Examples

This situation is one in which each and every person must make some collectively “right” or cooperative choice for all to obtain a more valued outcome; even one person's making a collectively “wrong” or uncooperative choice guarantees all receiving a less valued outcome. Such situations arise routinely in both dyadic and group settings. For example, a couple trying to conceive a child cannot succeed if either member is not present (e.g., is constantly traveling on business).

A fairly large class of such situations arises in dyads when either party can withdraw from interaction with the partner and thereby deprive both of its benefits. Examples include instances when either married partner refuses to talk to or withdraws affection from the other, and when either negotiator out of frustration refuses to bargain actively and in good faith. In this sense, maintenance of dyadic relationships has this conjunctive feature – the withdrawal of either member can effectively terminate the relationship.

Decision-making groups operating under a unanimity rule (e.g., most juries) are in Conjunctive situations – lack of assent by any member prevents the group from finishing its work and reaching a decision. And, as Steiner (1972) has observed, performance groups face this situation in group tasks where the group's level of performance is constrained to be no better than that of its least capable or motivated member. For example, a mountain climbing team that is tethered to one another can only advance at the pace of its poorest climber.