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Small Group Research
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Nonlinear Dynamics of Individual and Interpersonal Conflict in an Experimental Group

David Pincus

Chapman University, pincus{at}chapman.edu

Kristen M. Fox

Chapman University

Katherine A. Perez

Chapman University

Jaclyn S. Turner

Chapman University

Andrew R. McGeehan

Chapman University

The current study examines the spread of experimentally induced conflict and rigidity from an individual to a group through the perspective of self-organization theory. The dependent measure of rigidity was operationally defined as entropy in conversational turn-taking dynamics in the small group. Four female undergraduates participated in a series of four 30-min discussions. The frequency distribution of turn-taking patterns for each discussion was predicted to fit an inverse power-law (IPL) model, with drops in entropy in response to conflict within a single group member following baseline. Consistent with predictions, results indicated significant fits to the inverse power-law model in each discussion and a significant drop in entropy values following the conflict induction. These results suggest that small groups are self-organizing systems in which the spread of conflict between group and individual dynamics occurs by way of shifts toward systemic rigidity.

Key Words: nonlinear dynamics • systems theory • conflict • interpersonal relations • entropy

Small Group Research, Vol. 39, No. 2, 150-178 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1046496408315862
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