Group cohesiveness

Group cohesiveness is the strength of bonds that hold a group together and motivate its members to remain part of it. It can arise from interpersonal attraction, shared goals, identity, or dependence among members.

Interpersonal attraction: A positive evaluation of another person that can encourage interaction and relationship formation. Liking among members can create the interpersonal bonds that hold a group together.
Group: A set of people who interact and recognize some shared membership or purpose. Cohesion describes bonds within groups, not simply connections among any people.
Team performance: The extent to which a team achieves its goals and produces effective outcomes. Cohesion can support coordination and persistence, though it does not guarantee strong results.
Group solidarity: A sense of unity and mutual support among members of a group. Solidarity emphasizes mutual support, while cohesion also concerns attraction and desire to remain.
Group cohesion and performance: The relationship between bonds within a group and its effectiveness at collective tasks. The association varies with task type, coordination, and whether performance itself builds cohesion.
Social identity theory: A theory explaining how group membership contributes to people's self-concepts and shapes intergroup behavior. Identifying with a group can bind members even when personal friendships are weak.
Group membership: A person's recognized inclusion in a social group. The motivation to remain concerns continuing membership, not only liking other members.
Groupthink: A decision-making failure in which pressure for consensus suppresses critical evaluation. Strong unity can discourage dissent and make cohesion costly for group judgment.
Group conformity: The adjustment of beliefs or behavior to match group expectations. Cohesion may increase conformity, but members can feel bonded without agreeing on every norm.
Cohesion-performance circular causality: The possibility that cohesion improves performance while success also strengthens cohesion. Separating cause from consequence is central to interpreting observed cohesion-performance links.

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