PSY 240 Lecture Notes - Lecture 29: Longitudinal Study, Job Performance, Group Cohesiveness

• School: Tunxis Community College
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 240
• Professor: Marselle

Document Summary

Once an individual has joined a group, a process of adjustment takes place. The individual assimilates into the group, making changes that are necessary to fit in. At the same time, the group accommodates the newcomer, making whatever changes are necessary to include that individual. Effectively socializing new members can produce short-term and long-term benefits for the group as a whole. Poor socialization can lead to many bad outcomes, including suppressing the potential contributions of newcomers or creating a lot of turnover and instability in the group. Just as an individual"s relationship with the group changes over time, the dynamics in the group as a whole change across time as well. Group development may proceed through several stages. forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. According to this model, groups gradually progress from a period of initial orientation through stages of conflict, compromise, and action, followed by a period of withdrawal if the group no longer satisfies members" needs.