PSYC 205 Group Dynamics

3 credits 45.0 hours
200 level undergraduate course

This course is designed to provide undergraduate students with an introduction to understanding group processes and to improve their skills as group members and leaders. Throughout, the aim is to provide an integration of theory, research, and applied methods. Group Dynamics has four major components. The first is an unstructured group experience focusing on interpersonal and group processes. Through the study of their own behavior, students will learn about the nature of authority and responsibility, anxiety, communications, the evolution of norms, and the underlying assumptions that often govern team development. It is our experience that the amount students learn in the course is directly related to the amount of effort they put into making meaning of this experiential component. The second component is a substantial set of readings. Readings include Group Dynamics, by Donelson Forsyth and six articles. Many students find it useful to do the reading as soon as possible. That is a matter of personal style. However, to prepare yourself for the experiential aspect of the course, students are required to read the articles by Bennis & Sheperd; Gemmill; Harvey; Herschhorn & Krantz; Marshak & Katz; McIntosh; Tillich; and Rioch before the course begins. During the course, students are required to keep a journal recording your thoughts and feelings about group events (you can write it in breaks, before or after sessions, and in the evening). The third component of the course involves thematic events. By comparing and contrasting the behavior of participants claiming membership in various social identity groups, participants have an opportunity to learn how these affect team behavior. They also can study intragroup phenomena such as cooperation and competition. The fourth component is membership in a Small Task Group (STG). The purpose of this component is to help you learn how having a specific task with a deadline and collective responsibility for a product affects team dynamics and is affected by them. Membership in these teams will be determined by the members of the small group(s).

This course is not repeatable for credit.
This course can fulfill a critical studies elective or general elective requirement.