TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend the current knowledge on psychological contagion and crossover by investigating the crossover of task-specific engagement (a positive, fulfilling state of mind) among group members. The paper also examines whether this crossover process is reinforced by strong group cohesion or by higher a priori levels of task engagement of the most engaged group member.Design/methodology/approach The authors operationalized crossover as within-group convergence on individual engagement over time. The authors studied this process in 43 newly formed groups performing a dynamic, interactive building task under controlled laboratory conditions, allowing the authors to observe the crossover process from a “zero” point, before any mutual influences had occurred.Findings Group member engagement scores indeed converged over time, supporting the proposed crossover effect of engagement, especially when the most engaged group member was highly engaged at the beginning of the group task. Unexpectedly, the explanatory role of group cohesion was not convincingly supported; the crossover of engagement was no stronger in groups with high cohesion.Practical implications These findings show that task-specific engagement is indeed transferred among group members, particularly when the most engaged group member is highly engaged.Originality/value Previous studies on psychological contagion and crossover were mainly focused on dyadic relationships and specific emotions or impaired well-being. The findings add to this literature by addressing the crossover of engagement – a more complex, beneficial psychological state – among group members and provide new input for developing and sustaining engagement in and of groups.
VL  - 23
IS  - 1
SN  - 1362-0436
DO  - 10.1108/CDI-03-2017-0060
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-03-2017-0060
AU  - van Mierlo Heleen
AU  - Bakker Arnold B.
PY  - 2018
Y1  - 2018/01/01
TI  - Crossover of engagement in groups
T2  - Career Development International
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 106
EP  - 118
Y2  - 2024/04/26
ER  -