APPLIED GROUP DYNAMICS PS38B

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APPLIED GROUP DYNAMICSPS38B

• Lecturer Sophia Morgan
• E-mail sophia.morgan_at_uwimona.edu.jm
• Department of Sociology, Psychology Social Work

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NORMS IN GROUPS

• Though we like to think we are individualists
  marching to the tune of our own drum we are,
  for the most part, conformists.
• Napier Gershenfeld

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LECTURE OVERVIEW

• DEFINING NORMS
• Features of norms at the individual level and at
  the group level
• How norms develop
• The importance of norms within groups
• Different kinds of norms
• Forces that induce acceptance to group norms
• How norms are perpetuated in groups
• The impact of norms on individuals within groups
• Changing group norms

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SOME USEFUL REFERENCES

• Napier, R Gershenfeld, M. (1999) Groups Theory
  and Experience Houghton Mifflin Co.
• Johnson, D Johnson, P. (1997) Joining Together
  Group Theory and Group Skills Allyn and Bacon.
• Robbins, S. (1990) Organisational Behaviour
• Wheelan, S (1994) Group Processes A
  developmental Perspective Allyn and Bacon
• Knowles, M H, (1972) Introduction to Group
  Dynamics, Follett Publishing Company.
• Moorhead and Griffin (1989) Organisational
  Behaviour, Houghton Mifflin Company.

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DEFINING NORMS

• i. Napier and Gershenfeld (1999) Unspoken rules
  and standards that guide a group and define
  acceptable and unacceptable behaviour by the
  groups members
• ii. Robins (1996) Acceptable standards of
  behaviour within a group that are shared by the
  groups members.

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DEFINING NORMS

• iii. Moorhead and Griffin (1978) A standard
  against which the appropriateness of a behaviour
  is judged
• iv. Johnson and Johnson (1997) A groups common
  beliefs regarding appropriate behaviour,
  attitudes and perceptions for the members

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FEATURES OF NORMS AT THE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL
LEVELS

• INDIVIDUAL LEVEL
• Shared Ideas - This is about a shared
  understanding among group members about
  behaviours that are permissible and/or
  unacceptable with respect to each individual
  within the group.
• Role expectation Each individual is assigned
  a role or roles based on the shared perceptions
  of him/her by group members.

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FEATURES OF NORMS AT THE GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL
LEVELS

• GROUP LEVEL
• Normative systems involve the shared beliefs
  and standards about behaviours within a group,
  the shared understanding of how behaviours should
  be regulated and about the appropriate sanctions
  for breach of behaviour codes.
• Cultural relativism refers to the invisibility
  of group norms.

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HOW NORMS DEVELOP

• The sociologist view inherent in social
  contacts are rules of behaviour which individuals
  are expected to acknowledge and accept in order
  to fit in.
• Behavioural interpretation Advanced by the
  Learning Theorists, this view asserts that group
  norms are shaped as people adjust their
  behaviours based on cues from other members
  signaling which behaviours will be reinforced and
  which will attract punishment.
• Communication theory Within all communication
  are a set of basic principles. These principles
  highlight the fact that a key aspect of
  communication is about establishing norms between
  communicating individuals.

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HOW NORMS DEVELOP

• ALSO
• Members past experiences -Feldman 1984
  Bettenhausen Murnighan 1985.
• Group interactions norms cannot be imposed on a
  group
• Subliminal conditioning a process of learning
  acceptable behaviours in a group by way of
  identifying the criteria for punishments and
  rewards.

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HOW NORMS DEVELOP

• ALSO contd
• Explicit statement (s) made by a group member.
• Critical events in a groups history.
• Primacy The first behaviour pattern that
  emerges in a group may set the groups
  expectation for similar behaviours.

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HOW IMPORTANT ARE NORMS WITHIN GROUPS?

• Norms are important if
• They facilitate the groups survival
• They increase the predictability of group
  members behaviours
• They reduce embarrassing interpersonal problems
  for group members

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HOW IMPORTANT ARE NORMS WITHIN GROUPS?

• Norms are important if
• They allow members to express the central values
  of the group and clarify what is distinctive
  about the groups identity
• They serve to facilitate the achievement of group
  goals

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KINDS OF NORMS

• Written rules Some norms are codified. They
  are printed as policies, laws or rules to be
  adhered to.
• Explicit statements These are not codified but
  bear similar weighting.
• Non-explicit, informal norms Silent norms that
  influence members behaviours forcing them to
  conform.
• Norms beyond our awareness Some norms are
  unconscious to group members.

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FORCES THAT INDUCE ACCEPTANCE OF GROUP NORMS

• a. Internal forces based on intrapersonal
  conflict (Re-familiarize yourselves with the
  Sherifs 1961 Experiment Asch 1951
  Experiment)
• b. External forces attempts by others to
  influence the person directly.

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THE PERPETUATION OF NORMS

• Conformity, Compliance, Obedience
• Conformity adjusting ones behaviour to align
  with the norms of the group in situations where
  there are no overt pressure to do so. There is
  an implicit assumption that behaviour similar to
  that of the groups will elicit approval and
  those opposite will bring censure.

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THE PERPETUATION OF NORMS

• Compliance the act of adjusting ones behaviour
  to align with the norms of the group based on
  overt pressure or a direct request.
• Obedience submission to authority in order to
  avoid negative sanctions.

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THE IMPACT OF NORMS ON INDIVIDUALS WITHIN GROUPS

• Individuals seek convergence between norms and
  their own values
• High convergence of individual and group norms
  facilitates conformity and reduces anxiety of new
  members
• Low convergence leads to questioning, deviance,
  withdrawal or change.

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Why do Accept Group Norms

• Continued Membership is Desired
• Low status is perceived
• Salience of membership is heightened
• The Group is cohesive
• Sanctions are expected

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THE IMPACT OF NORMS ON INDIVIDUALS WITHIN GROUPS

• Collusive Behaviour Maintaining the Status Quo
  of Norms
• Collusion is about cooperating with others
  consciously or pre-consciously to reinforce
  prevailing attitudes and values, behaviours or
  norms Butler (1987)
• Conscious Collusion Every one knows what is
  going on
• Pre-conscious Collusion Persons are not fully
  aware of their feeling

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THE IMPACT OF NORMS ON INDIVIDUALS WITHIN GROUPS

• Messages from Childhood Leading to Collusive
  Behaviours
• Message Alternative Internalizations Possible
  Collusive Behaviours
• Be nice I should mask negative feelings Saying
  yes when you mean no
• Its not nice I must manipulate people to
  get Acting Passive-
• to fight what I want Aggressively
• I must avoid disagreeable Making Superficial
  
• situations agreements

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Deviance From Norms

• Deviance an act that violates a shared idea
  about what should or should not be done within a
  group. Napier Gershenfeld pg. 146
• Group may have to redefine its boundaries when
  dealing with deviant behaviors

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CHANGING GROUP NORMS

• Influence on the group from external environment
  changes in the environment in which the group
  operates can affect changes in the group.
• Influence from high-status members with their
  idiosyncratic credit members can instigate
  changes in the system

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CHANGING GROUP NORMS

• The group may diagnose it norms and modify them.
  - If the group is able to recognize that
  important changes are necessary for enhanced
  productivity, or simply to solve problems, then
  they may work among themselves to identify where
  and what changes are necessary.
• Intervention from trained internal consultants.
  If the group finds that it is unable to make
  progress on its own, it may invite the services
  of trained internal or external consultants who
  should help to identify the issues from an
  objective perspective and with a trained eye.

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What theories/set of theories are useful in
enhancing and deepening our understanding and
appreciation of norms as an important aspect of
our social intercourses?
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Social Influence Theories

• Learning Theories
• Theories of Persuasion
• Cognitive Dissonance Theory
• Theories of Normative Influence

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END OF PRESENTATION