Cohesion Development

Cohesion and Development

Group Cohesion

• Importance in group behavior studies

  • Key motivational factor for group leaders

  • Common phrases highlighting importance:

    • "Together We Stand, Divided We Fall"

    • "There is No I in Team"

    • "Players Play, Teams Win"

• Cohesion is a multilevel, process with multiple components

Characteristics of Cohesion

• Changes in cohesion:

  • Consistent dynamics in shape and size

  • Multi-dimensional nature

• Concept of Equifinality:

  • The final state can be achieved through different paths (Katz & Kahn, 1978)

Forms of Cohesion

• Two primary forms:

  1. Social Cohesion: Attraction among members

  2. Task Cohesion: Members' commitment to shared goals

• Cohesion as an individual & group-level concept

• Cohesion reflects group health:

  • Close bonds indicate satisfaction

  • Skills alone won’t guarantee success

Definitions of Group Cohesion

• Initial definitions included:

  • Festinger, Schacter, Back (1950): "Total field of forces ... to remain in the group"

  • Back (1951): Attraction a group has for its members

  • Libo (1953): Resultant forces on each member to remain in the group

Evolution of Design Definitions

• Earlier definitions focused on individual attraction and team morale

• Dynamic nature makes one-dimensional analysis insufficient

• Attraction-to-group theory neglects dissatisfaction and other variables like team adversity or goal setting

Alternative Perspectives on Cohesion

• Mudrack (1989): Cohesion easy to describe but hard to define.

• Carron, Brawley, Widmeyer (1998): "Dynamic process reflected in a group's tendency to stick together for goals/satisfaction"

Conceptualizing Group Cohesion

• Cohesion = Attraction:

  • Based on positive attitudes towards group members

  • Similarity Principle: Cohesive groups demonstrate homophily

  • Hogg's Definition: Distinguishes between social attraction (group liking) and personal attraction (individual liking)

Cohesion = Unity

• Members adhere to one another creating a unified group

  • High solidarity leads to emotional cohesion

  • High belongingness and self-identification within the group

• Examples of unity include:

  • Houston/Boston Strong movements and Military examples

Cohesion = Task & Teamwork

• Cohesion encompasses things beyond interpersonal relationships:

  • Collaboration in working towards goals

• Key terms:

  • Collective Efficacy: Group confidence in task success

  • Group Potency/Esprit de corps: Shared commitment and motivation among members

Antecedents of Cohesion

• Carron’s framework highlights four factors influencing cohesion:

  1. Environmental: Social pressures

  2. Personal: Individual characteristics (gender, race, age)

  3. Leadership: Style affects group dynamics

  4. Team Factors: Shared experiences, norms, and roles

Measuring Group Cohesion

• Various methods due to multiple components:

  • Use of personal pronouns (we, us vs. I, me)

  • Sociometric analysis and social network analysis

  • Self-report assessments: Group Environment Scale, Perceived Cohesion Scale

Group Environmental Questionnaire Dimensions

1. Individual Attraction to the Group Task (ATG-T): Feelings about task involvement

2. Individual Attraction to the Group Social (ATG-S): Acceptance and interaction with group

3. Group Integration Task (GI-T): Feelings about achieving group tasks

4. Group Integration Social (GI-S): Feelings about the group as a social unit

Conceptual Model for Cohesion

• Individual Level vs. Group Level: Attractions to group tasks/social aspects

• Highlights personal and group interactions towards goals

Testing Cohesion Understanding

• Example scenario regarding yoga classes and group integration dimensions

Cohesion & Performance Relationship

• Bi-directional relationship: Inclusive success strengthens cohesion, while cohesive groups often outperform less cohesive ones

• Most evident when members are committed to tasks

Cohesion Development Over Time

• Cohesion evolves through predictable stages:

  1. Orientation (forming)

  2. Conflict (storming)

  3. Structure (norming)

  4. Work (performing)

  5. Dissolution (adjourning)

Stage Details

Forming

• Initial stage marked by tension and low interaction

• Dependence on leader guidance

Storming

• Increased internal tension over goals and procedures

• Conflict necessary for eventual cohesion

Norming

• Growth in unity with established rules and communication

Performing

• Mature stage with reduced conflict and increased productivity

Adjourning

• Transition phase, may bring stress and regret

• Unplanned dissolution can introduce animosity

Group Development Models

• Models of group development include:

  • Tuckman's Successive-stage Theory

  • Bales's Cyclical Model: Effective team functioning between norming & performing

  • Punctuated Equilibrium Models: Intermittent periods of change during group dynamics

Cognitive Dissonance Theory in Cohesion

• Investment in the group correlates with commitment

• Supported by Aronson & Mills' experimentation regarding initiation effects on commitment

Hazing Dynamics

• Hazing increases dependency and ranks within the group

• Understand the perceived tradition versus its dangers and ineffectiveness

• Not seen as effective means of commitment compared to other activities

Summary of Cohesion Dynamics

• Importance of understanding the satisfaction and adjustment factors in group dynamics

• Focus on the development influences and cycles for productivity and emotional dynamics.