OBNotes.htm Organizational Behavior Notes by Wilf Ratzburg: GROUP NORMS AND GROUP CONFLICT

Conflict can play a significant role in the life of a group. Cognitive (task-oriented) conflict generally plays a positive role in group life insofar as it fosters creative decision-making. On the other hand, affective conflict (relationship-oriented), conflict directed a personalities, will often be seen as having negative effects.

The norms of the group control how group members perceive conflict and the degree to which conflict influences performance and members' attitudes.

Group norms about conflict play a role in governing the relationship between intragroup conflict and group and individual outcomes.

Openness norms (i.e., open confrontation, open discussion), encourage people to express their doubts, opinions, and uncertainties. Effective discussion norms (tolerance of differing viewpoints), are very important norms for groups to develop.

In contrast, groups may have norms that foster avoiding conflict and give the group members the perception that conflict is harmful (that conflict should be avoided at all costs). Such norms will increase the negative influence of conflict and decrease its positive effects. Members may respond with defensiveness and animosity to even constructive criticism and disagreements.