Psychology - Group dynamics

What are the factors of group dynamics

1. Group processes

2. Social loafing

3. Cohesion

4. Leadership

What is the definition of group processes

The behaviours of the members of groups as they engage in decision making and task performance

What are the types of group processes and the type definitions?

Interactive - TD: Team members working together to achieve shared goals (interactive and coordinate) e.g. football, netball

Coactive - TD: Requires individuals to be successful in order to contribute to team success (no direct interaction) e.g. Gymnastics

What is the definition of social loafing

Individuals that do not put in 100% when in a team-based situation

Caused by a lack of motivation

What is the definition of cohesion

The extent to which members of a group exhibit a desire to achieve common goals and group identity

What are the types of cohesion

Task cohesion:

How well team members working together together to achieve common goals

Social cohesion:

How much team members tend to like each other and their company (outside of sport)

What is the definition of leadership

The behavioural process influencing individuals and groups towards set goals

Types of leadership

1. Qualities of a good leader

2. Selection of a leader

3. Styles of leadership

What are the qualities of a good leader?

• Confidence - empowers them to male decision

• Intelligence - understanding of the sport

• Self discipline - leads by example

• Patience - gives time and chance to develop

• Optimism - positive passion

What are the two ways to select a leader and what they mean?

Prescribed:

Appointed externally (outside they group) by some form of higher authority

Emergent:

Selected formally by the team and already in the team.

This one gained the respect & support of the group by showing specific leadership skills or being skilful at their sport.

What are the styles of leadership and what do they mean?

Autocratic:

They have firm views and don’t seek any views of the group as well as rarely gets in a personal relationship with the group members.

Democratic:

These will encourage group involvement and makes decisions only after consulting the group however they still have the last call.

What are the theories for?

• Group Dynamics

• Cohesion

• Leadership

Group Dynamics - Tuckman’s stages of group development

Ringlemann’s effect

Cohesion - Carron’s conceptual model of cohesion

Leadership - Chelladurai’s multi dimensional model of sports leadership

What are the four stages of Tuckman’s stages of group development and their exlaination?

1. Forming - Group familiarise themselves with each other and assess strengths and weaknesses

2. Storming - conflict begins to develop because demand are placed on the members

3. Norming - Conflict replaced with cooperation and the members start to work towards common goals rather than focusing on individual improvement

4. Performing - Team progresses and function effectively as a unit

All groups go through these stages, order and time spent at each stage may vary

What is the principle of the Ringlemann effect

As group size increases the individual productivity of the people in the group decreases.

Caused by motivational faults/ losses

Can occur when people are not accountable for their own performance

Bigger group - people can hide behind others performance

What are the factors affecting cohesion in carron’s conceptual model of cohesion?

P - Personal: Group will be mor cohesive if members have similar attitudes, opinions and from similar backgrounds

L - Leadership: A coaches leadership and communication style - coach needs to understand athlete’s personality

E - Environmental: Groups that live closer to each other - Easier to meet up and interact

T - Team: Teams that are together for a long-time experience successes and failures and form a closer bond because of it

What is Chelladurai’s Multi Dimensional Model of Sports Leadership

Suggests that teams performance and satisfaction with the leader, will be highest if the leader’s required behaviours, preferred behaviours and actual behaviour all agrees.