Deck 15: Groups in Context

Question 1

Use Wicker's concept of staffing to describe the dynamics of an understaffed and overstaffed group,and members reactions to these staffing levels.

Answer 1

Answers will vary.

Question 2

Compare and contrast personal space,group space,and territoriality.

Answer 2

Answers will vary.

Question 3

What is your personal preference when it comes to space? Are your space needs large or small? Do your needs reflect your sex,cultural background,and social status?

Answer 3

Answers will vary.

Question 4

You must design a workspace with very high density (ten people must work in the space that typically only six would occupy).Suggest designs that you could implement to reduce feelings of crowding in the space.

Question 5

Compare the concept of density to the concept of crowding.

Question 6

You wish to convince the boss that your plan is the better one.Where should you sit,if the group meets at a typical conference room table?

Question 7

Use the concept of ambience to describe your affective reaction to a classroom and describe how the features of the physical environment influence classroom dynamics.

Question 8

The bank president has issued a new order: No personal effects should be displayed on any worker's desk or workspace walls.Argue against this edict by stressing the beneficial functions of territoriality.

Question 9

Your group must live for 20 days in an extreme and unusual environment.Describe the precautions you will take to make sure your group adjusts to the situation.

Question 10

Describe two different places on campus that (a)lack synomorphy and (b)have a high degree of synomorphy.

Question 11

Use the five-zone model of interpersonal distance to plan the activities you will use at a conference on group dynamics that will take advantage of interactions across all five zones.

Question 12

Theories of territoriality argue that the human tendency to claim turf is adaptive.Yet,inner-city gangs struggle against one another for control over various areas of the city,and the results are deadly;hundreds of deaths can be blamed on territorial disputes between members of rival gangs.How do you reconcile the theory with the facts?

Question 13

What is the secret to surviving,as a group,in an extreme and unusual environment?

Question 14

How would you cope if you found that you and your group had to work,for a prolonged period,in an overstimulating environment that was causing overload?

Question 15

Summarize the equilibrium model and apply it to a two-person,mixed-sex discussion group.

Question 16

Use the concept of behavior settings to describe the room where your class meets,being careful to provide details about the boundaries,components,and programs in the setting.

Question 17

How do such environmental factors as temperature,noise,and safety of the setting influence the following basic group processes: cohesion,performance,structure,and development?

Question 18

How would you design the ideal space for a group of 15 people who work together to plan,create,and pitch advertising campaigns?

Question 19

Summarize and critique Van de Vliert's climato-ecomomic theory of cultures.

Question 20

Using examples,describe the following factors' influence on crowding: attributions,intensity (density-intensity),controllability,and interference.

Question 21

To put a person at ease when first meeting,arrange to interact in their personal space zone.

Question 22

Personal territories within the group territory help individuals define and maintain a level of self- expression.

Question 23

Replacing leaders and decreasing communication are common responses to overstaffing.

Question 24

A moderate level of ambient noise helps people concentrate when they work on individualized tasks,but if noise is so substantial it interferes with member-to-member communication it undermines group performance.

Question 25

The density-intensity hypothesis proposes that as density increases,discomfort in all situations also increases.

Question 26

The staffing theory states that productivity and group well-being increase as staff is added to the work environment.

Question 27

Research suggests restorative places often have four key qualities: they are interesting,set apart from their surroundings,free of distractions,and compatible with the members' purposes and intents.

Question 28

The theory of behavior settings stresses the E in Lewin's B = f (P,E)equation.

Question 29

Russell's theory of emotions suggests group members' reactions to a place are determined by two key features: Is the place dangerous and will the place help them meet their goals.

Question 30

Jane is a manager in a call center that is experiencing problems with employees spending too much time interacting among themselves when they should be helping customers.Jane could decrease the time interacting by making the work environment more sociofugal.

Question 31

A college student's dorm room is a territory,but her usual place in the classroom is not.

Question 32

According to equilibrium theory,eye contact,topic intimacy,smiling must all be considered when making predictions about personal space needs.

Question 33

Third places are public places that are uniquely hospitable,socially entertaining,and informal.

Question 34

Individuals raised in contact cultures require less personal space than those raised in noncontact cultures.

Question 35

Ambience (the psychological reaction to the environment)is determined primarily by how comfortable the temperature is and the noise levels.

Question 36

Cross-cultural studies of personal space needs suggest that in warmer places people need less space in the social zones but more space in the intimate zone.

Question 37

Territory undermines performance for one key reason: individuals whose work areas are located near one another tend to engage in frequent,spontaneous interactions that interfere with productivity.

Question 38

Establishing a group territory reduces intragroup tension but often increases intergroup tension.

Question 39

Work characterized as highly specialized and requiring the flexibility for collaboration and privacy is best accomplished in a hive setting.

Question 40

Group ecology is the extent to which the group takes steps to protect and sustain environmental resources by not polluting and recycling.

Question 41

Which of the following statements is true?

A)Individuals working in situations that are overly stimulating show signs of mental fatigue.
B)Teams working in highly stimulating situations cope by relying more heavily on their shared mental model.
C)The effects of cognitive overload are minimal if the group is small.
D)Cognitive resources drained by overstimulation may be restored by watching television.

Question 42

When trying to concentrate,which sound do people have the hardest time ignoring?

A)music
B)ambient traffic sounds
C)the sound of offices equipment (e.g. ,photocopier,hum of lights)
D)conversation
E)the noise of a distant crowd

Question 43

Contact cultures

A)encourage open political communication between the countries of the world.
B)socialize individuals to limit their spatial openness with others.
C)socialize individuals to seek direct social contact whenever possible.
D)encourage eye contact,but not other forms of direct social interaction.

Question 44

According to the text,what one factor (other than the dangerous environment)contributed to the failure of the groups trying to climb Mount Everest in 1996?

A)lack of leadership
B)lack of teamwork
C)understaffing
D)groupthink
E)intergroup conflict

Question 45

___ interpersonal distance is to casual conversations and parties as ___ interpersonal distance is to cuddling and loving.

A)Intimate;personal
B)Social;private
C)Personal;intimate
D)Personal;private

Question 46

Drawing on studies of people's perceptions of places,which of the following does not fit with the others?

A)activation
B)tense
C)gloomy
D)aroused
E)astonished

Question 47

Personal space zones are smaller

A)when subordinates talk to their superiors rather than their equals.
B)in the United States than in Latin American.
C)when the group is all-female rather than all-male.
D)in the social rather than personal zone.

Question 48

The group is happy with the workplace,because it has lots of light,nice furnishings,and is painted in bright colors that cheer everyone up.The group is responding to the setting's

A)load.
B)behavior setting.
C)group space.
D)psychological space.
E)ambience.

Question 49

Which sequence,from small to large,is correct?

A)personal,intimate,public,social
B)intimate,social,personal,public,remote
C)primary,social,secondary
D)central,secondary,public,remote
E)intimate,personal,social,public,remote

Question 50

Which of the following is NOT typically considered to be an element of a group's ecology?

A)spaces
B)places
C)networks
D)locations
E)workspaces

Question 51

According to equilibrium theory,if the group discussion begins to get intense,you will probably

A)move your chairs closer to one another.
B)make less eye contact with one another.
C)seek out and ostracize the most deviant member of your group.
D)try to mark your territory in some way.
E)feel more cohesive.

Question 52

Which one is NOT one of the interpersonal zones identified by Hall?

A)public
B)private
C)personal
D)social
E)intimate

Question 53

Individuals' perceptions of their environment are usually based on two dimensions

A)dangerous-safe;clean-dirty
B)noise-quiet;warm-cold
C)red-green;blue-yellow
D)crowded-uncrowded;public-private
E)positive-negative;activating-deactivating

Question 54

You are a very autocratic leader and you wish to take over a country.Drawing on Van de Vliert's climato-economic theory you should move to

A)a country with a temperate climate.
B)one of the wealthier countries of the world.
C)one of the poorer countries of the world where the climate is challenging.
D)a country in the northern hemisphere.
E)a country with a mild climate and extensive natural resources.

Question 55

Which of the following statements is true about personal space?

A)Generally,individuals' personal space requirements are constant across situations.
B)Different individuals require different amounts of personal space.
C)Personal space needs are the same no matter what your cultural background.

Question 56

The group members feel upset,distressed,tense,and jittery.The group's environment falls in the __ and __ quadrant of the environmental ambiance model.

A)activation;negative
B)activation;positive
C)deactivation;negative
D)deactivation;positive
E)overload;stress

Question 57

Which of the following is not one of the key ingredients for creating a restorative place?

A)Fascination: the place should be interesting.
B)Being away: the place should be distraction free.
C)Extent: the place should be engaging.
D)Compatibility: the place should be compatible with members' purposes and intents.
E)Nature: the places should be part of natural rather than man made.

Question 58

Studies of the impact of noise on people indicate that

A)only very loud,punishing noise leads to any ill-effects.
B)people can cope with noise,but in time they begin to display ill-effects.
C)people are distracted by the noise,but it leads to no long term effects.
D)individuals seek out environments that are somewhat noisy,but not too noisy.

Question 59

The 1980 U.S.Olympic hockey team played its games in hockey rinks.The Rattlers and the Eagles camped at Robbers Cave State Park.The Apollo 13 crew lived in the Aquarius lunar module.These examples illustrate

A)intergroup conflict.
B)groups in environmental contexts.
C)high-performance groups.
D)leadership and group performance.
E)intragroup conflict.

Question 60

Group members,when they must work in a hot room,are likely to

A)show signs of increased hostility.
B)be energized by the experience and become more productive.
C)spend more time in the room than they need to complete the task.
D)report enjoy sharing the odors that are characteristic of such spaces.
E)report feeling elated.

Question 61

Vickie says,"The worst thing about big cities is being unable to do whatever you want to do;you can't go wherever you want,or pick and choose who you will talk to." Her reaction is best explained by a(n)___ theory of crowding.

A)overload
B)staffing
C)control
D)pathological

Question 62

The seat you habitually use in a classroom is,in Altman's terms,a(n)___ territory.

A)open
B)secondary
C)public
D)social
E)noncentral

Question 63

Semipublic places where members of a group or community can gather informally for conversation and interaction are known as ___ places.

A)first
B)outside
C)inside
D)second
E)third

Question 64

Which of the following statements is true?

A)The idea that people are more difficult to defeat if they are on their home turf is a myth.
B)People working with others on a cooperative task are more dominant if they must venture away from their home territory.
C)Playing at home is a disadvantage in most sports.
D)Individuals seem to gain strength and resolve when the dispute takes place on their home territory.

Question 65

Control theory,attribution theory,and overload theory are all similar in that they can explain reactions to

A)territorial invasions.
B)crowding.
C)personal space violations.
D)deindividuation
E)group space violations.

Question 66

In athletic events,home advantage can turn into home field disadvantage when

A)the fans of the home team become apathetic and are not fully supportive of their team.
B)the visiting team,aroused by the odds against them in hostile surroundings,performs far beyond its normal capability.
C)the pressure to win becomes too great,causing players to perform below their level of expertise.
D)the home team becomes overconfident when they play on home turf,causing players to perform below their potential.

Question 67

___ seating arrangements discourage social interaction.

A)Sociopomic
B)Sociofugal
C)Sociopetal
D)Sociometric
E)Sociotelic

Question 68

The finding that people feel less "crowded" when they personally decide when the group begins and ends its activities is consistent with the ___ theory of crowding.

A)overload
B)staffing
C)control
D)attributional
E)density-intensity

Question 69

Which of the following statements is true?

A)Territories no longer serve a useful function for humans.
B)Territories help individuals maintain their privacy.
C)Territories prevent individuals from expressing their own personal identities.
D)Because they are linked to conflict,territories cause disorganization in groups.

Question 70

Studies of urban gangs suggest that

A)individuals,but not groups,establish territories.
B)territory is portable and centers around group actions.
C)group performance is better on "home" territory.
D)territory is an inadequate concept.

Question 71

You are going to compete with Bob.According to Sommer's studies of seating choices,where do you want to sit?

A)to Bob's left
B)as far from Bob as possible
C)to Bob's right
D)directly across from Bob

Question 72

Research on college students' personalization of their territories indicates that students who ___ school tend to mark their walls ___.

A)drop out;less extensively
B)stay in;with more diversity
C)stay in;more extensively
D)drop out;with more diversity
E)drop out;more imaginatively

Question 73

Which of the following statements is true?

A)Some third places exist online,in places such as social networking and gaming sites.
B)Most online social sites,because of their anonymity,cannot provide sufficient human connection to function as third places.
C)Most third places charge admission to regulate who joins.
D)Third places are more likely to exist in rural areas rather than urban settings.
E)Third places are called third places because they are usually populated by people who root for the third place team instead of the first and second place team.

Question 74

A(n)___ is a specific area that an individual or group of individuals claims and defends for personal use.

A)territory
B)boundary
C)behavior setting
D)demography
E)interpersonal zone

Question 75

The idea "the more,the merrier," is consistent with the ___ theory of crowding.

A)overload
B)stress-arousal
C)control
D)density-intensity
E)staffing

Question 76

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Status and size of territory are correlated.
B)Individuals,but not groups,establish territories.
C)Even humans sometimes defend their territories with markers.
D)People feel more comfortable when they territorialize their living areas.

Question 77

You are in a high density setting but don't feel crowded because you assume your arousal is caused by the three energy drinks you just consumed.This reaction is consistent with the __ theory of crowding.

A)overload
B)interference
C)control
D)attributional
E)density-intensity

Question 78

You would worry that a friend of yours might drop out college and go home if,when visiting his dorm room,you notice that

A)he has posted his class schedule and course syllabi on the bulletin board by his bed.
B)his room is filled with dirty clothes,empty pizza boxes,and party hats.
C)he has a white board calendar posted by his desk filled with notes and deadlines.
D)his room is tastefully decorated and clean.
E)he has put up many gym posters describing steps to take for fitness training.

Question 79

___ is a psychological reaction to limited space whereas ___ is the number of people per unit of space.

A)Crowding;density
B)Personal space;density
C)Density;crowding
D)Personal space;territory
E)Density;personal space

Question 80

Ed arrives at the meeting after Ann.According to the Steinzor effect,if Ed wants to be able to comment after Ann each time she speaks to the group he should sit

A)on her right.
B)directly across from her.
C)on her left.
D)at the head of the table.