Group Dynamics

Group Dynamics
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Group Dynamics
Strayer University
Assignment #4
Psy 110 Online Winter 2012
Felicia McCaw
 
Group Dynamics
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Several years ago, I was in a psychology class at Saginaw Valley State University where I was included in a group to discuss the topic of “Does Divorce or Disruption in Family Structure During Adolescence have a Detrimental Effect on Development?”. It was a very involving topic which I found interesting and relayed a lot of insight in relational interactions in the family structure. It was no real surprise to find that relationships do evolve and sometimes migrate and change and require different paths and this change in relationship values has an effect on all involved.
Therefore when our group met to discuss this topic there was a sad lacking of social cohesiveness (the group consisted of six members - two females, one male of Caucasian birth and three black females). Discussed was the procedure on how to approach the subject and because there was a lack of communication and no one came up with any suggestions I took it upon myself to go ahead and put a plan in motion for the group to start and complete the project. I felt our group was diverse enough to generate a lot of input from all and the easiest way was to break it up into sections and discuss the subject from there. After the second meeting there was an increased amount of social cohesiveness and a more ease of interaction during this group session and I relayed my ideas that I had thought about and suggested that we all examine what path I was on and to get in touch with me with their input.
One of the phases of group membership is the temporal model and this modification of behavioral patterns reflects the changes that occurred in the members of the group due to some mutual influence and interdependence. My needs were not necessarily met because other members were sitting there uncomprehending as if they did not understand the process of

Group Dynamics
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thought and expanding when I told them they needed to “stretch”. I explained that they needed to more or less think on a higher level to obtain the desired results to complete their share.
After telling the group that they needed to learn to “stretch” I left because there was little or no effort toward the Socialization Phase it was more a conversational chat between the other two members with myself waiting for the other members to arrive. After telling the other members that they needed to “stretch” (when I say stretch they needed to expand themselves internally to learn to deal with the project and explore new options on their own), I relayed that I had to do homework for another class. This was the only activity in the Socialization Phase.
Being able to expand self through discovery is one of the most important aspects of learning. Further to add to this level of expansion a participant of a group always makes the social cohesiveness better and increases the odds of obtaining the group’s objective. This is part of the Maintenance Phase and as a full member this allows the participant to contribute.
After getting passed the state of maintenance, next came the Resocialization Phase where interaction was done via emails and further meetings between the group members to reflect each members share to contribute to the group’s objective. Next, came contemplation and scrutiny of what was compiled by the group and all components were merged and allowed a presentation to be made reflecting the efforts of all.



REFERENCES
Franzoi, S. L. (2009). Social Psychology. Boston: McGraw-Hills Companies, Inc.
(Franzoi, 2009)