Chadster
December 29th, 2007, 05:13 PM
As part of a social psychology course I'm taking (psychology is not my major), I wrote the following essay on group membership and leadership:
The most positive, influential group that I belong to is one that is loose-knit and casual. The John Stone fitness group is not directly related to my roles at work or in formal education. This group impacts my role more directly in the family as it pertains to my personal health and well-being. It is completely based in written form on the internet, which presents unique characteristics.
As Myers contends, group membership greatly impacts our individual attitudes and behaviors, and vice versa. Real people’s lives are positively changed through the dissemination of information. Being that the John Stone group is an online community, theories involving physical presence such as social facilitation and evaluation apprehension are not as prominent in the affects of its members. The online fitness group obviously contrasts the local gym in this regard. But according to Myers, the internet provides some level of anonymity and therefore decreases self-consciousness.
The members at John Stone Fitness share an intrinsic interest in physical fitness, health improvement and well-being. The only money collected is voluntary donations used by John Stone to pay for direct costs. Although one might think this group of like-minded people would be prone to polarization, it is not prevalent. Isolation and groupthink does not occur at John Stone Fitness because of open debate by non-conformist members who have wide arrays of experience and beliefs. Professional bodybuilders and active marathon runners argue through central persuasion the basic paths to ideal fitness as they see it. These arguments are always encouraged as long as they are based on facts and do not result in personal insults.
The conversations are written and in forum format which promotes not only brainstorming, but “brain-writing”, which Myers advocates in the text. Information is provided by all members in the forms of facts, theories, hypothesis, suggestions and opinions. Censorship is very rare and only occurs when blatant vulgarity or personal insults are strewn.
The most unique element of the group is the highly charismatic, yet sometimes direct leadership of the founder, John Stone. In regards to the group he founded, Stone possesses most of the positive leadership traits provided by Myers in the text. Stone writes eloquently and forcefully, he successfully directs resources and he addresses issues openly, decisively and proactively. John Stone maintains a democratic flavor to all activities whenever possible. He consults and listens to the opinions of his members before making final decisions. Stone leads socially by example, as he documents his dramatic life change and provides endless encouragement for his members. He performs as a task leader much less often, but does take charge of certain fitness challenges and get-togethers. Most importantly, he exemplifies enthusiasm and earns the support of his members.
The most positive, influential group that I belong to is one that is loose-knit and casual. The John Stone fitness group is not directly related to my roles at work or in formal education. This group impacts my role more directly in the family as it pertains to my personal health and well-being. It is completely based in written form on the internet, which presents unique characteristics.
As Myers contends, group membership greatly impacts our individual attitudes and behaviors, and vice versa. Real people’s lives are positively changed through the dissemination of information. Being that the John Stone group is an online community, theories involving physical presence such as social facilitation and evaluation apprehension are not as prominent in the affects of its members. The online fitness group obviously contrasts the local gym in this regard. But according to Myers, the internet provides some level of anonymity and therefore decreases self-consciousness.
The members at John Stone Fitness share an intrinsic interest in physical fitness, health improvement and well-being. The only money collected is voluntary donations used by John Stone to pay for direct costs. Although one might think this group of like-minded people would be prone to polarization, it is not prevalent. Isolation and groupthink does not occur at John Stone Fitness because of open debate by non-conformist members who have wide arrays of experience and beliefs. Professional bodybuilders and active marathon runners argue through central persuasion the basic paths to ideal fitness as they see it. These arguments are always encouraged as long as they are based on facts and do not result in personal insults.
The conversations are written and in forum format which promotes not only brainstorming, but “brain-writing”, which Myers advocates in the text. Information is provided by all members in the forms of facts, theories, hypothesis, suggestions and opinions. Censorship is very rare and only occurs when blatant vulgarity or personal insults are strewn.
The most unique element of the group is the highly charismatic, yet sometimes direct leadership of the founder, John Stone. In regards to the group he founded, Stone possesses most of the positive leadership traits provided by Myers in the text. Stone writes eloquently and forcefully, he successfully directs resources and he addresses issues openly, decisively and proactively. John Stone maintains a democratic flavor to all activities whenever possible. He consults and listens to the opinions of his members before making final decisions. Stone leads socially by example, as he documents his dramatic life change and provides endless encouragement for his members. He performs as a task leader much less often, but does take charge of certain fitness challenges and get-togethers. Most importantly, he exemplifies enthusiasm and earns the support of his members.