Term Paper on "Group Cohesion"

Term Paper 7 pages (3093 words) Sources: 4 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Group Cohesion

Discussing Group Cohesion

Cohesiveness is regarded as one of the crucial elements in the growth of a group and a prominent aspect for different groups and various kinds of group processes. In reality the expediency of cohesion, taken to be the negotiator for formation group, sustenance as well as productivity has given rise to certain social scientists to reckon it as the most significant variable of a small group. (Glass, Benshoff, 48) Cohesion is one element that is frequently linked to group outcome and has been interpreted as a sense of integration with a specific group and his or her sentiments linked with membership in the groups. (Turman 88) Cohesion has been indicated to be the complete field of forces that is exerted on members to be included in the group. (Mathes; Matheson; Murray 286) Cohesiveness in a group environment comprises of the relationship of group members to not only the group leader, but with regard to the other members of the group as well. Analysts are being having a prolonged interest in deciphering 'group cohesion' concept. Corey in the year 1985 and Yalom in the year 1995 each consider cohesiveness as an essential, but a still inadequate element for groups to advance to the operational phase. Yalom evaluated the progress of the cohesiveness in a group to the growth of the link between a customer as well as a counselor pertaining to individual therapy. But Yalom indicated that cohesiveness in a group environment is a wider term in comparison to individual guidance since it comprise of the link with group members to not only the leader but also with the other members of the group. (Glass, Benshoff 48)

Several assessments of research have considered group cohesion as a prominent variable for several associations and varied kinds of group processes. Carron and Brawley in the year 2000 recommended that to comprehend the character of groups we ought to initially attain an improved awareness of the character of group cohesion. The prominence of recognizing group cohesion around the disparate group kinds as well as group processes has been demonstrated several reviews. (Glass; Benshoff 50) Schmidt as well as his contemporaries showed that the constitution of group cohesion was tuned up by the group's social composition and also with regard to the activity of the group. (Christensen; Schmidt; Budtz-Jorgensen; Avlund 680) While going deep into the impact of a single work group deviant on that of the member of other groups views relating to the deviant, Wellen and Neale indicated that group members specifically who had increased apparent self-typicality, were anticipated to decline the deviant, and consider groups comprising of a deviant as being less cohesive. The researchers indicated that groups that involved a deviant were apparent as having reduced amount of task cohesion which could unfavorably influence group cohesion. (Wellen; Neale 172)

Even with the substantial level of empirical as well as conceptual work brought out on cohesion as well as its correlations, there exists sufficient debate among the researchers pertaining to measuring and defining it. During the last half century, the analysts of social psychology have studied the linkage between cohesion as well as the phenomena of the other small group, from group task to group therapy, towards interpersonal communication inside the groups as well as increased pressure of intra-group relating to uniformity. Mudrack in the year 1989 analyzed the history relating to cohesion and indicated that it has been predominated by uncertainty, inconsistency as well as sloppiness in respect of interpreting the construct. (Glass, Benshoff, 48) Presently, there are several models relating to cohesion having no single interpretation or model. Carron in the year 1982 indicated a Multidimensional Model of Group Cohesion -- MMGC, wherein leadership has been indicated to be a prominent antecedent. As per Carron, the term 'cohesion' is best interpreted as associating tasks as well as social spheres comprising of both individual along with group attributes. (Bostro; Bredemeier; Gardner, 198)

The linkage between coaching and cohesion has been explained by several analysts. Both elements are considered crucial to the growth of many groups and the manners in which the leaders encourage and generate high levels of group cohesion have a radical impact on the manner a group functions. Such elements are apparent in the manner the coaches apply persuasion tools to make sure their athletes compete at the maximum feasible stage. The manner a coach applies his/her power to lead can enhance or decline the likelihood of the success of a team during the competing situations. (Turman 90) the high objective in the issue of cohesion results, partly, out of the view that team cohesiveness has a prominent part in teach demonstration, a belief that has been hugely supported, irrespective of the fact that it does not have qualification. (Bostro; Bredemeier; Gardner, 196) Group performance is combined advancement of a team functioning as one to attain a unique target or objective. Success is not seen merely an aggregate of the personal talent of a single individual. Since just one portrays to have the really brilliant athletes does not imply one can win all the games. The missing component would relate to group dynamics as well as the links the inside that could make a team to win or lose while having the of pressure relating to competition. And sports teams are usual inducements in the manner of friendship, affiliation as well as social support, and they entail the forum for cohesion to be devised. (Tim 4)

Team Cohesiveness' is indicated to be an element that could have a crucial part in the efficiency or failure of the teams. Several analysts have indicated that cohesive teams, the members of which are unified by the objective of a particular objective, might tend to have success. 6. Team cohesion maintains the players to be concentrated as well as committed in their attempts to attain their objectives. One divides responsibility as a cohesive group in an improved manner and promotes confidence as a result of group cohesion. (Tim 4) Cartwright asserts that group attraction evolves as a result of four interrelated variables: a) motivation for attraction, which involves needs like affiliation as well as recognition; b) group objectives like the desire to have prestige as well as the team's positive element which are vicariously indicated on individual team members; c) expectancy or the advantages membership could accommodate; and d) contrasting with members of other groups in respect of the result of being a team member. This understanding of cohesiveness recommends that, in case individual requirements as well as objectives are not being fulfilled within the purview of that particular group and the group does not vary to satisfy individual requirements, then group attraction reduces. Hence a team member expecting to be within a successful team and the team did not have a winning season, then the reason Cartwright indicated as group attraction could decline to such a level that the athlete could drop off from the team when the other elements offset the unsatisfied objectives. (Mathes; Matheson; Murray 285)

Due to under implementation, the high group cohesion could also have adverse influence on the efficacy. Vecchio recommended that in a highly cohesive team or group, the process of decision making could be moved towards attainment of agreement instead of finding out the possible substitutes. Thus group attention is comparatively diverted away from objectives of the organization in an increasingly cohesive group. Moreover, not finding out the substitutes discards an important benefit of group creativity, hence inhibits the very objective of groups. This has been advocated by Susan Losh in the manner that high cohesive groups would not have good dealings with the deviants. This would result in adversely on the probability of self-criticism as well as understanding the weaker aspect of a group decision giving rise to lower forms of quality decision compared to the less cohesive groups.

One of the benefits of groups is the strength of competition as well as existence of physiological review system which introduces itself in a group environment, inducing group members to enhance their output. Robert Vecchio confirmed that having others closer are prone to enhance performance activity. In a cohesive group both attributes mentioned are minimized, even if it is not discarded. As Susan Losh indicates it, irrespective of the occurrence of some forms of arousal with just the mere existence of others, it is sharpened if certain kind of assessment situation is associated. And with regard to group of friends, a slackening response might rather exist. The subsequent findings recommend a mechanism wherein the cohesive groups which are more interpersonally are less effective; if relations are too affable, members of the group are having more relaxation, less induced to generate and possibly entail a reduced output as well as quality. (AlRoomi, par: 5-6). Therefore, group cohesion is required to be executed meticulously and with due concentration.

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