Conflict (Storming) 3. Structure (Norming) 4. Work (Performing) 5. Dissolution (Adjourning)

Tuckman’s Five-Stage Theory of Group Development Performing Adjourning Norming Storming Forming Return to Independence Dependence/ interdependence Independence

Tuckman’s Five-Stage Theory of Group Development Individual Issues FormingStormingNormingPerforming “How do I fit in?” “What’s my role here?” “What do the others expect me to do?” “How can I best perform my role?” Group Issues “Why are we here?” “Why are we fighting over who’s in charge and who does what?” “Can we agree on roles and work as a team?” “Can we do the job properly?”

Group Cohesion: An Alternative Explanation Group cohesion may be caused by the processes of social identity and self categorization (Hogg)

Social Identities People have an innate and strong tendency to mentally organize things and people into categories; ingroups and outgroups To the extent that we associate ourselves with groups (i.e. self- categorization), we have social identities To the extent that we identify with groups that are valued (e.g., powerful, prestigious, high status, popular), we’ll feel good about ourselves. Social identities (via our group memberships) are important aspects of how we define ourselves Accentuation of ingroup similarities and outgroup differences leads to depersonalization of members as individuals take on the identity of the group

Social Identity & Group Cohesion Group cohesion can be explained by social attraction whereby members are attracted to the group entity (ideas and beliefs) rather than its individual members. Popular members of a group are those who epitomize the groups beliefs and norms This idea of shared beliefs and values generates a higher degree of unity and sense of “we-ness”

Model of Group Socialization Group Socialization Process of mutual adjustment between the group and its members Model of Group Socialization Investigation phase Socialization phase Maintenance phase Resocialization phase Remembrance phase

Factors Affecting Impact of Membership Change Fixed/stable vs. not fixed/unstable Reason for member change Frequency/predictability of member change Size of change relative to group size Centrality of departing members

Dyadic Group Development Models of two-person group development Dyadic group development theories Social penetration theory Relational dialectics

Social Penetration Theory Social penetration theory Relationships develop as people engage in reciprocal self-disclosure

The Self as a Multilayered Onion Levels of self 1. Public self 2. Semi-private self – limited set of people know 3. Inner Core a. Private domain b. Values, self-concept, deeply felt emotions Relational intimacy is tied to how much other person knows of these levels

Self Disclosure Definition: The disclosure of personal information not available to all. Self-disclosure has breadth (range) and depth (how revealing) and develops over time Everyone has different level of comfort some disclose info. freely and often some hold personal info. very close What is acceptable / unacceptable? Expectation of reciprocity

Social penetration theory (Altman & Taylor, 1973)

Breadth and Depth of a Typical Onion

Social Penetration Theory 4 Stages: Orientation stage Exchange of superficial (public) information about self Exploratory affective stage More information is exchanged but it’s still not very personal Affective stage Close friendships develop and some intimate details are shared; some barriers remain Stable exchange stage Highly intimate; able to predict each other’s actions and responses

Another View on Dyadic Relationships Relational dialectics Dyadic relationships change in response to opposing, yet related, forces Dyadic partners experience internal, conflicting pulls causing relationships to be in a constant state of flux, known as dialectical tension. The pressures of these tensions occur in a wavelike or cyclical fashion over time. Relational Dialectics introduces the concept that the closer individuals become to one another, the more conflict will arise to pull them apart.

Relational Dialectics 3 relationship dialectics Openness/closedness dialectic ‘I want to be close/I need my own space’ Novelty/predictability dialectic ‘I like the familiar rhythms/we need to do something new and different’ Autonomy/connection dialectic ‘I like sharing with you/I don’t want to share this with you’

Group Development Activity Trace the development of a group you once belonged to (consider, for example, a class you took last semester). Make note of the extent to which the group experienced (a) an orientation stage, (b) conflict, (c) increased cohesion and changes in structure, (d) a period of high performance. Which of the two theories discussed in the book--Tuckman's stage model or Bale's equilibrium model--best describes your group?