Types of Group Interaction

CooperationConflict

CompetitionSocial ExchangeAccommodation

CoercionGroupthink

Abilene Paradox

Social Exchange• Voluntary action performed in the expectation of getting a reward in return.You give a friend a ride to the mall, you expect that next time you need a ride he/she will help you out.

• Key is the benefit earned rather than the relationship.

• Basis of an exchange relationship is reciprocity… do for others as they have done for you.

• Explains social life… if the cost of an interaction outweighs the rewards, relationship is ended.

Relationship ends if one side does not fullfill an exchange expectation.

Social Interaction• Crucial for group success.• There are four types of group

interaction…– Some keep the group stable and

ongoing– Some encourage change.

1. Competition• Only one can attain goal• Cornerstone of Western/ Dem. Societies.

– Positive: Motivates and causes advancement– Negative: Stress, inequality, and possibly

conflict.

2. Conflict• Interaction aimed at

defeating or opposing an opponent by force… working against one another for a larger share of the reward.

• Has a negative context, but can be positive.– Brings change– Brings attention– Can bring unity within

opposing groups (they cooperate to win the conflict.

3. Cooperation

• Individuals or groups combine their efforts to reach a common goal.

• Usually occurs when reaching the goal demands using limited resources

• Without some degree of cooperation, social life could not exist.

4. Accommodation

• Not cooperating, nor engaging in conflict.

• You accommodate… take a little, give a little.– Compromise: Each party

gives up something– Truce: halt to conflict– Mediation: 3rd party acts as

advisor.

1. Heinz's dilemma:• - A woman is near death from a rare form of cancer. There is one drug that will

save her, that's been developed by a druggist in the town. The woman's husband, Heinz, goes to the druggist and offers to pay him for the drug, but he doesn't have enough money. The man explains that the drug is for his wife who's dying but the druggist refuses to give him the drug. That night, the man breaks into the druggists store and steals the drug.

a. Was Heinz right to do this? Whyb. Is it morally acceptable for Heinz to do this? Why?c. Percy, a police officer and close friend of Heinz discovers what Heinz has done. Should Percy confess to the police what his friend has done? Why?d. What if Heinz does not love his wife? Does this change your answer to a. and/or b? Why? e. What if the person dying was a stranger Heinz happened to know was dying? Does this change your answer? Why?f. How about if the 'person' dying was an animal? Does this change your answer? Why?

Group Think• Can majority always rule… can

the group convince the individual that they should no longer think for themselves and do as the group says?

• 2+2=5…no, really… it does….

Groups can be effective and positive, but they can

also be ineffective and make very bad

decisions…• For example…

What is Groupthink?• Refers to a group

making bad decisions because the group is more concerned about reaching an agreement/ sticking together and the individual is more concerned with fitting in.

Characteristics of Groupthink.

• Discussions are limited.• Few alternatives

presented.• Increased pressure for

all to conform to “hurry” the decision.

• A clear ingroup vs. outgroup mentality.

• Asch’s Experiment.

Examples of Groupthink• Decision to launce

the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.

• The Bay of Pigs fiasco during JFK’s presidency.

Abilene Paradox• When a group of people

collectively make a decision that is counter to the preferences of anyone in the group.

• In other words, a group decides to do something that none of them really want to do.

Huh? You say… here is an example…

• On a hot afternoon visiting in Coleman, Texas, the family is comfortably playing dominoes on a porch, until the father-in-law suggests that they take a trip to Abilene [53 miles north] for dinner. The wife says, "Sounds like a great idea." The husband, despite having reservations because the drive is long and hot, thinks that his preferences must be out-of-step with the group and says, "Sounds good to me. I just hope your mother wants to go." The mother-in-law then says, "Of course I want to go. I haven't been to Abilene in a long time." The drive is hot, dusty, and long. When they arrive at the cafeteria, the food is as bad as the drive. They arrive back home four hours later, exhausted.

• One of them dishonestly says, "It was a great trip, wasn't it?" The mother-in-law says that, actually, she would rather have stayed home, but went along since the other three were so enthusiastic. The husband says, "I wasn't delighted to be doing what we were doing. I only went to satisfy the rest of you." The wife says, "I just went along to keep you happy. I would have had to be crazy to want to go out in the heat like that." The father-in-law then says that he only suggested it because he thought the others might be bored.

• The group sits back, perplexed that they together decided to take a trip which none of them wanted. They each would have preferred to sit comfortably, but did not admit to it when they still had time to enjoy the afternoon.