GROUP

COHESIVENESS
WHAT?
desire of the members to stay
and be attracted to the group
the strong motivation of the
members to participate in the
group activities
coordinating efforts of the
members to reach the goals.
A. FACTORS AFFECTING GROUP ATTRACTION
WILL DEPEND ON TWO SETS OF CONDITION

Properties of the group- it includes size, type, and

organization. As the size of the group increases,
the cohesiveness decreases. A democratic leader
focuses more with the groups welfare rather
than on vested interests.
Needs of the person as well as the similarity in
values, interests, and beliefs.- the members have
the same interest and strongly committed to the
group goals. Inability to meet the needs of the
group will decrease the attractiveness to remain
with the group.
B. SOURCES OF GROUP ATTRACTIVENESS
Group itself- objects of need like the identity of the
company or the group activity
Group as means of satisfying the needs

a. SCHACTER (1922-1997)-
An American social psychologist, he also studied
and published a larged number of works
on the subjects of obesity, group dynamics,
birth order and smoking.
He was ranked as the 7th most cited
psychologist of the 20th Century.
satisfaction of affinitive tendency
manifested by reduction of anxiety as shown in an
experimental study which revealed that Misery
loves company.
b. Gordon W. Allport (1897-1967)- he focused on the
uniqueness of an individual and importance of the
present context and opposed to past history.

functional autonomy, an
activity which at first is a
means to attain the goal
becomes the goal itself.
C. 3 DIFFERENT BASICS OF COHESIVENESS
PATTERNS OF COMMUNICATION

Personal attraction- communication is

positive and supportive.
Effective performance- complete
activity and accurate expectation;
action properly discussed and
deliberated.
Prestige- members caution to
maintain status of the group
 WAYS OF INCREASING THE VALENCE OF A
GROUP
Heightening the awareness of the
group by fulfilling the need of
belonging to the group
Dramatizing the value of the group by
imploring an appeal and ritualizing
ceremonies
Encouraging and stimulating intrinsic
and extrinsic satisfaction, to provide
greater security for all the members.
WAYS OF DECREASING THE VALENCE OF THE
GROUP
Decreasing Attractiveness- presence
of pressure, tension, and frustration
Presence of threat and unpleasant
experiences
Formation of splinter group- formation
of small bodies which leave the
original association to become the
supporter of the program formulated
by the same organization
CONSEQUENCES OF COHESIVENESS
Responsible activity- fruitful
endeavour persistent in their goals
Interpersonal influence- more willing
to listen and accept
Similarity of values- protect group
standard
Development of security- release
tension and make their group
members more aware of their group
identity.
 SOCIOMETRY
Jacob Moreno (1889-1974)- An Austrian-American
psychiatrist, psychosociologist, and educator.
 Each person is asked to indicate three
persons he would like to work with. It
attempts to measure social interaction.
The proportion of people chosen from among
the group members is compared to the
proportion of persons chosen from outside
the group. It does not distinguish the
individual attraction to the whole group
from his attraction to a smaller set of
members within the group.