Additive tasks
An independent group task in which the contributions of all members are simply summed or pooled to form the group product.
Assigned roles
Group roles that are formally assigned to group members.
Blocking roles
Group roles that prevent the group from functioning effectively because they attack other group members or divert the group's attention.
Orientation
The first stage of group development when members are getting to know each other.
Confrontation
The second stage of group development when members resolve issues regarding conflicting roles and expectations.
Differentiation
The third stage of group development when members divide the work to be done and perform their assigned tasks.
Collaboration
The fourth stage of group development when group members form a cohesive relationship and are committed to the group's success.
Compliance
The first level of conformity, in which the individual's motive is to obtain rewards or avoid punishment.
Conjunctive tasks
A group task that is divided into interdependent subparts and the successful completion of each subpart is necessary for overall task accomplishment.
Deindividuation
The loss of individuality that occurs by being a member of a large crowd.
Disjunctive tasks
A group task involving some form of decision making or problem analysis that requires a yes or no decision.
Emergent roles
Group roles that are voluntarily performed by group members without being formally assigned.
Evaluation apprehension
The concern that people experience when they know they are being observed and evaluated by others.
Focal person
The person in a role episode to whom the role expectations are communicated.
Group norms
General expectations of a demand nature regarding acceptable group behavior.
Identification
The second level of conformity, in which the motive to conform is to please or be like others.
Information dependence
When group members feel induced to conform to group pressure because they depend on the group to provide important information to help them know what to do.
Internalization
The highest level of conformity, in which the motive to conform is based on the group member's acceptance of the prescribed behavior as a basic principle of right and wrong.
Intersender role conflict
Role conflict created by incompatible demands and expectations of two or more role senders.
Intrasender role conflict
Role conflict created by incompatible demands of a single role sender.
Maintenance roles
The activities performed by one or more group members that are designed to maintain the members' willingness to participate in the group.
Norm of reciprocity
A widely accepted social norm that insists that if person A helps person B, then person B has an obligation to help others, especially person A.
Person-role conflict
Role conflict created by asking people to behave in ways that violate their personal values.
Process losses
Inefficiencies that arise from having to coordinate the contributions and activities of group members.
Reward dependence
When group members feel induced to conform to group pressure because there are positive or negative consequences attached to doing so.
Role episode
An encounter between a role sender and the focal person in which role expectations are sent, received, and evaluated.
Role overload
Role conflict caused by too many demands on a person.
Role readiness
An individual's preparation to perform a group role by possessing the appropriate motivation and/or ability.
Social density
The number of people physically located within a confined area.
Social facilitation effect
The tendency for the presence of other people to increase motivation and arousal, which tends to help the individual perform better.
Social inhibition effect
The tendency for the presence of other people to disrupt performance and cause them to perform poorly.
Social loafing
The tendency to exert less effort when working as a member of a group than when working alone.
Virtual team
Groups that rely on electronic communication rather than face-to-face interaction.
Work roles
The activities performed by one or more group members that help the group accomplish its task and pursue its goals; for example, structuring the tasks, delegating assignments, and initiating action.