PSYCH-225 Lecture Notes - Lecture 31: Social Loafing, Transactive Memory, Group Polarization
Document Summary
How to limit social loafing: divide labor. Indivs can specialize: see and correct individual errors. Productive groups tend to have members who complement one another and whose personality characteristics closely match the requirements of their tasks. Transactive memory: a group memory system made up of 1) the knowledge held by individual group members and 2) a communication network for sharing this knowledge among the members. Occurs when initial group tendency is toward risk taking. Views minority influence: occurs when opinion minorities persuade others of their views. Group members less likely to engage in critical discussion needed to ferret out bad ideas. Ex: powerful leaders reveal own views at beginning of discussion. Need for power: desire to attain prestige, status, and influence over others. Achievement motivation: desire to do something exceptionally well for its own sake. Transformational leadership: leadership that changes the motivations, outlooks, and behaviors of followers, enabling the group to reach its goals better.