Page 166 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

Communication and Group Culture 149

group’s culture and show concretely the interplay between communication and
group culture.
Our discussion here has focused on the positive effects of fantasy themes, but it
is important to note that fantasy themes can also create tensions within a group.
Zanin, Hoelscher, and Kramer’s recent study of a women’s rugby team observed that
subgroups can develop around competing fantasy themes. In addition, fantasy
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themes can privilege some members over others, creating in- and out-group conflicts.
These scholars also postulate that an exceptionally strong fantasy theme accepted by
all members can perhaps stifle dissent and predispose a group to groupthink.
The significant role that communication between group members plays in the
emergence of a group’s culture cannot be overstated. We have used structuration the-
ory to explain this dynamic between communication and culture. In these discus-
sions, we implied that the group maintained a consistent membership. But what
happens when new members enter the group? How do individuals and groups
socialize new members and become changed themselves in the process?

Recap: A Quick Review

econdary group dynamics are not just about a group’s task. Small groups are
Scomposed of human beings; thus, the negotiation of interpersonal relationships is
just as important to group dynamics as managing the task.

1. Primary and secondary tensions between group members are to be expected when
groups come together for the first time and begin to work on the task. The choices
that group members make when facing these tensions affect their success in the
long run.
2. Group member interactions around task and social challenges eventually produce
a pattern of power relationships that guide, reinforce, and modify the status of each
member relative to each other. Uncritical acceptance of the ascribed status of mem-
bers can harm the group’s culture.
3. When groups face the challenges of negotiating task and socioemotional concerns,
they often engage in creative, often playful fantasizing in the face of uncertainty.
These “digressions” are woven together by all group members; this results in a
collective new version of their group identity, which in turn redirects how members
act toward each other and their task.

Group Socialization of Members
When we hear the word socialization, we generally think about someone who is learn-
ing to become part of a group or even society at large. Just as children are socialized
into families and society, people are socialized into newly formed and established
groups. Socialization processes have been studied in organizational research focusing
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on how the organization molds the newcomer to its culture, but recent research in
communication looks at the socialization process in small groups. It also recognizes
the active role the new member plays in affecting the existing small group culture.

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