Chapter 2 focuses on four of the internal influences of the system’s Model of Small
Group Interaction: communication, language behavior, self-disclosure, and interaction
roles. This chapter concentrates on the important topic of communication.
Because communication is one of the most important aspects of group interaction,
a thorough discussion of it is necessary. This chapter defines communication and
discusses several different types. The topic of language behavior is presented,
along with four specific problems that groups often confront: bypassing, inference
making, polarizing, and signal reactions. In a group, members must decide how
much to share or contribute; therefore, this chapter examines self-disclosure.
Interaction roles is the last of the internal influences discussed in Chapter 2. One
often establishes several roles in day-to-day living. Three types of these are group
task roles, group maintenance roles, and individual roles. Research at UCLA by
Foreman (1999) shows that even graduate students at some of the top universities
in America demonstrate a lack of skill in small group communication. She writes,
“They may study the intricacies of team building, but they rarely learn how to
coordinate the efforts of several people in the composition of a report or presentation”
(p. 11). This chapter addresses some of those communication skills. If you
are into Web surfing as one form of your communication, be careful. There is new
software organizations can use to monitor your activity to see if it complies with
their desires. To check it out see www.littlebrother.com.
