ERIC Number: ED443628
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1999-Nov
Pages: 6
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Psychology of Groups: Why Quality and Impartial Leadership Is Critical to a Group's Success.
Campbell, Richard
Many decisions made by outdoor leaders are critical to the well-being of an entire group. Understanding the psychology of groups is important to successful leadership. This paper presents ways that individuals are motivated in groups, how groups respond, some symptoms of problems, and strategies to divert problems that can overwhelm a group. Social facilitation is the increased possibility of accomplishment that results from more people being involved in an endeavor. Social loafing, the decrease in individual effort as group size increases, may be countered by holding people accountable and breaking a large group into smaller ones. People in groups tend to focus on competition, altruism, or cooperation, and groups facilitated in these directions tend to follow the natural flow of group tendencies. Conformity, compliance, and obedience are some social influences that affect groups. Aspects of group decision making include polarization (extremism fostered by group support) and groupthink. Groupthink warrants special attention because of its relevance to outdoor adventure situations, as group members' striving for unanimity overrides their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action. Symptoms and antidotes of groupthink are listed. (TD)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A