Cohesion and development

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THE NATURE OF COHESION

 A uniquely group-level concept, cohesion comes about if, and only if, a group exists.
 A cohesive group will be more likely to prosper over time, since it retains its members and
allows them to reach goals that would elude a more incoherent aggregate.
 The group that lacks cohesion is at risk, for if too many members drift away the group may
not survive.
Components of Cohesion

 What, precisely, is group cohesion?

- It is the act or state of sticking together tightly; Unity.
 Cohesive groups are unified and morale is high.
 Members enjoy interacting with one another, and they remain in the group for prolonged
periods of time.
 Cohesion is not a simple, unitary process but a multi-component process with a variety of
indicators.
 Core Concept Definition and Source

Attraction among the members of a group. Group property which is inferred from the number and
strength of mutual positive attitudes among the
members of the group.

Attraction of the members to the group as a whole. Aggregative property of the sum of the feelings of
attraction to the group of each of the individual group
members.

Belonging and Morale Perceived cohesion encompasses an individual’s

sense of belonging to a particular group associated
with membership in the group.

Strength of the social forces that keep an individual Cohesiveness of a group is here deemed as the result
from leaving a group. of all the forces acting on the members to remain in
the group.

Tendency to stick together(cohere) Cohesion is now generally described as group

members’ inclinations to forge social bonds, resulting in
members sticking together and remaining united.

Trust and Teamwork Trust among group members together with the
capacity for teamwork.
Antecedents of Cohension
Component Description Examples

Social cohesion Attraction of members I have many friends in

to one another and to this group.
the group as a whole I love this group.
This is the best group.
Task cohesion Capacity to perform This group is effective.
successfully as This group is the best at
coordinated unit and what it does.
as part of the group I do my best for this
group.
Perceived cohesion The construed United we stand.
coherence of the This is a unified group.
group; sense of I am one with this
belonging to the group; group.
unity
Emotional Emotional intensity of This group has
the group and tremendous energy.
individuals when in the This group has team
group. spirit.
I get excited just being
Interpersonal Attraction

Groups often form when individuals develop feelings of

attraction for one another. But just as such factors as
proximity, frequency of interaction, similarity,
complementarity, reciprocity, and rewarding exchanges
can prompt a group to form.
Stability of Membership

• A team stays as a team.

Group Size

Study were all relatively small, ranging from 7 to 16. The

smaller groups tend to be more unified than larger ones.
Structural Features

Cohesion is related to the group structure in two basic

ways. First, cohesive groups tend to be relatively more
structured ones.
Initiations

Many groups require members to pass an initiation test

before they join the group.
Cohesion and Commitment
over Time
What is…?

 Camaraderie – a feeling of good friendship among the people in a group.

 Fellowship – is the relationship of people who share interests or feelings.
 Cohesion – is a condition in which people or things are closely united.
 Dissolution – the process of making something slowly end or disappear.
 Stages of Group Development
Stage Major Processes
Orientation: Forming Members become familiar with each
other and the group; acceptance of
leader and group consensus
Conflict: Storming Disagreement over procedures;
expression of dissatisfaction; tension;
among members; antagonism
towards leader
Structure: Norming Growth of cohesiveness and unity;
establishment of roles, standards, and
relationships; increased trust,
communication
Work: Performing Goal achievement; high task-
orientation; emphasis on
performance and production
Dissolution: Adjourning Termination of roles; completion of
tasks; reduction of dependency
Characteristics
Communications are tentative,
polite; concern for ambiguity,
group’s goals; leader is active;
members are compliant
Criticism of ideas; poor
attendance; hostility;
polarization and coalition
formation
Agreement on procedures;
reduction in role ambiguity;
increased “we-feeling”
Decision making; problem
solving; mutual cooperation
Disintegration and withdrawal;
increased independence &
emotionality; regret
A Sampling of Items from the Group
Development

Stage Sample Items

Orientation (forming) Members tend to go along with whatever the
leader suggests. There is very little conflict
expressed in the group.
Conflict (storming) People seem to have very different views about
how things should be done in this group.
Members challenge the leader’s idea.
Structure (norming) The group is spending its time planning how it
will get its work done.
Members can rely on each other. They work as
a team.
Work (performing) The group gets, gives, and uses feedback about
its effectiveness and productivity.
The group encourages high performance and
quality work.
 Cycles of Group Development

 Successive-Stage Theory – It specifies the usual order of the phases

of group development.
 Some groups manage to avoid particular stages; others move
through the stages in a unique order; still others seem to develop in
ways that cannot be described by Tuckman’s five stages.
 Many theorists believe that groups repeatedly cycle through stages
during lifetime.
 These changes may be precipitated by some internal crisis, such as
the loss of a leader, or by changes in the type of task the group is
attempting.
Consequences
of Cohesion

Borrinaga, Paula Giel R.

Member Satisfaction and Adjustment

 People are usually much more satisfied with their groups when the group is
cohesive rather than non cohesive.
 A cohesive group creates a healthier workplace.
 Cohesive groups can, however, be emotionally demanding.
Group Dynamics and Influence

 As cohesion increases, the internal dynamics of the group intensify. The pressure
to conform is greater, and individual’s resistance to these pressures is weaker.
 Fraternities, sororities, and cults- often describe the strong pressures that these groups put
on their members.
Do Cohesive Groups Outperform Less
Unified Groups?

 Cohesive groups usually outperforms less unified groups, but impacts varies across
teams and tasks.
-strong impact in sports, military, and group projects.
Are Cohesion and Performance Casually
Connected?

 When a group performs well, the level of cohesion in the group increases, but
when it fails, disappointment are typically observed.
 Brian Mullen and Carolyn Copper conclude that cohesion causes improved
performance.
 What is it about cohesive groups that
makes them more effective?

o Cohesiveness develops over time out of interpersonal and group-

level attraction, through collaboration, and as a result of a sense of
belonging.
o Cohesive teams communicate more effectively, lead to higher
member satisfaction, and can create efficiency in resource
allocation.