Posted: August 1st, 2023

Social Psychology

Answer the test questions thoroughly, substantively and in narrative format (in paragraphs and complete sentences; lists, sentence fragments and bulleted items are not permitted). Base each answer on an assigned reading from the weekly course Lessons. Answers may range from 250 to 300 words with some requiring more detail and longer lengths and some requiring less. Quoting is not permitted. All answers must be paraphrased (which means restating what you read in your own words).

1) Differentiate the forming, norming, storming and adjourning stages of group development.

2) What are the dangers of groupthink?

3) Describe three factors which influence interpersonal attraction.

Social Psychology
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1) Differentiate the forming, norming, storming, and adjourning stages of group development.
The stages of group development are primarily the steps followed by teams on the path to high performance in their group objectives. The first stage is the forming stage. Individuals are brought together and focus on the definition and assignment of tasks, setting up a schedule, organizing the groups’ operations, and any other start-up issues (MindTools, 2020). At this point, the individuals collect impressions and information about each other while avoiding conflict or disagreement. The second stage is the storming stage, where individuals begin pushing against the setup boundaries, the possibility of conflict or frustration among the team members as their true characters and desired ways of working start to show up and classy with that of others, the team members are now challenging the authority or its management style and even the group’s mission (Lumen, n.d.). Failure to handle the conflicts could result in face to face confrontations or online tensions.
The third norming stage entails the team clarifying its purpose and strategy for its objectives after successfully passing through the storming stage. At this stage, the focus is on establishing shared values on how they will work together (MindTools, 2020). The developed norms will handle issues such as how to communicate, how the meetings are run, and any arising conflicts. The subsequent stage is the performing stage, where everything is in flow and working to its full potential. There is an understanding of the importance of hard work and adhering to the structured processes as it increases the possibility of attaining the objectives efficiently.
Finally, the adjourning stage is the team’s final stretch of working together. Here, the last stages of task completion occur, and the team breaks up (Lumen, n.d.). Many teams will naturally reach this stage upon completing their tasks or when permanent teams are disbanded to form new ones. For teams that developed close working relationships, it is a difficult stage.
2) What are the dangers of groupthink?
Groupthink is referred to as handling issues as matters to be handled with the consensus of a group instead of independent individuals (Dunmire, 2016). the group easily makes faulty or ineffective decisions just for them to reach an agreement. Group social pressures cause the making of suboptimal decisions by the group.
The dangers of groupthink include establishing the “us vs. them” mentality, which could lead to some individuals being marginalized, especially those in disagreement with the group (CFI, 2019). The group’s dominant interests will always prevail, which means that other decisions that could reach better results are shunned. As an individual member, it becomes challenging to stand for what one believes in since they get subjected to shunning or persona; attacks. The group will make unethical decisions and act on them yet claim that the opposers are those acting unethically (CFI, 2019).
Other dangers of groupthink include causing collective rationalization, the lack of personal accountability, and great pressure to acquiesce (Dunmire, 2016). The groupthink victims will ignore and discredit the warnings and any negative feedback that could lead to the group having reconsiderations of any assumptions and decisions. Groupthink establishes the illusion of unanimity where the majority perception and judgments become unanimous. Groupthink will have its victims appointing themselves to be group protectors. In contrast, the group leader will fail to receive information that could be problematic or contradictory to the group’s views, decisions, and cohesiveness. Generally, groupthink undermines the quality of decisions that could be made as long as other opinions are not considered.
3) Describe three factors that influence interpersonal attraction?
One of the fundamental factors of interpersonal attraction is personal characteristics that are considered attractive to the onlooker. Specifically, physical attractiveness causes positive stereotypes such as being considered intimate and social (Social psychology: Attraction, n.d). Physical attractiveness has been a fundamental interceding element in the start of relationships. However, scholars have indicated that persons get attracted to those that are a close resemblance of their level of physical attractiveness. This is critical considering the attractive persons will receive better treatment that arises from the positive stereotyping.
Proximity is a second-factor influencing interpersonal attraction as it increases liking, especially in friendship relationships (Social psychology: Attraction, n.d). For instance, students on the lower floor of a housing complex are more likely to make more friends than one living on the higher floor as the former gets to engage in greater interactions. Proximity has been a fundamental factor in the development of friendships easily, with a more strong impact on attractions in the short term than other factors.
Reciprocity is another factor influencing interpersonal attraction, which is the tendency of persons being attracted to persons that like them and the tendency to be less attracted to those that dislike the former (Social psychology: Attraction, n.d). It is normal to have individuals with low self-esteem or who are.. greatly insecure when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Therefore, a higher need for positive feedback from others will easily lead them to form close interpersonal relationships. The positive feedback will reaffirm an individual hence increasing their self-esteem and improving their belief in themselves.

References
Corporate Finance Institute (CFI). (2018, November 13). Groupthink. https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/careers/soft-skills/groupthink-decisions/
Dunmire, T. (2016, May 18). The dangers of groupthink. ISHN.com – the magazine for safety & health professionals who direct safety & health programs in high-hazard workplaces. https://www.ishn.com/blogs/16-thought-leadership/post/103990-the-dangers-of-groupthink#
Lumen. (n.d.). Stages of team development | Introduction to business. Lumen Learning – Simple Book Production. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-introductiontobusiness/chapter/stages-of-team-development/
MindTools. (2020). Forming, storming, norming, and performing: Understanding the stages of team formation. https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_86.htm
Social psychology: Attraction | SparkNotes. (n.d.). SparkNotes: Today’s Most Popular Study Guides. https://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/socialpsychology/section6/#

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