“employee at Canadian Tire”

When we think about who we are we can become overwhelmed with all of the potential
descriptors available to describe who we are. Have you ever noticed how frequently
how we describe ourselves can be categorized in terms of group and non-group
identifications? To illustrate this point… grab a scrap piece of paper and write 10
characteristics that describe you. When your list is complete, review your list. How many
of the characteristics are group related like … “employee at Canadian Tire”; “Army
reservist”? How did you decide what constituted a group? The importance of groups to
our self concept is not only obvious in an exercise like this, it demonstrates the
importance of groups to our lives.
Your textbook defines a group as “Two or more people who, for longer than a few
moments, interact with and influence one another and perceive one another as ‘us.’” (A
mere collection of individuals, such as passengers on a plane, was said not to constitute
a group.)
Using this text definition, consider each situation:
1. The bus stop: This is a collection of individuals; they need not interact or
influence one another in any way.
2. Funeral: Do the members interact? Are they interdependent? Do they affect one
another?
3. Fan club: If the members never see or interact with one another, then they
are not a group.
4. Seminar class: Assuming the students are not merely an audience to a
lecturer, this is a group.
What criteria did you use to determine the constitution of a group? Does it match
with the text?
Teamwork: Are two heads better than one?
It is common to hear people make reference to the saying two heads are better than
one. However, is there any validity to this statement?
Please read this Psychology Today article by copying the following link into your chosen
browser: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/talking-apes/201602/are-two-
heads-better-one
Woolley (2015) highlights the complexity of trying to answer this question as it pertains
to the concept of intelligence. We are quick to see from research like this that it is not a
quick yes or no response to this question.