Small Group Communication Chapter 2

Individuals Join

Groups for Three Reasons

1. Attraction Theory

2. Interpersonal Communication

Motives

3. Lack of Volition

Attraction Theory

Individuals are attracted to the group’s activities

Individuals are attracted to the group’s goals

Individuals are attracted to the prestige associated

with membership in the group

Individuals are attracted to group members

Interpersonal

Communication Motives

People often initiate and maintain

interactions in order to satisfy

their interpersonal needs.

Interpersonal

Communication Motives

1.Inclusion

Communicate with others to have a sense of belonging

Affection

2.Communicate with others to feel liked and to like others

Control

3.Communicate with others to have the power to

manipulate the environment

4. Escape

Communicate with others to avoid other activities or

stressful situations

5. Pleasure

Communicate with others to have fun

6. Relaxation

Communicate with others to unwind and lower anxiety

Lack of Volition

Some people join groups because they have no

choice

Small Group

Socialization

Three Approaches to Defining

Socialization

Definitions

of Socialization

1. When newcomers become part of the group’s

patterns of activities

2. As a reciprocal process that affects both individual

members and the group as a whole

3. As a two-way process of influence and change

whereby group members use verbal and

nonverbal messages to create a new and unique

group culture

Model of Small

Group Socialization

The five phases illustrate how communication

functions to influence socialization processes.

*Antecedent phase

*Anticipatory phase

*Encounter phase

*Assimilation phase

*Exit phase

Antecedent phase

Members will be influenced by each other’s

beliefs, attitudes, communicative and

personality traits, age, sex, and race

Anticipatory phase

Represents the pre-expectations individuals

form about group membership

Also considers that existing groups have

expectations about new group members

Encounter phase

Group members come together for the first

time

Assimilation phase

Members accept the established group

culture and begin to identify with the

group and its members

“We-ness” or “group-ness” occurs

Exit phase

The end of the group task, or when

individuals leave the group

Affects how the group and the individual

members confront life without that

group experience

Outcomes

of Socialization

Describe how members and the group as

a whole feel about how they cooperated

and succeeded in completing goals.

Cohesion

A member reaching an acceptable level of

desire to stay in the group.

Consensus

All group members agreeing with and committing to

the group’s decision

Communication Satisfaction

Describes members who walk away from

group meetings or from the group feeling

positively fulfilled from the experience

Loneliness

Feeling of powerlessness some members have

from not being able or allowed to participate

in the group’s process

Socialization

Guidelines

Ideas for the successful socialization

of members to help ensure

success, from the perspective of

both the new member and the

group.

Individual level: New member should:

1. Embrace the values, norms, and behaviors

established in the group

2. Acquire the skills and knowledge needed to

assume appropriate roles

3.Learn what is and what is not important

4.Move from a non-performing member to a

contributing member