Sport Psychology - Group Dynamics

Question 1

Name 3 characteristics of a group

Answer 1

A collective identity
Interaction
Communication
A shared goal or purpose

Question 2

Name the 5 stages of group formation

Answer 2

Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Mourning

Question 3

What happens in the forming stage of group formation?

Answer 3

• The group comes together and gets to know each other
• Individuals will find out how they feel about the team and if they think they will fit in

Question 4

What happens in the storming stage of group formation?

Answer 4

This is a stage of potential conflict when individuals may compete to establish positions, status or role in the team

Question 5

What happens in the norming stage of group formation?

Answer 5

Once the conflict has been resolved and roles have been agreed, the team begins to settle down and co-operate together.

Question 6

What happens in the performing stage of group formation

Answer 6

• In this stage, all players are now interactive and working together towards a common goal

Question 7

What happens in the mourning stage of group formation?

Answer 7

• The team completes their task and are broken up

Question 8

Define cohesion

Answer 8

Cohesion is the tendency of member of the team to work together to achieve what they want to achieve

Question 9

What are Carron’s 4 antecedents

Answer 9

Environmental factors
Personal factors
Leadership factors
Team factors

Question 10

Define task cohesion

Answer 10

Individuals working together to achieve a common goal

Question 11

Which is more important, task cohesion or social cohesion?

Answer 11

Task cohesionD

Question 12

Define social cohesion

Answer 12

Individuals developing interpersonal relationships

Question 13

Give 2 benefits of social cohesion

Answer 13

• Social cohesion will help teams to be interactive and have high levels of interaction
• This can help to develop team spirit
• And help make player feel comfortable criticising and supporting their team mates
• When social cohesion is strong, pleayers may socialise outside of the sporting environment

Question 14

Give 2 drawbacks of social cohesion

Answer 14

• However, social cohesion may lead to the formation of social cliques
• This means that some players may not feel comfortable approaching players outside of their clique
• Some players may not contribute to tactics because they do not feel part of a group – this is known as social loafing

Question 15

Steiner’s model of faulty group processes states that:

Answer 15

Actual productivity = Potential productivity – Losses due to faulty group processes

Question 16

Define actual productivity

Answer 16

Is the performance level achieved by the team/groupD

Question 17

Define potential productivity

Answer 17

The team’s best possible performance

Question 18

What are the two causes of faulty group processes?

Answer 18

Motivational losses
Coordination losses

Question 19

What 2 effects do motivational losses lead to?

Answer 19

Ringlemann effect
Social loafing

Question 20

Name 3 strategies to overcome motivational losses

Answer 20

Vary the practice
Increase self-efficacy
Encourage support of team mates
Maintain a stable group
Create a team identity
Social outings

Question 21

What is the cause of motivational losses?

Answer 21

Lack of communication and teamwork

Question 22

How can motivation losses be overcome? Name 2 ways

Answer 22

Give specific roles
Train/practice more often