This post I thought I would share something that has helped jell
all these paradoxes of group life in my mind.
Recently I was reading an essay that my son wrote about the
benefits of being on his high school football team. He talked about the numerous life lessons
that being on a team can afford. One
comment that he made illustrated the paradoxes of group life very well. He explained that coaches often look for team
members that are as dedicated to the name on the front of the jersey as they
are to the name on the back of the jersey.
How true! If a team member is only concerned with
himself, the name on the back of the jersey, the team will suffer. Likewise, if a team member is fixated with
the team, the name on the front of the jersey, and not committed to improving
himself, the team will also suffer. Each
team member must work hard at becoming the best he can individually so he can
contribute his best to the team effort.
It is not that the name on the front is more important than the name on
the back of the jersey. They are both
equally essential to the task of having a successful season. Smith and Berg explain this paradox of
belonging. The contributions of each
individual enable a team too efficiently and effectively operate. A good thing to remember when working on a
team is to be equally dedicated to the name on the back as well as the front of
your jersey!
Linda, interesting reflection on your son's essay . This could have been a line right out of the Titans. The reflections your son made about the Jersey fit perfectly into the materials we have been reading about in Paradoxes of Group Life as it relates to group identity. I find it extremely interesting how something as simple as a Jersey can create unity, loyalty, and buy in...I was just thinking about this same issue watching VCU in the CAA tournament. last night.The jersey I feel gives way to immediate group identity, but then come the other processes that we have been learning about such as disclosure and trust.
ReplyDeleteI agree Tracy. There is obviously a lot of importance in the jersey! (Go Rams!!) As I read more in Levi, I found mention of social identity theory. It states a person's self worth is connected to the group(s) to which he belongs. This is also paradoxical, as it can be a positive or a negative. My son's essay alluded to this phenomenon also. He wrote about people who join the team "just to wear the jersey". They are not really dedicated to the team task, they just want the notoriety of belonging to the team. All very interesting stuff!
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteThat's a great analogy. I'm thinking of the literal implications and what they represent for the figurative too. The physical person occupies the space between the team name on the front and the last name on the back. I'm learning to adjust to the high school sports analogies, since football was the bane of my existence from 1983-1987.
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteWhat great insight your son brings to help illustrate the paradoxes of group life. The point he makes in his essay could also apply to the competition and cooperation Levi discusses in chapter 5. If a player pays too much attention to the name on the back of the jersey, they may be viewed as individually competitive and their personal goals of achievement supersede the team's goal. In this case the “social dilemma” is the player competing against his teammates to stand out for his skill while concurrently needing to cooperate with the team (back of the jersey) so plays are executed and the team’s goal of winning is achieved.
From my experience spectating, playing, and coaching sports, solid high school and college athletes seem to be most concerned with team cooperation. When considering athletes at the professional level, it appears that organizational “rewards” change the team dynamic as players become more self-absorbed at the cost of the team.