Cohesion is a dynamic psychological construct
that refers to the uniting or sticking together of members within a group (see Group). Cohesion is oriented
toward two main objectives: the instrumental
goals (see Task Cohesion) and relationships (see
Social Cohesion) within the group. Carron, Widmeyer,
and Brawley (1985) operationalized cohesion and
developed a tool (see Group Environment
Questionnaire) that encompasses the group’s main
objectives in addition to two types of perceptions held
by individual team members. These include perceptions
of the group’s integration (i.e., the closeness,
similarity, and bonding of the group) and the individual’s
attractions to the group (i.e., personal motivations
about their involvement in the group). A
substantial amount of research exists that relates cohesion
to other important individual and group variables,
such as adherence and performance (e.g., Carron,
Colman, Wheeler, & Stevens, 2002).
