Groups Theory and Experience

by Napier, Rodney W.; Gershenfeld, Matti K.

• ISBN13: 9780618270446
• ISBN10: 0618270442
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-07-01
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

The new edition of Groups reflects the author's unique combination of academic expertise and group consultant experience by including the latest research on group dynamics and the most current views on ways to make working in groups more effective. Napier and Gershenfeld present complex concepts in a way that makes them more understandable, recognizing that students are more familiar with the dynamics of individual behavior and building on that knowledge to teach group theory.

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
1 Perception and Communication	1	(60)
Selective Perception and the Individual	3	(5)
Individual Insecurity	5	(1)
Life Positions	6	(1)
Perception and Development	7	(1)
Selective Perception and Culture	8	(4)
Unconscious Factors	9	(2)
The Halo Effect	11	(1)
Selective Perception and Group Behavior	12	(8)
The Influence of Stereotypes	13	(5)
Gestalt Theory	18	(2)
Selective Perception and Communication	20	(11)
The Nature of Communication	23	(2)
Language Equals Words; Communication Equals People	25	(2)
Communication: The Gender Difference	27	(3)
Reward-Seeking Behavior and Communication Patterns	30	(1)
Factors That Inhibit Communication in a Group	31	(4)
Previous Experience of Group Members	31	(1)
False Assumptions	32	(3)
Understanding Communication in Groups	35	(6)
How Tension and Defensiveness Arise in the Communication Process	35	(2)
Feedback: A Means of Reducing Distortions in the Communication Process	37	(3)
Poor Communication: The Rule, Not the Exception	40	(1)
Factors That Influence Group Communication	41	(11)
Size of Group	42	(3)
Physical Attractiveness	45	(1)
Time for Communication	46	(1)
Crowding and Temperature	46	(1)
Leadership and Control of Communication	47	(2)
Physical Environment	49	(1)
Status and Power	49	(3)
Group Communication in a Diverse Society	52	(5)
Reducing Problems of Diversity	55	(2)
For Further Information	57	(4)
2 Membership	61	(36)
Relationship of Groups and Membership	66	(1)
Types of Memberships	67	(4)
Formal Membership	67	(1)
Aspiring Membership	67	(1)
Marginal Membership	68	(2)
Membership in the Formal or Informal Organization	70	(1)
Voluntary and Nonvoluntary Membership	70	(1)
Why People Join Groups	71	(4)
The Back Experiments	74	(1)
Multiple Memberships	75	(4)
Conflicts of Multiple Membership	77	(2)
Reference Groups	79	(5)
The Actual Group	80	(1)
The Group We Represent	81	(1)
The Abstracted Group	81	(1)
The Hangover Group	82	(1)
The Fantasied Group	83	(1)
Factors Increasing Attractiveness of Membership	84	(7)
Prestige	85	(1)
Group Climate	86	(1)
Degree of Interaction Among Members	87	(1)
Size	87	(1)
Relationship to Other Groups	88	(1)
Success	89	(1)
Fear and Stress	89	(2)
Factors Decreasing Attractiveness of Membership	91	(2)
Attractiveness of Membership and Group Success	93	(1)
For Further Information	94	(3)
3 Norms, Group Pressures, and Deviancy	97	(58)
The Concept of Group Norms	100	(7)
Norms at the Individual Level	102	(3)
Norms at the Group Level	105	(1)
The Invisibility of Group Norms	106	(1)
How Group Norms Develop	107	(5)
A Sociologist's View	108	(1)
A Behavioral Interpretation	109	(1)
Communications Theory	110	(2)
Classification of Norms	112	(2)
Kinds of Norms	114	(2)
Written Rules	114	(1)
Explicitly Stated Norms	115	(1)
Nonexplicit, Informal Norms	115	(1)
Norms Beyond Awareness	115	(1)
Forces That Induce Acceptance of Group Norms	116	(11)
Internal Forces Based on Intrapersonal Conflict	117	(4)
Tendencies to Create a Social Reality	121	(4)
External Forces Based on Direct Influence of Others	125	(2)
The Power of Groups	127	(8)
Conformity	128	(2)
Compliance	130	(2)
Obedience	132	(3)
Collusive Behavior: Maintaining the Status Quo of Norms	135	(2)
Accepting Group Norms: Under What Conditions?	137	(3)
Continued Membership Is Desired	137	(1)
Lower Status Is Perceived	138	(1)
Salience of Membership Is Heightened	138	(1)
The Group Is Cohesive	139	(1)
Sanctions Are Expected	139	(1)
Deviance from Norms	140	(4)
Norms as Inhibiting, Preserving, Institutionalizing, and Stagnating Groups	144	(1)
Changing Group Norms	145	(8)
Summary	153	(1)
For Further Information	153	(2)
4 Goals	155	(40)
Power of a Goal	157	(1)
Distinguishing Between Individual Goals and Group Goals	157	(2)
How Are Individual Goals Formed?	159	(2)
How Are Group Goals Formed?	161	(4)
Individuals Have Goals for the Group: Person-Oriented and Group-Oriented Group Goals	161	(2)
Individual Goals Are Converted to Group Goals	163	(2)
Classification of Goals	165	(3)
Operational Versus Nonoperational Goals	167	(1)
Surface and Hidden Agendas	168	(5)
Relationship Between Group Goals and Group Activities	173	(6)
Content of the Goal Affects the Group	174	(1)
Difficulty of the Goal Affects the Group	175	(1)
Type of Goal Affects the Group	175	(3)
Group Goals Themselves Are Inducing Agents	178	(1)
Groups as Tools for Creating Goals	179	(1)
Group Productivity	179	(8)
Cohesiveness of the Group Affects Productivity	180	(3)
Personalities in the Group Affect Productivity	183	(2)
Productivity Affects the Group	185	(2)
Mission, Goals, and Objectives	187	(1)
The Strategic Plan	188	(1)
The Relationship Between Norms and Goals	189	(2)
The Relationship Between Perception and Goals	191	(1)
Changing Group Goals	192	(1)
Group Goals and the Individual Member	193	(1)
For Further Information	194	(1)
5 Leadership	195	(54)
Six Theoretical Views of Leadership	196	(22)
Leadership as Power	197	(5)
Organizational Theory	202	(4)
Styles of Leadership	206	(6)
Situational Theory	212	(3)
An Organizational Example	215	(2)
Vision Theory and Ethical Assessment	217	(1)
Integrating the Six Dimensions of Leadership	218	(19)
Isolating the Factors of Transformational and Transactional Leadership	219	(7)
The Universality of Transformational Leadership	226	(3)
Four Studies Reflecting the Changing Nature of Leadership	229	(8)
Consequences of Nontransformational Leadership	237	(2)
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership	239	(5)
Summary	244	(1)
For Further Information	245	(4)
6 A Systems View of Small Group Behavior	249	(41)
General Systems Theory and Behavior in Organized Settings	250	(5)
Developing a Systems Perspective	252	(1)
Applying "Systemthink"	252	(2)
The Complex Consequences of System Change	254	(1)
The Family as a Small-Group System	255	(6)
The Ultimate Small Group	256	(1)
Natural Cycles and Blocks to Development in Families	257	(1)
Expanding the Family Unit	257	(1)
Further Disruption	258	(1)
The Development of a Healthy Family System	259	(2)
The Invisible Group and Its Life Space	261	(2)
Background of Organizational Culture as a Concept	263	(5)
Definition of Organizational Culture	264	(4)
The Vocabulary of General Systems Theory	268	(12)
The Case of "No Way, New way"	269	(11)
Complex Systems and Changing Leadership	280	(8)
Complexity Theory and Its Relation to Leadership	281	(2)
The Case for Strategic Design and System Change	283	(5)
Summary	288	(1)
For Further Information	288	(2)
7 Group Problem Solving and Decision Making	290	(60)
Group Decision Making: Disadvantages and Advantages	291	(4)
Dissonance: The Natural Outcome of Decision Making	294	(1)
Constructive Controversy and Conflict	295	(10)
The Continuing Controversy Surrounding Groupthink	296	(6)
Open-Ended Versus Closed-Ended Problems	302	(1)
Rational Versus Intuitive Ways of Thinking	303	(2)
Rational Problem Solving	305	(10)
The Six Stages of Rational Problem Solving	305	(5)
A Model for Rational Problem Solving	310	(5)
The Pareto System	315	(3)
Pareto Analysis	315	(1)
Developing a Pareto Diagram	315	(2)
Advantages and a Disadvantage	317	(1)
Intuitive Problem Solving	318	(15)
Becoming "Unstuck"	319	(1)
Brainstorming	320	(5)
Other Methods of Generating Ideas	325	(4)
Synectics	329	(4)
Who Should Decide-The Leader or the Group?	333	(13)
The Leader's Role	334	(1)
Simple Majority Rule	335	(1)
Two-Thirds Majority Rule	335	(1)
Consensus	336	(1)
Delegated Decisions	337	(1)
Double Vote	338	(1)
Frequently Asked Questions	339	(7)
Summary	346	(2)
For Further Information	348	(2)
8 The Nature of Group Conflict	350	(45)
The Ubiquitous Nature of Conflict	351	(1)
The Very Personal Nature of Conflict	352	(11)
A Historical Perspective	353	(1)
A Dozen Land Mines in a Minefield of Conflict Found in Most Groups	354	(9)
From Individual Sources of Conflict to the Dynamics of Conflict in Groups	363	(9)
Norms: Rules Surrounding Conflict Management and Their Impact on Group Life	363	(4)
Membership: How Conflict Can Gain or Lose Participant Membership	367	(1)
Goals: Addressing Individual and Group Goals Can Reframe the Conflict-Membership Relationship	368	(2)
Leadership: Conflict Aversion and Seduction of the Leader	370	(2)
Diagnosis: The First and Most Critical Step in Conflict Resolution	372	(5)
Fear and Conformity in the Trenches-The Consequences of Unresolved Conflict	373	(4)
What to Do with Conflict: Creating a Design	377	(14)
Turning a Liability into an Asset	379	(6)
Utilizing a Structured Design to Reduce Conflict in a Group	385	(6)
Summary Considerations for Managing Conflict in a Group Setting	391	(1)
For Further Information	392	(3)
9 The Evolution of Groups	395	(34)
The Task and Emotional Aspects of Groups	397	(6)
Implications for Small Groups	399	(1)
Individual Development	400	(3)
The Stages of Group Development	403	(8)
The Beginning	404	(1)
Movement Toward Confrontation	405	(1)
Compromise and Harmony	406	(1)
Reassessment	407	(1)
Resolution and Recycling	408	(1)
Termination (Adjournment)	409	(2)
Linear Models of Group Development	411	(2)
Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning	411	(1)
The LAIC Model	412	(1)
Cyclical Models of Group Development	413	(6)
Integrative Model of Group Development	413	(2)
FIRO: A Theory of Interpersonal Behavior	415	(1)
Phase Movement of Groups	416	(1)
Worchel Theory of Cyclical Stages of Group Development	417	(2)
The Impact of Technology on Group Development	419	(2)
Adaptive Structural Theory (AST)	419	(1)
Process Loss Model: Input-Process-Output	420	(1)
Facilitating Group Success	421	(5)
Seeking the Ideal	422	(1)
Positive Structured Interventions	423	(2)
Maximizing the Group's Potential	425	(1)
For Further Information	426	(3)
10 From Groups to Teams: The Evolution of Working Teams in Organizational life	429	(45)
Defining a Team	430	(5)
Types of Teams	431	(1)
The Value of Teams	432	(3)
Teamwork: The Key to Survival	435	(3)
The Birth of Modern-Day Teams	438	(5)
Focus on the Problem-Solving Process	439	(1)
Focus on Motivation	439	(1)
The Ultimate Paradox: Leaderless Groups	440	(2)
Total Quality Management Teams	442	(1)
Effective Teamwork in TQM Teams	443	(10)
The Ford Taurus Turnaround	443	(1)
The Federal Express Story: Breaking Dysfunctional Norms	444	(1)
The Right Organizational Environment	445	(1)
The Right Social Environment	446	(1)
The Right Economic Environment	447	(2)
TQM in an Educational Setting	449	(4)
Do Teams Lead to More Profits?	453	(3)
Why Teams Fail: The Mental Health Team	456	(6)
The Saturn Experiment: An Integrated Team Approach to Management	462	(3)
Team Building Across Culture, Space, and Function	465	(7)
Multicultural Teams	465	(4)
Virtual Teams	469	(2)
Cross-Functional Teams	471	(1)
Team Assessment	472	(2)
11 Small-Group Processes: Two Contemporary Applications	474	(40)
PART I SELF-HELP GROUPS	476	(24)
Understanding Self-Help Groups	477	(9)
Definition of Self-Help Groups	478	(1)
History of Self-Help Groups	479	(1)
Types of Self-Help Groups	480	(3)
Origins and Membership of Self-Help Groups	483	(3)
Effectiveness of Self-Help Groups	486	(4)
Alcoholics Anonymous and Substance Abuse Groups	487	(1)
Support Groups Led by Professionals	488	(1)
Overall Benefits	489	(1)
Evolving Self-Help Groups	490	(2)
Process in Self-Help Groups	492	(6)
Self-Help Group Norms	492	(4)
Self-Help Group Goals	496	(1)
A Typical Self-Help Meeting	496	(2)
Stages of Development of Self-Help Groups	498	(2)
PART II PEER COUNSELING	500	(14)
Introduction	500	(1)
Historical Perspectives	501	(3)
College Students as Peer Counselors	502	(1)
Peer Counseling in Elementary and Secondary Schools	502	(2)
What Is Peer Counseling?	504	(2)
The Role of the Paraprofessional	504	(1)
The Role of a Peer Counselor	504	(1)
The "Eight Commandments" of Peer Counseling	505	(1)
Developing a Peer Counseling Program	506	(2)
Training Peer Counselors	508	(2)
Types of Training	508	(1)
Peer Counseling Curriculum	509	(1)
Effectiveness of Peer Counselors	510	(2)
Summary	512	(1)
For Further Information	513	(1)
References	514	(46)
Author/Name Index	560	(4)
Subject Index	564