135 - Groups

What is a communication network?

A communication network is the pattern of information flow through a group.

What is a dynamical system?

A dynamical system is a system (e.g. group) made up of many interacting elements (e.g. people) that changes and evolves over time.

What is a risky shift?

A risky shift occurs when group discussion lead members to make riskier decisions than they would as individuals. Occurs only when the initial group tendency is toward risk taking.

What is a role?

A role is an expectation held by the group for how members in particular positions ought to behave.

What is a status hierarchy?

A status hierarchy is a ranking of group members by their power and influence over other members.

What is group polarization?

Group polarization occurs when group discussion lead members to make decisions that are more extremely on the side of the issue that the group initially favored.

What is social facilitation?

Social facilitation is the process through which the presence of others increases the likelihood of dominant response, leading to better performance on well-mastered tasks and worse

What is transactive memory?

Transactive memory is a group memory system made up of the knowledge held by individual group members and a communication network for sharing this knowledge among the members.

What is cohesiveness?

Cohesiveness is the strength of the bonds among group members.

What is deindividuation?

Deindividuation is the process of losing one's sense of personal identity, which makes it easier to behave in ways inconsistent with one's normal values.

What are groups?

Groups are two or more individuals who influence each other. Collections of individuals become increasingly "group like", however, when their members are interdependent and share a common identity, and when they possess structure.

What is groupthink?

Groupthink is a style of group decision making characterized by a greater desire among members to get along and agree with one another than to generate and critically evaluate alternative viewpoints and positions.

What is minority influence?

Minority influence occurs when opinion minorities persuade others of their views.

What is social loafing?

Social loafing describes the reduction of one's personal efforts when in a group.

What is transformative leadership?

Transformative leadership is leadership that changes the motivations, outlooks, and behaviors of followers, enabling the group to reach its goals better.