M&O The "I vs. We" Dilemma

what are agency/achievement and communion/belonging?

2 broad, fundamental dimensions that govern social life

what is the self control dilemma?

costs now, benefits later

what is the status dilemma?

doing what's best for the group may mean you lose status

what is the reward dilemma?

expected to work collaboratively, but rewards are based on individual performance

why can working in a group be challenging? practical challenge for the "I"

incentives are often individual-based. even when teamwork is "valued", rewards are often based on individual performance. why "sacrifice" for the group if employment is not guaranteed? why "sacrifice" for the group if you intend to leave the job? "squeaky wheel gets the grease" - you must get noticed to get help/ahead

what is agency/achievement?

it captures the drive to act on the world desire and to stand out from others. it leads to behaviors and traits that promote, protect, and advance the self

what is communion/belonging?

it captures the drive to belong and connect with others. it leads to behaviors and traits that promote the integration of the self to the group

what is the "speaking-up" dilemma?

it's risky to challenge others - but some people may have the same opinion as you

what is the "we"?

on the one hand, you can't survive without working with others

what is the "I"?

on the other hand, at some point you need (want) to be better than others

why can working in a group be challenging? practical challenge for the "we"

our work is often team-based. tasks are too large and/or complex for any 1 person alone. companies espouse a desire to hire and retain "good team players". not "playing well with others" can put your job at risk. "tall poppy syndrome" - overachievers can be resented, ostracized, "cut-down"

what is the doctor's experiment?

people admire and respect professionals more when they exert great effort to help others than when they exert little effort

what is the Helping One's Way to the Top study?

people are judged to be better leaders when they provided a lot of help to others than when they provided little help

what is the "giving to the group" experiment?

people gained status in groups by contributing more to the group

what is the automatic cooperation experiment?

people's "default" and "automatic" response to the I vs. We dilemma is to think of the "we" - people are innately cooperative

what is the (basic) definition of groupthink?

pressure to conform to the group

what is the main conflict between I and we?

we experience conflict between what we want and what is best for others

why can working in a group be challenging? theoretical challenge for the "I"

we have a need to be better than others. social comparisons are ubiquitous. group members provide implicit points of comparison. we're all here today because our ancestors competed and won

why can working in a group be challenging? theoretical challenge for the "we"

we have a need to belong with others. social support is critical to psychological and physiological well-being. we've evolved as social beings, ostracism is painful.

what is the effort dilemma?

working hard may help the group, but others free-ride off your effort