Lecture 20: Group Dynamics Flashcards
Exercise is often a…
Group activity (e.g. group fitness classes, running group)
What is a group?
a collation of individuals who have a relationship to one another that make them interdependent to some significant degree (dependent on each other to help accomplish goals set for ourselves)
What are the 4 key requirements for a grouo?
- Interaction
- Mutual awareness
- Interdependence
- Continuity over time
What do we need to do to understand group performance?
Need to consider the group processes as well as individual ability
What are two group processes?
Team cohesion and leadership
What is Steiners model of group performance?
Actual performance = Potential performance (productivity) - losses due to poor/lack or team work/spirit
What is actual productivity? (Steiners)
What the group actually does i.e. performance
What is potential productivity? (Steiners)
Groups best possible performance given the resources relevant to the task and the demands of that task
What is the process? (Steiners)
Everything the group does while transforming its resources into a product i.e. performance
What is a faulty process? (Steiners)
The ineffective use of available resources to meet task demands
What two losses cause a faulty process?
- Motivation losses
- Coordination losses
What are motivation losses?
Occur when some or all members of the team don’t give 100% effort for 100% of the time (e.g. social loafing)
What are coordination losses?
poor timing, teamwork or strategy
What is a coach or leaders role to reduce faulty process?
develop and practice organisational strategies that reduce concentration losses and maintain optimal motivation levels
What is the ringelmann effect?
Average individual performance decreases with increases in group size
What were the results when ringelmann tested his effect?
Average individual performance decreased with increased group size = “harder to reach potential”
1 person = 100% of avg. individual force
2 people = 93%
3 people = 85%
8 people = 49%
What did Ingham et al (1974) find in a replication and extension of Ringelmann’s study?
Average individual performance decreased to 85% in 3-person groups, 78% in 6-person groups.
Concluded that this was due to: ===» “ Motivational Losses”
Although coordination links increase as group size increases….
Ringelmann is not due to coordination losses.
What is the overall conclusion that decreases in individual average performance are due to?
motivational losses -> social loafing
What is social loafing?
Reduced individual effort when performing as part of a group - deals with motivational losses in groups
What happens when “identifiability” of individual performances is lost in a group performance?
performances decrease because of the diffusion of responsibility and lack of accountability
What can decrease social loafing?
Monitoring individual performances
What can increase individual effort in groups?
Social initiatives
What are social initiatives?
Can be peer pressure from teammates, praise/recognition, social approval and social support.
