Drumming Your Way to Understanding Group

Dynamics

Henry O. Patterson, Ph.D.

RATO Presentation

June 9, 2010

Some Checking-In Questions…1. How many of you have taken an academic course

on Group Dynamics/Processes?2. How many of you have attended a workshop or

had training on Group Dynamics/Processes?3. When designing a group experience or when

working with a group, how many of you typically think about the group process?

4. How many of you have been in a group that was not working well or up to potential & you could not figure out why?

Checking In Questions

5. How many of you have some musical background: singing, playing an instrument, drumming?

6. How many of you have participated in a drum circle?7. How many of you are a little anxious about the

drumming part of today’s session?8. How many of you would like to have some fun &

learn something useful?9. Do you think this group can perform a complex

musical composition by the conclusion of the session?#

Goals1. Emphasize importance of group dynamics concepts in

understanding the functioning of all groups & improving group/team performance

2. Explore 6 basic elements of group dynamics using a drum circle experience to illustrate

3. Encourage you to reflect on how using these group dynamics principles can improve the performance of groups you work with

4. Have some fun drumming & making music5. Perform an original composition: “RATO Percussion

Overture”#

Overview of Session• Some basics about group dynamics• Drumming activities• Exploration of 6 Elements of group dynamics

1. Purpose & goals2. Group structure: roles & norms3. Group cohesion, contagion, & entrainment4. Diversity in groups5. Ingroup / outgroup formation & relations6. Role of leader in facilitating successful groups

• Performance of “RATO Percussion Overture”• Tips on creating high performing groups/teams

#

What Is a Group?

• Definition: Two or more people in face-to-face interaction who are aware of their positive interdependence as they strive to achieve mutual goals, aware of their own & others’ membership in the group.

• Focus is on small groups (fact-to-face), but virtual groups, & large groups/organizations share basic principles

• Aggregates are not groups – don’t have most qualities of group, e.g. people standing on street corner, students sitting in lounge

What Is a Group? (con’t)

• Is there really a group identity, group mind, or group collective consciousness?– Individualistic view (F. Allport) – there is nothing

beyond the individual; group is collection of individuals

– Group view – groups are separate, unique entity, & more than a collection of individuals; they are a unique social system with their own attitudes, beliefs, values, practices, “mind,” “personalities,” “pathologies,” etc.

• Social pressure of group changes individual behavior, e.g., conformity, “groupthink”

• Fish in H2O analogy #

Importance of Groups in Our Lives• Our lives are series of group interactions--rarely

are we NOT interacting with a group

• “No man is an island….” John Donne• Human species may have survived only because of

ability to function in small groups• Humans have lived in small hunger-gatherer &

farming groups for most of existence (living in large groups (cities) is new for humans)

• Positive psychology research shows groups major source of happiness for individuals

Importance of Groups in Our Lives (con’t)

• We tend to focus mostly on the tasks of a group, the personalities in a group, rarely on the processes of the group

• Group dynamics focuses on the processes all groups share – family, friends, sports teams, hobby groups, work/school groups, committees, social groups, etc.

• Always interaction between individual & group• Groups are always changing (discussed later)

#

Field of Group Dynamics• Founder Social Psychologist Kurt Lewin• Became field in psychology & sociology in 1940s &

1950s

• Understanding group processes critical in understanding & creating functional & effective…– Families

– Businesses & organizations

– Classes in education, training & development

– Sports teams, musical groups

– Civic, political, & social groups#

Types of Performing Groups/Teams

1. Pseudogroup – assigned, competitive, better working separately

2. Traditional work group – assigned, some cooperation, little cohesion, free riding

3. Effective group – like working together, shared goals, “more than sum of parts”

4. High-performing group – Effective group + outperforms expectations

#

Six Elements of Group Dynamics…

1. Purpose & goals

2. Structure: Roles & Norms

3. Group cohesion, contagion, entrainment

4. Diversity

5. Ingroup /outgroup formation & relations

6. Role of leader/facilitator

#

So Let’s Do Some Drumming…

• Purpose of our Drum Circle: – Learn about group dynamics– Learn about percussion instruments & basics of

drumming– Have fun & enjoy making music together– Compose & play an original composition: the

“RATO Percussion Overture”

So Let’s Do Some Drumming…(con’t)

• Expectations & drumming etiquette:– We’re drumming for fun & relaxation, not to impress

anyone– Don’t worry about making a mistake—there is no

right or wrong– Listen carefully to others– Be creative & express yourself– Remove rings & jewelry—respect your hands & the

instruments, so don’t pound too hard

#

Getting Started…

1. Choose an instrument & join circle1. Drums – djembe, floor tom tom, frame drums,

doumbek

2. Metal instruments -- cow bell, agogo bells, tambourine, triangle

3. Wood instruments -- wood blocks, claves

4. Shakers, rattles, & scrapers – tube shaker, maracas, guiro, cabasa

2. Brief introduction to instruments & suggested playing techniques

Getting Started…(con’t)

3. Stretch & loosen up…hands…upper body…

4. Review Signals/Cues (most nonverbal), e.g.1. Start playing = fingers up 1…2…3…4…

2. Stop playing = fingers up 4…3…2…1…stop!

3. Continue playing = hand rotation

4. Rumble (drum roll) = trembling hands

5. Single time = 1 arm up; Double time = 2 arms up; Rest

6. Volume level = hands moving up/down

7. Imitate what I do = point to myself, then you

#

Activity # 1 – Playing Same Rhythm (Tutti)

1. Echo: I play a rhythm, everyone responds (echoes) together with the same rhythm

2. Call & Response: I play several different rhythms, everyone responds with the same response.

Activity # 2 – Playing Parts

3. Your “name rhythm” -- individually in sequence, play a rhythm on your instrument that corresponds to the syllables in your name, e.g., Hen—ry Pat—ter—son. Entire group will respond to your rhythm & stop.

4. Individually play your “name rhythm” & continue to play the same rhythm as others enter one-by-one playing their “name rhythm.”

#

Activity # 3 – Improvisation & Featured Sections

1. Facilitator starts group with a rhythm, each person in sequence joins in when ready with their own unique rhythm and continues to play that rhythm until everyone in group has joined in.

2. Everyone continues to play, being creative & changing your rhythm whenever you feel like it.

3. Facilitator will have sections & subgroups drop out and back in

#

Discussion--Element # 1: Group Purpose & Goals

• Anxiety, stress, disruptive behavior, & low performance related to unclear purpose/goals

• Clear, agreed upon goals necessary for high functioning of group (few hidden agenda)

• Questions:– What were the purpose & goals of drumming? How clear

were they? Were they widely accepted?– Did your level of anxiety change since beginning? Was there

disruptive behavior?– At the beginning, what would have happened if I had just

said “OK, everybody play your drum?”

Discussion--Element # 2: Group Structure

• Roles – expectations of appropriate behavior of different positions, e.g., mother, teacher, secretary, victim, clown (differentiate group members; division of labor) (see attached table)– Role conflict – contrary expectations of behavior, or

incompatibility of roles; e.g. children & husband expect different things from mother;

– Roles have different degrees of status & power• High status roles – more influence on group, less

pressure to conform#

Discussion--Element # 2: Group Structure (con’t)

• Norms – Common implicit or explicit beliefs & expectations about appropriate attitudes, perceptions, & behavior of all group members (“oughts”, “musts,” “shoulds,” “rules of the game”) (integrate group members)

• Can’t be imposed on a group; evolve out of group interactions

• Group members first conform, then internalize norms (Reference groups – group we compare ourselves to…even though absent)

• Vary in importance• Violation of norms punished by group

#

Discussion--Element # 2: Group Structure (con’t)

• Questions -- roles:– What were some roles in our group?– How clear were your roles?– Was there a good balance of roles?– Was there a status hierarchy of roles or role conflict?

• Questions -- norms:– What were some norms that developed?– Who/what influenced the development of norms? – Were there any dysfunctional norms?– What outside norms were brought into the group?

#

Discussion--Element # 3: Group Cohesion, Contagion, & Entrainment

• Group cohesion – how close or “in sync” one feels with other group members; “weness” (not necessarily liking)

• Contagion – our mood is influenced by emotions of others, e.g., power of negativity

• Entrainment – natural law of synchronization in physics--tendency for rhythms to lock phase & synchronize; going with the “flow”

Discussion--Element # 3: Group Cohesion, Contagion, & Entrainment

(con’t)• Questions:

– Do you feel closer to group members than when you arrived? Why or why not?

– What was responsible for increasing cohesion, e.g. spending time together, sharing an experience, working (playing) together?

– What helped us to play together, & what is relationship between simple parts & complex parts?

– Has your mood changed since arriving? If so, what caused this? – How does emotional climate/atmosphere impact group

performance?

#

Discussion--Element # 4: Diversity in Groups

• Moderate levels of diversity in groups enhance creativity & performance, although sometimes make agreement more difficult

• Questions:– What kinds of diversity exists in our drum circle?– Is the “product” (i.e. sound) & your level of satisfaction

enhanced or hindered by the diversity? – Could there be too much diversity in the group?

#

Discussion--Element # 5: Ingroup / Outgroup Formatnion & Relations

• Groups quickly subdivide & bias & rivalries quickly emerge

• Important for leader to keep rivalries to minimum by focusing on group as a whole

• Questions:– Did subgroups emerge? If so, what led to subgroups?– Did you feel cohesion with your ingroup? Competition

with the outgroup?– When is competition between groups functional and

when dysfunctional?– What are ways of holding subgroup competition in

check? #

Activity # 4 – Original Composition

Creation & performance of the “RATO Percussion Overture,” an original, complex, improvised, 3-movement, percussion composition involving:

• Various polyrhythms

• Varying dynamics

• Varying tempos

• Solos & section solos

#

Discussion--Element # 6: Role of Leader/Facilitator in Group Function

• Leader/facilitator role critical in all elements of group dynamics—especially beginning & end

• Leadership should be shared when possible• Questions:

– What was the facilitator’s role in the following?• Purpose & goals?• Structure (roles & norms)?• Cohesion & contagion?• Diversity?• Ingroup / outgroup relations?

– What would have improved the leadership?

Tips on Creating High Performing Groups

1. Establish clear, shared purpose & goals

2. Help develop clear roles & functional norms

3. Facilitate cohesion & positive emotional climate

4. Promote diversity

5. Manage ingroup / outgroug bias & conflict by focusing on the group as whole

6. Share leadership & power using open communication

7. Expect groups to constantly change

How Groups Change

• Tuckman’s Sequential-stage theory of group development:– Forming – uncertainty of roles & norms– Storming – resist & rebel against group &

leader– Norming – consensus develops about roles,

norms, & goals; cohesion grows – Performing – group works together effectively– Adjourning – group disbands

Some Conclusions…• Group dynamics is the field that focuses on how

all groups are the same & different• More we know about & apply group dynamics

theory, more effectively groups can function & the more satisfaction we can get from groups

• Human survival may depend on the effectiveness of future groups

• Drumming is fun!!

#

Questions & Comments…

ResourcesEduardo, C., & Kumor, F. (2001). Drum circle: A Guide to

world percussion. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing Co.

Forsyth, D. R. (2010). Group dynamics. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Friedman, R. L. (2000). The healing power of the drum. Reno, NV: White Cliffs Media.

Hull, A. (1998). Drum circle spirit: Facilitating human potential through rhythm. Gilsum, NH: White Cliffs Media.

Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, F. P. (2009). Joining together: Group theory and group skills (10 ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Resources (con’t)

Levitin, D. J. (2006). This is your brain on music: The science of a human obsession. New York: Plume.

Redmond, L. (1997). When the drummers were women: A spiritual history of rhythm. New York: Three Rivers Press.

Sacks, O. (2008). Musicophilia: Tales of music and the brain. New York: Vintage Books.

Stevens, C. (2003). The art and heart of drum circles. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard.

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