Equilibrium model of group development
The equilibrium model of group development (equilibrium model) is a sociological theory on how people behave in groups.
The model theorizes that group members will work to maintain a balance, or equilibrium, between task-oriented (instrumental) and socio-emotional (expressive) needs.Bales, R. F. (1950). Interaction process analysis. Cambridge, MA: Addison-Wesley.Bales, R. F. (1970). Personality and interpersonal behavior. New York: Holt Rinehart & Winston. A group can be successful if it maintains this equilibrium.
Description
The equilibrium model was created by Robert Bales, who conducted early empirical studies on group development.Hare, A. P. (1967). Handbook of small group research. New York: The Free Press. Bales, R. F., & Strodbeck, F. L. (1951). Phases in group problem solving. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 46, 458-495. doi:10.1037/h0059886 His model was the first extensive and systematic description of group development borne out of group observation.Mennecke, B. E., Hoffer, J. A., & Wynne, B. E. (1992). The implications of group development and history for group support system theory and practice. Small Group Research, 23, 524-572. doi:10.1177/1046496492234005
The equilibrium model is a progressive model as it explains group maturity and performance over a given period of time.Chidambaram, L. & Bostrom, R. P. (1996). Group development (I): A review and synthesis of development models. Group Decision and Negotiation, 6, 159-187. Bales proposed the model as a means to study the manifestation and incidence of task-oriented and socio-emotional behaviours.Carabajal, K., LaPointe, D., Gunawardena, C. N. (2003). Group development in online learning communities. In M. G. Moore & W. G. Anderson (Ed.), Handbook of distance education (pp. 217-234). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
There are three main stages of group development within the equilibrium model.
Stages
- The first stage is orientation. Group members meet, ask questions and exchange information. Task-oriented behaviours are prevalent.
- The second stage is evaluation. Group members express their opinions and attitudes. Socio-emotional behaviours increase.
- The third stage is control. Group members exert pressure to influence group actions and activities.
Overall, as a group moves throughout the three stages, task-oriented behaviours decline while socio-emotional behaviours increase
Equilibrium
Successful group performance and cohesiveness is achieved once a group has matured and the members are able to maintain equilibrium between how well they can solve the task or problem facing the group (task-oriented behaviours) with how well they deal with interpersonal relationships and member satisfaction (socio-emotional behaviours).
Equilibrium may be temporary. For example, as the group encounters a new situation or takes on new members, the group may need to move through the three main stages again.
Application
The equilibrium model has been applied to research in a number of areas including computer-mediated communication (CMC)Michinov, E., & Michinov, N. (2007). Identifying a transition period at the midpoint of an online collaborative activity: A study among adult learners. Computers in Human Behavior, 23, 1355-1371. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2004.12.013 and educational psychology.Farouk, S. (2004). Group work in schools: A process consultation approach. Educational Psychology in Practice, 20, 207-220. doi:10.1080/0266736042000251790