Sport Psychology Chapter 9: Team dynamics and cohesion

What are the levels of interdependence and identity of groups and teams

• Interdependence

a. low or optional interdependence for groups

b. high interdependence for teams because they rely on each other

• Identity 

a. individual focus for groups 

b. shared/collective identity for teams 

Roles and communication for groups and teams

• Roles are undefined or fluid for groups. Roles are clearly defined for teams

• Communication varies by group. Communication is structured and ongoing for teams

Goals and cohesion of teams and groups

• Individual goals for groups. Common and coordinated goals for teams

• Cohesion may or may not exist in a group. Strong emphasis on cohesion for teams

What are the three theories of group development?

• linear perspective

• cyclical perspective

• pendular perspective

Description, stage/phases, application, distinctive features of linear perspective

• Description: groups develop in sequential, step by step process

• Stage/Phases: 1. forming 2. storming 3. norming 4. performing

• Application: seasonal teams with a clear progression towards performance

• Distinctive features: assumes all groups follow some sequence toward cohesion

Description, stage/phases, application, distinctive features of cyclical perspective 

• Description: group follows a life-cycle model: formation to destruction 

• Stage/Phases: 1. formation 2. growth 3. termination 

• Application: short term or seasonal teams, exercise groups 

• Distinct features: emphasize group’s finite life span 

Description, stage/phases, application, distinct features of pendular perspective

• Description: group development shifts based on issues/conflict

• Stage/Phases: 1. orientation 2. differentiation and conflict 3. resolution and cohesion (repeats)

• Application: reflects dynamics nature of teams (crisis recovery)

• Distinct features: recognize fluctuation in cohesion and development

What is forming?

• team comes together for the first time

• interactions are polite and cautious

• heavily reliant on leadership

• roles and goals are unclear

What is storming?

• conflict emerges as members test boundaries

• competition for roles

• clashes in personalities/values

What is norming?

• group norms and values become clear 

• more trust and cooperation 

• conflict begins to resolve 

What is performing?

• group is fully functioning and working toward collective goals

What are the stages of the cyclical perspective?

1. Formation: group comes together, builds cohesion and shared identity

2. Growth: development of trust, roles, and communication

3. Peak maturity: team reaches highest level of cohesion and functioning

4. Decline/Termination: group near its known endpoint (end of season)

Why does growth development fluctuate in the pendular perspective?

• because its swinging between unity and conflict

What are the stags of the pendular perspective? 

1. Orientation (cohesion): at the start, teams experience high unity and optimism with a strong sense of purpose and excitement 

2. Differentiation and conflict: personal and role differences emerge. subgroups form 

3. Resolution and cohesion: teams works through conflict and either grows stronger or weaker 

4. Differentiation and conflict (again): set backs, fatigue, losing streaks 

5. Termination: depending on the outcome cohesion may increase or decrease 

Linear perspective example (Basketball Team)

• start the team (forming)

• argue over roles (storming)

• find rhythm (norming)

• play well together (performing)

Cyclical perspective example (summer soccer camp)

• begins with team building, peaks mid-camp, dissolves at end. All stages influenced by the known ending

Pendular example (volleyball team)

• start strong (cohesion)

• internal conflict arise mid-season (differentiation)

• work through it (resolution)

• then shifts again after a losing streak

What two factors influence group structure? 

• group roles 

• group norms 

What are group roles?

• set of expected behaviors for individuals in specific positions

What are group norms?

• shared rules or expectations that guide how group members are supposed to think, feel, and behave

• unwritten but powerful

• socially reinforced

• emerge organically over time

What are formal and informal goals?

• Formal roles: appointed/official role by coach/leader - Team captain

• Informal roles: emerge naturally - team motivator

Do coaches need to recognize and reinforce appropriate player roles and informal leadership 

• yes 

• allows for role clarity, role acceptance, improve communication, help prevent role conflict 

Can role conflict still occur?

• yes

• individuals will be unhappy and will compete for other roles

How would a coach create an effective group climate?

• recognize group stags of development

• clarity in individual roles

• authentic/sincere communication

• support positive norms while eliminating negative norms

• social support among players and coaches (and parents in youth sports)

Define social support of a team

• an exchange of resources between at least two individuals perceived by the provider or recipient as intended to enhance the well-being of the recipient

How does social support optimize team climate?

• enhances performance, well-being, coping 

• increase team cohesion 

What are the 7 types of social support

• listening

• emotional

• emotional-challenge

• task appreciation

• task challenge

• personal assistance

Listening and emotional support

• Listening: social events for staff/player. Informal contact

• Emotional: provide comfort (visit injured player)

Emotional challenge support and reality confirmation

• Emotional challenge: encourage emotionally challenging verbal exchanges among players

• Reality confirmation: validating players views when accurate (ref made bad call)

Task appreciation and task challenge 

• Task appreciation: recognition and appreciation of athletes effort, skill, or achievement 

• Task Challenge: constructive push encouraging the athlete’s to stretch their abilities 

Personal assistance

• tangible direct help (transportation or equipment)

What is steiner’s model of individual and team performance

• best individuals does not mean best teams

• actual productivity = potential productivity - loss due to faulty group processes

What is potential productivity?

• group’s best possible performance given its resources and task demands

What is the process and process losses?

• everything the group does while transforming these resources into performance 

• Process Losses: motivation and coordination losses 

What are motivation and coordination losses?

• Motivation loss: low effort

• Coordination loss: lack of sync

Is a large or small team more vulnerable to a process loss?

• Large team

• larger teams harder to coordinate

Based on Steiner’s model, when will team A perform better than team B

1. team A has more ability (resources) than team B when experiencing equal process losses

2. Team A has equal ability (resources) than team B, but fewer process losses

3. Team A has more ability and has less process losses than team B

What contributes most in group setting? Individual skills or group process?

• group process

• the importance of individual ability decreases and the importance of group prosses increase in sports that require more cooperation (larger teams) 

What is the role of the coach according to Steiner?

• increase motivation

• maximize coordination

• increase resources

• reduce process losses (enhance cohesion and emphasizing individual contributions)

What is the ringelman effect?

• individual performance decreases as the number of people in the group increase

What is social loafing?

• when individuals within a group or team put forth less than 100% effort due to loss of motivation

What increases social loafing?

• low individual identifiability, task meaninglessness, low individual involvement 

• strangers on team, perceived redundancy

• facing weaker opponents

How would a coach eliminate social loafing?

• emphasize unique contributions of individuals

• increase identifiability

• meet individually, value responsibilities

• create small units within teams

What is cohesion?

• tendency to stick together and remain united in pursuit of goals and satisfication

Based on Carron’s model of cohesion, what factors influence the development?

1. Environmental: context in which the teams exists

2. Personal

3. leadership

4. team factors

What are the two types of cohesion?

• Task cohesion: unity toward achieving performance goals 

• Social cohesion: interpersonal attraction among group members 

When measuring cohesion, how do we know if a team is cohesive?

• group interaction - task

• group integration - social

• individual attraction to task/social aspects

what is a sociogram?

• a map of group members social preferences

How would a coach enhance cohesion?

• team building activities

• shared goals and responsibilities

• positive communication and accountability

what are barriers to cohesion?

• personality clash 

• conflict in roles 

• no or inconsistent communication 

• power struggles 

• high turnover of coaches/players

• unclear goals 

What are the guidelines for building cohesion (group members)?

• get to know team members

• help when possible

• support/reinforce each other

• be responsible and honest

• give 100% effort