Social loafing research has spanned several decades and fields of study. Research has provided support for both the existence of social loafing and its antecedents within the laboratory, classroom, and work place. Studies regarding the perceptions of social loafing and its effects in the online learning environment, however, are largely…

A look at two areas of research in group dynamics: Individual behavior conformity to certain pressures of group processes, and the "risky shift phenomenon," which theorizes that the group tends to be a more dynamic and venturesome unit than does the individual acting alone. (Author/HB)

The results of these experiments strongly suggest that the occurrence of behavioral contagion depended on the relative advantage an initiator's action establishes over the other members of the group. (SD)

Analyzed structure of social interaction within four therapy groups in terms of conditional responding of participants. Proposed that groups' interactions would show increasing structure across sessions. Findings showed no consistent pattern of group development, that frequency with which members spoke was inversely related to dominance in group,…

The economic reasoning that individuals use in making public choices regarding politics, society, and the economy is examined in these essays. All of the essays set the agenda for addressing the perplexing problems of understanding individual behavior in relation to the behavior of others. (RM)

Explores the potential usefulness of R.F. Bales' systematic method for the multiple level observation of groups (SYMLOG) by testing the predictive capability of the three SYMLOG dimensions and the amount of member dispersion on each dimension with the amounts of conflict, reported satisfaction, styles of conflict management, and quality of…

Examines the indigenous pattern of moral behavior among the Ewe, an ethnic and linguistic group in West Africa, and assesses its role in moral education within the African context. The author develops a conceptual framework he calls "logical demonomy" that he uses to define the Ewe system of moral laws. (JT)

Metaphorical analysis of small group interactions enables researchers and practitioners to isolate, identify, and intervene with the current social reality of the group. This heuristic study offers one view of the specific meaning structures which account for the development of group cohesiveness. (BL)

To investigate the involvement of spatial and social density in the appreciation of humor, adolescents participated under conditions of high and low spatial density. High spatial density was found to significantly diminish appreciation of three humor types. Significant sex and age differences in reactivity to spatial density were also found.…

Tests were conducted to determine if domestic chicks would respond to multiple social separations with the cumulative disruption of social development seen in other species. (Author/SS)

Discusses how psychological methods can be applied to study cultural syndromes and presents examples of these approaches. It is argued that tight-simple cultures are most collectivist, and loose-complex cultures are most individualistic. Further, it suggests homogeneous cultures can have clear norms and impose them tightly, whereas heterogeneous…

Indicates that individualism-collectivism is related systematically to perceptions of communication in ingroup relationships, but its relationship to perceptions of communication on outgroup relationships is more complicated--a distinction between contextual and simple collectivism must be drawn. (NKA)

Evaluates the pattern of celebratory activities in United States homes that accompanied television viewing of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Finds that those watching the Olympics were more likely to be in a group, to have visitors, to plan their viewing, and to pay close attention to the television. (MS)

This paper presents a model for turn-taking in conversation that is locally managed, party-administered, interactionally controlled, and sensitive to recipient design. Several general consequences of the model are explicated. (CK)