Understanding Group Behavior: Volume 1: Consensual Action By Small Groups; Volume 2: Small Group Processes and Interpersonal Relations

by Witte, Erich H.; Davis, James H.

• ISBN13: 9780805816402
• ISBN10: 0805816402
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-07-01
• Publisher: Lawrence Erlbau

Summary

These books grew out of the perception that a number of important conceptual and theoretical advances in research on small group behavior had developed in recent years, but were scattered in rather fragmentary fashion across a diverse literature. Thus, it seemed useful to encourage the formulation of summary accounts. A conference was held in Hamburg with the aim of not only encouraging such developments, but also encouraging the integration of theoretical approaches where possible. These two volumes are the result. Current research on small groups falls roughly into two moderately broad categories, and this classification is reflected in the two books. Volume I addresses theoretical problems associated with the consensual action of task-oriented small groups, whereas Volume II focuses on interpersonal relations and social processes within such groups. The two volumes differ somewhat in that the conceptual work of Volume I tends to address rather strictly defined problems of consensual action, some approaches tending to the axiomatic, whereas the conceptual work described in Volume II is generally less formal and rather general in focus. However, both volumes represent current conceptual work in small group research and can claim to have achieved the original purpose of up-to-date conceptual summaries of progress on new theoretical work.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Introduction	p. ix
References	p. 8
Group Structure And Composition	p. 9
Creating The Ideal Group: Composition Effects At Work	p. 11
Social Compensation And The KöHler Effect: Toward A Theoretical Explanation Of Motivation Gains In Group Productivity	p. 37
Leadership: Micro-Macro Links	p. 93
Effective Teamwork-- a Theoretical Model and a Test in the Field	p. 127
References	p. 144
Toward a Theory of the Acting Group	p. 147
Acknowledgments	p. 184
References	p. 184
Interpersonal Influence, Conflict, And Resolution	p. 189
the Conflict Elaboration Theory of Social Influence	p. 191
References	p. 206
Acknowledgments	p. 206
Information Seeking Among Individuals And Groups And Possible Conseque Nces For Decision Making In Business And Politics	p. 211
Social Identity, Self-Categorization, and the Small Group	p. 227
Acknowledgment	p. 247
References	p. 247
	p. 255
Acknowledgments	p. 287
References	p. 287
Similarities Among Various Conceptual Positions And Theoretical Point S Of View	p. 295
Author Index	p. 303
Subject Index	p. 315
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