group thinking

7/29/2019 Group Thinking

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Group Think

A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in acohesive in-group,

when the members'st r iv ings for unanimi tyoverr idetheir motivation toreal is t ical ly appraise alternat ive cou rses o f act ion(Janis 1972: 9)

When the desire for unanimity overcomes a groups ability to makerational assessments on all available information

Can include an unquestioned belief in your moral correctnessreligious (give your life to God) or political (Nazi Germany)

Reduces team effectiveness because it can remove the ability/need to

question or validate


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Group behaviour

Group Behaviour -Positive and provides for trust, belonging, reliance,

Resulting in being happy at work - better more efficient service

Like minded people with similar ideas expectations

Did not join public service to make a fortune

Joined toserve

make a difference

belongget self esteem (Maslow 1987)

Develop identityFitting-in (Baigent 2001)

Surface acting that develops into deep acting (Hochschild 1983)

Culture can inclusiveRealise needs (Maslow 1987)

Avoid alienation (Marx)

Resisting deskilling (Braverman 1974)

Culture can be negative

Racism (Macpherson 1999)Sexism (Baigent 2008)

Resist modernisation (Baigent 2007)

Outsiders seen as theother (civvies)

naive (what do they know about doing the job)

deviant stereotyping (sanctions taken against groups)

What are the stereotypes associated with being black? How might these affect a black male who wants to join the police?

What are the stereotypes associated with women how will this effect women who want to join the fire and rescue service?


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Forming a society

Jones (1994) suggests that Durkheim has an orthodox consensus view of social structuresmade up of norms, values and rules.

Durkheim argues we learn about norms, values and rules through socialisation

Norms values and rules serve the function of making social life possible

Each generation of people pass on these norms, values and rules to the next (tradition)

Functionalists believe in a society formed by social structures

Structures that become real in their consequences (W I Thomas) The argument of functionalist is that any social process exists because they serve a

function

For example we have laws because they lay down the boundaries of what is acceptable ina society

Durkheim uses the term social solidarity to describe how people achieve social order

Social solidaritywas achieved by collective standards and rules of behaviour that make thesocial glue that holds society together

Social solidarity/order flows from consensus - the existence of shared norms, values and

rules When individuals do not feel they belong in a society share the same norms and values

they feel alienated a situation that Durkheim saw as anomie

Mayo, recognise that workers at Hawthorn suffered from anomie they did not feel as isthey belonged during his experiment he made them feel important that they belongedand therefore they were happier and worked harder.


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Durkheim

A collective way of living/being can be termeda culture

Cultures can be macro gender, ethnicity,class

Cultures can be micro family, work,teenagers

Each generation has the ability to change theirculture

People have a choice if they comply or not In Public Services there are two cultures

Formal

Informal


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Tuckman, B. (1965) 'Developmental sequence in small groups', Psycho logical Bul let in63(6):

Forming

Identifying the task and how to accomplish it.

Deciding what is acceptable group behaviour and how tohandle group conflict

Deciding what information needs to be gathered to tacklethe task

Abstract conceptual discussions or some members'impatience with these discussions

No clear focus on task or problem as evidenced by

irrelevant discussions Complaining about organisational problems and barriers

to accomplishing the task instead of focusing on the task


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Storming

Arguing among group members, even if

they agree on the issues

Choosing sides within the group, bids for

power, drawing divisional lines

Tension, jealousy, lack of unity, and a

perceived hierarchy

Establishing unobtainable goals, increased

concerns about too much work to be done.


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Norming

Conflict avoidance in an attempt to promoteharmony

Friendlier discussions on a more personal level,

more discussions about the dynamics of thegroup, begin to confide in one another

More of a sense of group cohesion and esprit,more commonality of goals

Establishing and maintaining realistic groupparameters for behaviour and performance

Organising how team will sanction transgressors


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Performing

Constructively changing one's self--

actually changing for the betterment of the

group.

Ability to avoid group conflict and, should

conflict arise, being able to work through it.

Much closer identity with the group,

understanding each other's strengths and

weaknesses.

group thinking

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