In general terms, a group is said to be in a state of cohesion when its members possess bonds linking them to one another and to the group as a whole. According to Festinger, Schachter, and Back (1950), group cohesion was believed to develop from a field of binding social forces that act on members to stay in the group. Groups that possess strong unifying forces typically stick together over time whereas groups that lack such bonds between members usually disintegrate.

Dimensions of group cohesion

The bonds that link group members to one another and to their group as a whole are not believed to develop spontaneously. Over the years, social scientists have suggested that cohesiveness among group members can develop from various dimensions, including a heightened sense of belonging, interpersonal attraction

Interpersonal attraction

Interpersonal attraction is the attraction between people which leads to friendships and romantic relationships. Interpersonal attraction, the process, is distinct from perceptions of physical attractiveness which involves views of what is and is not considered beautiful or attractive.The study of...

, and teamwork

Teamwork

Teamwork is action performed by a team towards a common goal. A team consists of more than one person, each of whom typically has different responsibilities....

.

Group unity

Many theorists believe that group cohesion results from a deep sense of “we-ness” or belonging to a group as a whole. By becoming enthusiastically involved in the efforts of their group and by recognizing the similarities that exist among group members, individuals tend to develop a close connection with their group and its members. This sense of community

Sense of community

Sense of community is a concept in community psychology and social psychology, as well as in several other research disciplines, such as urban sociology, which focuses on the experience of community rather than its structure, formation, setting, or other features...

 strengthens the bonds of unity that link group members to one another, ultimately fostering solidarity and cohesion.

Attraction

Some theorists believe that group cohesion has more to do with interpersonal attraction

Interpersonal attraction

Interpersonal attraction is the attraction between people which leads to friendships and romantic relationships. Interpersonal attraction, the process, is distinct from perceptions of physical attractiveness which involves views of what is and is not considered beautiful or attractive.The study of...

  at both individual- and group-levels. A group may be cohesive if:

1. Its members have positive feelings towards one another (individual-level attraction),
2. Its members have positive feelings towards the group (group-level attraction), or
3. Its members have positive feelings towards other members and the group as a whole.

According to Hogg (1992), group cohesiveness typically develops from a depersonalized attraction to group members based on their status as group members, rather than a personal attraction based on specific relationships. In addition to group cohesion, this depersonalized form of attraction has also been linked to membership stability.

Teamwork

Other theorists stress that cohesion comes from group members’ commitment to work together to complete their shared tasks and accomplish their collective goals. Members of task-oriented groups typically exhibit great interdependence

Interdependence

Interdependence is a relation between its members such that each is mutually dependent on the others. This concept differs from a simple dependence relation, which implies that one member of the relationship can function or survive apart from the other....

 and often possess feelings of responsibility for the group’s outcomes. The bonds of unity that develop from members’ concerted effort to achieve their common goals are considered indicative of group cohesion.

Given that the construct of group cohesion has been conceptualized in so many different ways, contemporary theorists assert that cohesion is a complex, multidimensional construct that cannot be simplified to a single element or generalized across groups While members of a hockey team may exhibit teamwork as they attempt to score a goal, members of a group therapy session may develop feelings of acceptance and a sense of belonging. The important thing to remember is that because cohesion can be represented in many different forms, there is no such thing as a standard cohesive group.

Factors influencing group cohesion

The forces that push group members together can be positive (group-based rewards) or negative (things lost upon leaving the group). The main factors that influence group cohesiveness are: members’ similarity, group size, entry difficulty, group success and external competition and threats. Often, these factors work through enhancing the identification of the individual with the group she/he belongs to as well as their beliefs of how the group can fulfill their personal needs.

Members’ similarity

The more group members are similar to each other on various characteristics the easier it would be to reach cohesiveness. Following Social Identity Theory, we know that people feel closer to those whom they perceive as similar to themselves in terms of external characteristics (age, ethnicity) or internal ones (values, attitudes). In addition, similar background makes it more likely that members share similar views on various issues, including group objectives, how to communicate and the type of desired leadership. In general, higher agreement among members on group rules and norms results in greater trust and less dysfunctional conflict. This, in turn, strengthens both emotional and task cohesiveness.

Group size

Since it is easier for fewer people to agree on goals and to co-ordinate their work smaller groups are more cohesive than larger groups. Task cohesiveness may suffer, though, if the group lacks enough members to perform its tasks well enough.

Entry difficulty

Difficult entry criteria or procedures to a group tend to present it in more exclusive light. The more elite the group is perceived to be, the more prestigious it is to be a member in that group and consequently, the more motivated members are to belong and stay in it. This is why alumni of prestigious universities tend to keep in touch for many years after they graduate.

Group success

Group success, like exclusive entry, increases the value of group membership to its members and influences members to identify more strongly with the team and to want to be actively associated with it.

External competition and threats

When members perceive active competition with another group, they become more aware of members’ similarity within their group as well as seeing their group as a means to overcome the external threat or competition they are facing. Both these factors increase group cohesiveness; leaders throughout human history have been aware of this and focused the attention of their followers on conflicts with external enemies when internal cohesion was threatened. Similar effects can be brought about by facing an ‘objective’ external threat or challenge (such as natural disaster).

Consequences of group cohesion

Group cohesion has been linked to a range of positive and negative consequences. Firstly, members of cohesive groups tend to communicate with one another in a more positive fashion than noncohesive groups. As a result, members of cohesive groups often report higher levels of satisfaction and lower levels of anxiety and tension than members of noncohesive groups. Secondly, group cohesion has been linked to enhanced group performance in non-laboratory-based groups. This bi-directional relationship is strongest when the members of a group are committed to the group’s tasks.

Membership in a cohesive group can also prove problematic for members. As cohesion increases, the internal dynamics (e.g., emotional and social processes) of the group intensify. As a result, people in cohesive groups are confronted with powerful pressures to conform to the group’s goals, norms, and decisions. In many instances these pressures to conform are so great that members suffer from groupthink

Groupthink

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within groups of people. It is the mode of thinking that happens when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without...

. Individuals who refuse to yield to the ways of the majority are typically met with additional negative consequences, including hostility

Hostility

Hostility is a form of angry internal rejection or denial in psychology. It is a part of personal construct psychology, developed by George Kelly...

, exclusion, and scapegoating. Furthermore, group cohesion can trigger distress and maladaptive behavior in members following changes to the structure of the group (e.g., loss of a member).

Further Reading

• Cartwright, Dorwin. (1968). “The Nature of Group Cohesiveness,” in Dorwin Cartwright and Alvin Zander, editors, Group Dynamics: Research and Theory, 3rd Edition, (New York: Harper and Row, 1968).
• Forsyth, D.R. (2010). Group Dynamics, 5th Edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. ISBN 0-534-36822-0.
• Mullen, Brian and Carolyn Copper. (1994). “The Relation Between Group Cohesiveness and Performance: An Integration,” Psychological Bulletin 115, 2 (March 1994).
• Schaub, Gary Jr. (2010). "Unit Cohesion and the Impact of DADT" Strategic Studies Quarterly Vol. 4, No. 3 (Fall 2010), pages 85–101. http://www.au.af.mil/au/ssq/2010/fall/schaub.pdf

Madsen (2008). Groups.