Page 135 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

118 Chapter 5

feelings into account in making a decision. Thinkers may forget to take others’ feel-
ings into account but will evaluate evidence critically and come to a logical conclu-
sion. Clearly, thinkers and feelers operate by different internal logic systems in making
decisions, yet each system is an important one for a group to consider.
Perceiving-Judging The last dimension, the perceiving-judging dimension, concerns how people orga-
Dimension nize the world around them. Perceivers (P) are spontaneous and flexible; they react
The Myers-Briggs well to change. They like to gather as much information as they can prior to making a
Type Indicator® decision. At their worst, they are easily distracted and will postpone making a deci-
dimension sion until they’ve collected every piece of information possible—usually an impossible
concerning how task. Judgers (J) are decisive and sure in making decisions. They make a plan and can
people organize the stick to it. However, they don’t like to change plans once made and can become stub-
worlds; perceivers born and rigid. Perceivers constantly second-guess decisions they have made, worry-
are spontaneous and ing that they have forgotten something important. Judgers are never truly comfortable
flexible, whereas until the group’s work is completed and are excellent at keeping the group focused on
judgers are decisive
and prefer structure. the task; however, perceivers can roll with the punches if the group’s plan falls
through. Perceivers are more excited by starting new projects, whereas judgers are
more excited by completing them. You can probably see how perceivers and judgers
frustrate each other, yet how each one’s strengths balance the weaknesses of the other.
In the MBTI system, the four dimensions combine to form 16 different personality
types. For instance, someone assessed as ESTJ is extraverted, relies on facts and figures,
likes to think things through objectively, and is decisive. A person with an INFP config-
uration is likely to be shy and quiet, dreamy, empathetic with other group members, and
spontaneous. The most important point to remember about the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator classifications is that each dimension provides a potential benefit to the
®
group—but only if members recognize the potential strengths in having diverse personal-
ities in the group. If members do not recognize this, their frustrations—natural when
different personality types try to work together—may escalate into unproductive conflict.
The chart in Table 5.1 summarizes the MBTI dimensions.

The Five-Factor Model of Personality
In the last two decades, psychologists have developed the five-factor model of per-
Agreeableness
sonality, which has become a widely accepted framework for organizing many
Behavior that is different dimensions of personality. Each of the five factors—extraversion, agree-
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generally ableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and neuroticism (sometimes
cooperative and referred to as emotional stability)—have all been found related to behavior in small
compliant in a
friendly way. groups.
Extraversion, which was discussed previously as one of the Myers-Briggs dimen-
®
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Conscientiousness sions, has been found related to idea generation in computer-mediated groups. Com-
pared to introverts, extraverts generated more unique ideas without being prompted
Refers to people who
are reliable and by a stimulus (an idea presented online as if from another participant) and more dif-
diligent, have a ferent categories of ideas.
strong sense of Agreeableness refers to behavior that is generally cooperative and compliant in a
responsibility. friendly way; conscientiousness refers to behavior that is reliable, is diligent, shows a
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strong sense of responsibility, and is well organized. Halfhill, Nielsen, and Sundstrom

gal37018_ch05_109_134.indd 118 3/28/18 12:35 PM