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Task specificity and the impact on both the individual and group during the formation of groups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2016

Eric Kruger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161. esk@unm.eduvigilj@unm.eduhttp://www.unm.edu/~psych/faculty/sm_vigil.htmlssstith@unm.edu
Jacob M. Vigil
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161. esk@unm.eduvigilj@unm.eduhttp://www.unm.edu/~psych/faculty/sm_vigil.htmlssstith@unm.edu
Sarah S. Stith
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161. esk@unm.eduvigilj@unm.eduhttp://www.unm.edu/~psych/faculty/sm_vigil.htmlssstith@unm.edu

Abstract

We agree with aspects of Baumeister et al.'s view that shared identities are necessary during initial stages of group formation. In contrast to their analysis, however, we provide evidence that the value of self-differentiation depends more on the task itself than on the stage of group development and challenge the authors to focus on the functions of the group.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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