I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than for any other ability under the sun. John D. Rockefeller John D. Rockefeller

Outline Why groups? 1. Groups Help us Accomplish Things 1. Groups Help us Accomplish Things 2. Groups are Change Agents 2. Groups are Change Agents 3. Groups are Sources of Meaning & Belonging 3. Groups are Sources of Meaning & Belonging 4. Groups are Sources of Identity 4. Groups are Sources of Identity 5. Groups are Sources of Information 5. Groups are Sources of Information

1. Groups Help us Accomplish Things Groups can be the agents of enhanced productivity Groups are often necessary to deliver a product or service or to reach a goal

2. Groups are Change Agents Personal change and growth Instilling hope Instilling hope Remind us that everyone has problems Remind us that everyone has problems Provide alternative problem solving methods Provide alternative problem solving methods Provide feedback and input Provide feedback and input Political and economic change Grassroots women’s political groups (women’s equality) Grassroots women’s political groups (women’s equality) Organized political action groups (civil rights) Organized political action groups (civil rights)

3. Groups are Sources of Meaning & Belonging Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Safety Physiological Belongingness & Love Esteem Self- actualization

3. Groups are Sources of Meaning & Belonging Need to Belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995) “The need to belong is a powerful, fundamental, and extremely pervasive motivation.” “The need to belong is a powerful, fundamental, and extremely pervasive motivation.” A lack of belongingness constitutes severe deprivation and causes a variety of ill effects. A lack of belongingness constitutes severe deprivation and causes a variety of ill effects. “Alone.... Uh, I’m alone! I'm a lonely, insignificant speck on a has-been planet orbited by a cold, indifferent sun. “ -Homer Simpson The belongingness hypothesis A drive to form and maintain at least a minimum number of lasting, positive, and significant interpersonal relationships.

4. Groups are Sources of Identity "The Packers are like your children. You don’t love them because they’re good. You love them because they’re YOURS. " -Packers fan, Steve Gay -Packers fan, Steve Gay

Social Identity Theory People have an innate and strong tendency to mentally organize things and people into categories To the extent that we associate ourselves with groups (i.e. categorize ourselves), we have social identities Social identities (via our group memberships) are important aspects of how we define ourselves To the extent that we identify with groups that are valued (e.g., powerful, prestigious, high status, popular), we’ll feel good about ourselves.

5. Groups are Sources of Information We use groups to get information about ourselves Want to evaluate self, lack of objective standards, compare to similar others! Want to evaluate self, lack of objective standards, compare to similar others! Social comparison theory People evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves to others People evaluate their own abilities and opinions by comparing themselves to others

Social comparison is sometimes unavoidable EXAMPLE: (Morse & Gergen, 1970) EXAMPLE: (Morse & Gergen, 1970) “Mr. Clean/Mr. Dirty” study Male students applied for job Participants filled out self-esteem measure Mr. Clean or Mr. Dirty arrived Participants filled out another self-esteem scale RESULTS: RESULTS: Mr. Clean’s arrival lead to a self-esteem decrease!! Mr. Dirty’s arrival lead to a self-esteem increase!! Social Comparison

Social Comparison Theory Motives for social comparison: 1) Accuracy The motive to seek truthful self-knowledge 2) Self-enhancement The motive to seek positive self-knowledge 3) Self-improvement The motive to seek models for success Targets of comparison Upward target: someone who is better off Downward target: someone who is worse off

Upward & Downward Social Comparisons EXAMPLE: (Taylor et al., 1985) Social comparison and cancer patients study Social comparison and cancer patients study Women with breast cancer made downward comparisons to women worse off. "I think I did extremely well under the circumstances. I know that there are just some women who aren't strong enough, who fall apart and become psychologically disturbed and what have you. It's a big adjustment for them." Preferred to associate with those better off BOTTOM LINE: Depends on motivation: Depends on motivation: Want to improve: UPWARD Want to enhance: DOWNWARD

Social Comparisons: SEM Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) theory focuses on consequences of another’s good performance on one’s self-evaluation. Comparison effect: Comparison effect: If other person outperforms us on important dimension, the closer the person the greater the threat Jealous, envious, frustrated, angry Jealous, envious, frustrated, angry Reflection effect: Reflection effect: If other person outperforms us on irrelevant dimension, the closer the person the greater our self-enhancement

Reflection Effect Reflection Effect Basking in reflected glory (BIRGing) EXAMPLE: (Cialdini et al, 1976) Looked at the percentage of people in large lecture classes who wore ASU sweatshirts after the Sun Devils won versus after they lost Looked at the percentage of people in large lecture classes who wore ASU sweatshirts after the Sun Devils won versus after they lost A much higher percentage of people wore ASU sweatshirts, shirts and hats after the team won than after then lost A much higher percentage of people wore ASU sweatshirts, shirts and hats after the team won than after then lost

Apply It! Think about a group you belong to and with which you strongly identify Write down what that group means to you List some examples (e.g., things you’ve said or done or felt) that demonstrate that you strongly identify with that group Think about a group you belong to but with which you don’t identify Write down what that group means (or doesn’t mean) to you List some examples that demonstrate your lack of identification with that group Think about a group you belong to but with which you actively disidentify Write down what that group means to you List some examples that demonstrate your disidentification

Apply it! List the groups in which you are a member. With these in mind, describe you strengths and weaknesses in groups. Which group skills are you strong at and which skills would you like to strengthen? Consider such things as: 1)Whether you are satisfied with your level of participation? 2)How often you take the leadership role 3)How do you deal with difficult members/situation 4)How you handle conflict in a group and between groups 5)How other members would describe your group behavior