Cohesion and Collective Directional Movement.

Abstract

Studies on group cohesion have suggested that synchronized movement and joint action influences perceived entitativity. This project's aim was to examine the effect of collective directional movement on levels of cohesiveness. A between subject design was employed including pairs of a total of 96 participants who were asked to either take a walk or another or march on the spot. They were then asked to complete a questionnaire on prosocial behaviours. Results showed that the condition in which participants were asked to physically move from one place to another was linked to elevated levels of both cohesion and cohesion change during the task. An evolutionary perspective could potentially provide and explanation for the present results.