On the Function and Structure of Group Cohesion
Team Cohesion: Advances in Psychological Theory, Methods and Practice
ISBN: 978-1-78560-283-2, eISBN: 978-1-78560-282-5
Publication date: 19 November 2015
Abstract
Group cohesion is among the most researched constructs linked to team effectiveness, and performance (Rosh, Offermann, & Van Diest, 2012). While meta-analytic evidence has established strong linkages between cohesion and performance (e.g., Beal, Cohen, Burke, & McLendon, 2003), the functions and structure of cohesion have received limited attention within this literature. In this chapter, we begin to address this gap in the literature by reviewing extant knowledge regarding the structural and functional properties of cohesion to introduce an integrative framework of the function and structure of cohesion. Our framework is designed to address two key questions: (1) Why are groups cohesive – that is, what function(s) does cohesion serve for an individual and/or groups? and (2) What are the elemental forms of cohesion within groups – that is, what is the structure of cohesion within teams? Our integrative framework posits that cohesion serves two main functions within groups: an affective and an instrumental function. These functions serve to characterize the structure of cohesion into four conceptually related but distinct facets that include interpersonal and group belongingness; and social and task elements of cohesion. Furthermore, we specify that these elemental facets occur both horizontally (among individuals with similar standing within groups) and vertically (among individuals with different standing within the groups). We discuss advantages and disadvantages of our framework and conclude with implications for research and practice.
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Acknowledgements
Acknowledgment
The views expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
Citation
Severt, J.B. and Estrada, A.X. (2015), "On the Function and Structure of Group Cohesion", Team Cohesion: Advances in Psychological Theory, Methods and Practice (Research on Managing Groups and Teams, Vol. 17), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1534-085620150000017002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015 Emerald Group Publishing Limited