Building Cohesiveness

One reason people join groups is that they fulfill a human need to belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). This need is best met when you are part of a cohesive group, in which members like one another and have a sense of camaraderie. In highly cohesive groups, members feel a strong sense of unity and commitment to the group’s work. In groups that lack cohesion, members may feel disconnected from the group and have difficulty committing to group goals (Johnston, 2007). Members of a small group can build cohesiveness by appropriately self-disclosing, constructively managing conflict, and reserving time for external activity (such as having lunch together).