Individual Group Behavior Research Articles

Response thresholds alone cannot explain empirical patterns of division of labor in social insects.

The effects of heterogeneity in group composition remain a major hurdle to our understanding of collective behavior across disciplines. In social insects, division of labor (DOL) is an emergent, colony-level trait thought to depend on colony composition. Theoretically, behavioral response threshold models have most commonly been employed to investigate the impact of heterogeneity on DOL. However, empirical studies that systematically test their predictions are lacking because they require control over colony composition and the ability to monitor individual behavior in groups, both of which are challenging. Here, we employ automated behavioral tracking in 120 colonies of the clonal raider ant with unparalleled control over genetic, morphological, and demographic composition. We find that each of these sources of variation in colony composition generates a distinct pattern of behavioral organization, ranging from the amplification to the dampening of inherent behavioral differences in heterogeneous colonies. Furthermore, larvae modulate interactions between adults, exacerbating the apparent complexity. Models based on threshold variation alone only partially recapitulate these empirical patterns. However, by incorporating the potential for variability in task efficiency among adults and task demand among larvae, we account for all the observed phenomena. Our findings highlight the significance of previously overlooked parameters pertaining to both larvae and workers, allow the formulation of theoretical predictions for increasing colony complexity, and suggest new avenues of empirical study.

Effectiveness of the speech language intervention on the communicative behavior in groups of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

To verify the effectiveness of the speech language intervention in the communicative behavior in group of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. This is a semi-experimental, quantitative analytical-exploratory study. Users of a Psychosocial Care Center III (CAPS III) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were included, divided into 2 groups: Experimental Group (EG), comprising the Speech Therapy Intervention Group (STIG) and Control Group (CG). The communicative behavior was evaluated through the Brief MAC Battery. The STIG was performed in 2 weekly sessions, during 12 weeks, totalizing 24 sessions. After this period, individuals were reassessed. Data were analyzed through Mann Whitney non-parametric Test, and Pearson's Correlation Test. A total of 19 individuals of both sexes participated, who are between 19 and 59 years old with a minimum schooling of 5 years, 14 participating in EG and 5 in CG. In the EG, it was possible to observe that there was improvement in the communicative behavior after the speech language intervention in all the tasks evaluated, except in the writing task. In CG, no significant changes were observed comparing evaluation and reevaluation after 12 weeks. The speech-language intervention in group was effective as a socialization tool and contributing to the improvement of the living conditions of these people with schizophrenia.

Management of Skills Programs to Improve the Competencies of Graduates of Learning Citizens

This study aims to determine the pattern of skill management at the Community Learning Activity Center in increasing the competence of graduate learning citizens so that the results of this study are expected to be a reference for the community in an effort to improve the quality of human resources who are competing for people who have not completed formal education up to the school level. Senior High (SMA). This study uses qualitative methods to explore individual behavior in groups and understand the meaning of social problems. The data collection technique was carried out by the method of observation and semistructured interviews on research subjects consisting of PKBM managers, PKBM tutors, and PKBM learning citizens. The data analysis technique used the miles and Huberman model. The results showed: the management of the skills program at PKBM Aykos Nusa Ilmu was carried out by planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating stages. With the achievement level of competency skills, 80% of graduates meet competency standards, and as many as 20% of graduates show abilities in skills that exceed graduate competency standards.

Trust Helps… Except When it Hurts: The Interacting Effects of Trust and Dependence on Information Sharing in Hierarchical Groups

This study explored the interacting effects of group-level trust and individual-level dependence on information sharing in a group decision-making context. Contrary to the dominant characterization of trust as a uniformly positive moderator of group performance, information sharing was lowest in groups characterized by high trust and low subordinate dependence. Information sharing was highest in groups that combined high levels of trust and high subordinate dependence. Consequently, decision quality was poorest in the high trust, low dependence condition and decision quality was best in the high trust, high dependence condition. Results suggest that recent emphasis on the value of trust in group decision making should be tempered by a more sophisticated understanding of how dependence dynamics shape trust’s ultimate effects on individual behavior in groups. Implications for future research and practice in organizations are discussed.

Social identity is key to human resources development

PurposeThe aims of this paper is to reviews the latest management development across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approachThis briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.FindingsThe paper finds that, despite being overlooked in the literature on training and development, social identity is a critical factor influencing learning and performance in organizations. Social identity is important because it provides insights about individual behavior in groups and the group dynamics that affect individual learning and performance. There is a gap in human resources development to provide training at a group level. Although the individual is usually placed at the centre of the organization, it is essential to recognize identity‐related constraints beyond the individual level to ensure continuous individual learning. This article reviews social identity theory and looks at its potential implications for training and development.Practical implicationsThe paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.Originality/valueThe briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

Some Diagnostic Observations of Post-September 11, 2001 Crisis Groups

Crisis groups following the September 11 attack in New York were an opportunity to learn about people in crisis. The many groups that were formed to assist individuals' return to work, school, and home offered opportunities to observe how people managed their personal crises. While diagnoses such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder were used, they offer no help in understanding group dynamics and individual behavior in groups. In this paper a psychoanalytic group orientation is offered to help learn about the impact of such terrible crises on individuals and the use of psychoanalytically oriented groups to aid in their path to recovery.

Masculinity, Femininity, and Behavior in Groups

The purpose of this study was to use recent conceptual and methodological advances in the area of personality and group processes to reexamine the relationship between personality and individual behavior in groups. Two self-report dispositional measures, the Masculinity and Femininity scales of the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, were used as predictors of interpersonal behavior as measured by the System for the Multiple Level Observation of Groups (SYMLOG). As predicted, masculinity was positively associated with dominant behavior in the group. The hypothesized relationship between femininity and positive, friendly interpersonal behavior was found using retrospective ratings of behavior but failed to reach significance using the observational method. The current findings show that personality is an important variable affecting interaction in groups. Implications for the design and performance of task groups are explored.

A review of dietary interventions aimed at controlling hypertension.

Before planning programs to change dietary behavior in groups of individuals, evidence about the effectiveness of different interventions is needed. Articles published in the journals indexed by Index Medicus between the years 1975-84 were reviewed for evidence concerning the effectiveness of dietary modification programs in achieving dietary change. All program evaluations published in English and aimed at control of blood pressure levels in adults were eligible for review. Twenty-nine articles relevant to the synthesis contained sufficient information evaluating the contribution of dietary intervention. These 20 studies addressed changes in fat consumption, reduction in salt intake and reduction in calories consumed. The methods of intervention ranged from residential programs, through individual counseling and group discussion involving spouses, to audiovisual tapes. The studies had varying periods of follow-up; among those with one or more years of follow-up, a number of studies were able to demonstrate effectiveness using different outcome measures. For some dietary components, notably changes in fat intake and reduction in salt consumption, it has been possible to identify a minimal effective intervention, such as self-help materials or individual instruction, while changes in calorie intake or weight seem to require group counseling with family member involvement. The findings from this information synthesis should prove useful to those planning dietary interventions.

Introduction

The standard of living (or well-being) represents a very complex category in which such sciences as economics, sociology, medicine, history, and others converge. The conditions determining the standard of living and the changes in these conditions, which must be considered in planning, are extremely diverse. Among the conditions of life, of no small importance are habits and traditions that to a considerable extent determine the peculiarities in the behavior of individual groups in the population. The object of welfare planning is the aggregate that includes millions and — when we consider individual tastes — tens of millions of heterogeneous groups in the population. By virtue of this fact, calculations of the generalized characterization of various factors constitute an important and extremely complicated task in planning the standard of living.

Two Dimensions of Cohesiveness in Small Groups

A factor analysis of 19 possible indicators of cohesiveness in 20 college living groups yields two dimensions, one labelled social satisfaction and the other sociometric cohesion. These two dimensions are necessary for the interpretation of various aspects of group behavior and individual behavior in groups, such as the relations between factionalism and participation in group activities and the changes in group behavior accompanying turnover in membership. The dimensions appear to reflect the common distinction between the instrumental and intrinsic attractiveness of groups. Under other conditions, the number of dimensions necessary for describing cohesiveness may require fewer or more than two dimensions.