Chapter 8: Group Cohesion

8Group Cohesion

C H A P T E R

Defining Cohesion

• A dynamic process reflected in the tendency for a group to stick together and remain united in the pursuit of its instrumental objectives and/or for the satisfaction of member affective needs (Carron, Brawley, & Widmeyer, 1998)

(continued)

Defining Cohesion (continued)

• Task cohesion: Reflects the degree to which group members work together to achieve common goals and objectives

• Social cohesion: Reflects the degree to which members of a team like each other and enjoy one another’s company.

• Often equated with interpersonal attraction.

Figure 8.1

Measuring Cohesion

• Questionnaires (e.g., Group Environment Questionnaire) focus on how attractive the group is to the individual members and how the members perceive the group.

• Subscales:- Group interaction—task - Group integration—social - Individual attraction to group—task - Individual attraction to group—social

Figure 8.3

The Cohesion–Performance Relationship

• Cohesion is positively related to performance.

• Research has shown the cohesion–performance relationship depends on several factors:– Types of measures

– Task demands

(continued)

The Cohesion–Performance Relationship (continued)

• Types of measures– It was once thought that a positive cohesion–

performance relationship existed with task cohesion measures, but there was no cohesion–performance relationship with social cohesion measures.

– However, the most recent research shows that increases in both task and social cohesion are associated with increased performance.

(continued)

The Cohesion–Performance Relationship (continued)

• Task demands– Original research argued that the cohesion–

performance relationship was stronger with interacting teams (e.g., volleyball) and that no relationship existed with coacting teams (e.g., bowling).

– However, the most recent research has shown that task type is not a moderator for the cohesion-performance relationship.

– Specifically, more cohesiveness is related to better performance in both coactive and interactive sports.

(continued)

The Cohesion–Performance Relationship (continued)

• Circular relationship: Increased cohesion leads to greater performance and brings teams together, which, in turn, leads to still more cohesion.

Other Factors Associated with Cohesion

• Team satisfaction: Increased cohesion is related to increased satisfaction.

• Conformity: The more cohesive a group is, the greater its pressure to conform to the attitudes and behaviors of the group.

(continued)

Other Factors Associated with Cohesion (continued)

• Adherence– More cohesive exercise classes have better

attendance, are more likely to arrive on time, are less likely to drop out, are more resistant to disruption, are more likely to experience positive affect related to exercise, and have stronger efficacy for exercise.

– This positive relationship between cohesion and adherence appears to remain constant regardless of the exercise leader-to-participant ratio. (continued)

Other Factors Associated with Cohesion (continued)

• Social support: There is a positive relationship between the social support an individual receives and that person’s evaluation of group cohesion.

• Stability: Teams higher in cohesion can better resist disruption; teams staying together longer tend to be more cohesive.

Other Factors Associated with Cohesion

• Group goals are tied to group cohesion.

• Other factors are group status, role clarity and acceptance, group norms, decision style, collective efficacy, self-handicapping, gender.

Cohesion Research Results

• Exercise settings: Classes with feelings of high group cohesion have fewer dropouts and late arrivals than do classes low in cohesion.

• Sport settings: Team-building exercises, clear and meaningful roles, team goals, communication, and personal sacrifice are related to increased cohesion.

Strategies for Building Group Cohesiveness

• Increase distinctiveness:– Have a group name.

– Make a group T-shirt.

– Hand out neon shoelaces or headbands.

– Make posters for class.

• See table 8.1 in text

The MAPS Approach to Team Building

• Mission: Derive and clarify team mission.

• Assessment: Assess team strengths and areas needing improvement.

• Plan: Develop action plans to improve effort and commitment.

• Systematic evaluation: Reflect, review, and revise group goals and plans.

Guidelines for Building Team Cohesion

• Strategies for leaders– Communicate effectively.

– Explain individual roles in team success.

– Develop pride within subunits.

– Set challenging team goals.

– Encourage team identity.

– Avoid formation of social cliques.(continued)

Guidelines for Building Team Cohesion (continued)

• Strategies for leaders– Avoid excessive turnover.

– Conduct periodic team meetings.

– Enhance team efficacy.

– Know the team climate.

– Get to know others; enhance personal disclosure.

(continued)

Guidelines for Building Team Cohesion (continued)

• Strategies for group members– Get to know other members of the group.

– Help group members whenever possible.

– Give group members positive reinforcement.

– Be responsible.

– Communicate honestly and openly with leader.

– Resolve conflicts immediately

– Give 100% effort at all times.

Empathy and Trust• Empathy

– You cannot bond with another person unless you can understand their point of view in the world they inhabit

– Then, you need to let them know you understand by communicating that understanding

– You can, after you have given this empathic statement, express your own opinion, which might be very different from the statement that you just empathized with. But the fact that you first listened to and showed that you understood the other person’s point of view makes the other person more willing to listen to you

– Showing empathy creates a stronger bond between the two of you (cohesion) and it helps resolve any conflicts there might be between you and the other person

• Trust– Another part of team cohesion is trust

– Trust is built through being trustworthy and trusting

– To be trustworthy is to be open and honest about your thoughts and feelings

– Your openness will most often be greeted by others with the other component of trust - acceptance

– When someone takes the chance risk of self-disclosing, that self-disclosure needs to be received with acceptance, not evaluation or criticism

– Acceptance is not approval; it is just an acknowledgement that you value the person even when you don’t like his/her behavior

– An accepting statement such as, “Oh, yes, we all have times when we feel we blew it” goes a long way towards building the trust that is necessary for cohesion and shows you are trusting

Group Cohesion and Team BuildingDave Yukelson, Ph.D., Penn State University

1. Develop a Shared Vision and Unity of Purpose

– Team building comes from a clear vision of what the group is striving to achieve and is tied to commitment, collaboration, teamwork, individual and mutual accountability

– A shared vision that has meaning and purpose creates synergistic empowerment

2. Develop Pride in Group Membership and Identity as a Team

– Point out sources and consequences of taking pride in group membership

– Get team to think about the “legacy” they would like to be remembered by

3. Develop a Meaningful and Inspiring Mission for the Team

– Mission statement: solemn unconditional agreement among group members that spells out meaning and purpose behind groups existence affirming “This is who we are, this is what we are all about”

– “what do you want to accomplish this season, what will it take to get there?”

4. Develop complementary Roles and Synergistic Teamwork

– Everyone working together with a collective desire/passion to succeed

– Understanding and appreciation of each others roles (role clarity, role acceptance, role importance)

– Create weekly reward system to recognize athletes who excel within their roles (effort awards)

5. Individual and Mutual Accountability– Everyone must be on the same page, working

together to achieve goals that are deemed important

6. Positive Team Culture and Cohesive Group Atmosphere

– Psychosocial factors that influence team chemistry both on and off the field

– Strong internal leadership from within the group, peer helping and social support

7. Ongoing Communication about How Things are Progressing– Talk openly about the commitment and discipline

required to reach team goals

– Monitor, evaluate, and adjust goals as needed (goal boards)

8. Communicating Effectively: Establishing Credibility, Trust, and Mutual Respect– Effective communication involves mutual sharing

and mutual understanding

– Athletes respect coaches that are open, honest, sincere, genuine, and direct

– Listen to others, they will listen to you (demonstrates that you care)

– Non-Verbal Communication just as important as what you have to say