Agenda for Today

Group exercise
Win

as much as you can!

Group culture, norm, and identity

Theoretical

explanations for the development and consequences of group culture

Symbolic convergence theory Social identity theory

Group Culture

Culture: Collection of ways in which actions and practices are performed Group culture
(Shockley-Zalabak, 1991)

is

the unique sense of the place that groups generate through ways of doing and ways of communicating about the group. reflects the shared realities in the group and how they create and shape group events. is the unique common ground that becomes the self-definition or self image of the group. (p.66)

Group Norms

A norm is a scale of values which defines a range of acceptable (and unacceptable) attitudes and behaviors for members of a social unit. Norms specifycertain rules for how group members should behave and thus are the basis for mutual expectations amongst group members. (Brown, 1988, p.42)
Group norms reflect cultural practices Norms also help new group members learn about the groups culture.
3

Symbolic Convergence

A general theory that accounts for the appearance of a group consciousness, with its implied shared emotions, motives, and meanings (Bormann, 1996, p. 81) Communicative processes constitute group culture.
Symbols Stories

Talks Non-verbal

languages

Identity
Concept of self and others constructed by the practice of culture and norm

Social Identity Theory

Social Identity is that part of an individuals self concept which derives from ones knowledge of membership of a social group (or groups) together with the value and emotional significance attached to that membership (Tajfel, 1978, p. 63)

Social Identity Theory cont.

Two Processes
Categorization:

In-group and Out-group

comparison Self-enhancement: Positive attitude toward ingroup members

Next Tuesday

Working in Diverse Teams

Discussion

leaders: Salma, Victoria, Dana, and McKenna

Mini assignment #1 due Start Mini assignment #2