University of Southern California Why People Join Groups Discussion

1. Analyze the reason why people join groups, as explained by Maslow’s theory (provide examples and explain).

Consider This: In some cultures, people are extra relaxed about touching, and being touched, by others.

By Steven Beebe and John Masterson
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Part l
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Chapter 3
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
Interpersonal needs

Individual goals

Group and team goals

Interpersonal attraction

Group attraction
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 Maslow’s
Theory
 Schutz’s
Theory
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Physiological needs: air,
food, water
 Safety needs: security:
protection
 Belongingness needs:
affiliation
 Esteem needs: selfrespect
 Self actualization needs:
full potential

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Our needs to be included, for control, and
affection help drive how and why we
communicate
Inclusion – the extent to which we include
ourselves with others
Control – the extent to which we control other’s
actions or desire them to guide us
Affection – the extent to which we express
affection to others and desire that from them
Repeating Cycles
of Group Process
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▪ Prestige
▪ Status
▪ Power
▪ Anonymity
▪ Recreation
▪ Education
▪ Personal growth
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 Should coincide with individual goals
 Transcend the group members’ individual
goals
 Involve mutuality of concern
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 Similarity
 Commitment
 Clarification of group goals
 Hidden agendas
 Culture
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
Can interfere with each other negatively

Results in group versus individual goals

Meets individual member’s needs to the
detriment of group goals

Blends individual and group needs
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 Similarity
 Complementarity
 Proximity/Contact/Interaction
 Physical attractiveness
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 Activities
 Goals
 Membership
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 Power
▪ More status, more technology
 Uncertainty avoidance
▪ Slower to adapt technology
 Individualism/ collectivism
▪ Collective culture may value face-to-face
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 Masculinity/ femininity
▪ Feminine (nurturing) may use technology for
team start-up but prefer face-to-face
 Context
▪ High context prefers information rich
technology
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 Individualism and collectivism
 High and low context
 High and low contact
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 Diverse work groups have trouble initially

Productivity increases over time
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 Groups form “personality” over time
 Members share collective experience
▪ Fantasy chains, rules, and systems
 Newcomers change dynamics
 Re-formation involves
▪ Anticipation, encounter, and adjustment
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