Analyse Group Dynamics in The Movie Dead Poets Society - Case Study Example

Case Study: Analysing Group Dynamics and Functioning Dead Poet’s Society Student Name Institutional Affiliation Date Table of Contents Introduction 3 A brief summary of the group issue and its context within the film 3 Critical analysis of the group’s dynamics and functioning in this part of the film 5 Critical analysis of the probable causes for the group’s ability to function / dysfunction 5 Critical analysis of the group’s stage of development in this part of the film, with reference to at least one published theory of group development 6 A discussion of the group members who demonstrate task and management functions, the power issues evident in the group and their outcomes 8 Identification of task and maintenance functions present in the group, and critical analysis of any power issues present in this part of the film 10 An evaluation of any ethical and legal dimensions of the group work 11 Conclusion 11 References 13 Introduction The paper aims at examining a movie and analyse group dynamics and functioning. The movie being examined is Dead Poet’s Society. The movie Dead Poet’s Society deals with the situation of students who are studying in the same class and are showing difference towards the teaching methodologies of different teachers in the school. The students voluntarily form themselves in a group and named it as Dead Poet’s Society. The group used to hold its meeting on a regular basis to discuss about the teachings of English Professor. The English professor has left a huge impact on the minds of the students by his teachings. The mode of teaching of English professor is criticized by the other entire professor in the institute. The teachings of English professor are based upon liberalised thought process and making students’ independent in their thoughts. He used to attempt various methods of teachings to leave a distinct impact on the students. The DEAD POET’S SOCIETY (Dead Poet’s Society) is a very vital part of the movie. This group focuses upon several aspects of group dynamics such as conformity, formation of group, legal and ethical aspects and group behavior (Bal & Teo 2014). A brief summary of the group issue and its context within the film The group that has been formed among the students is with respect to Dead Poet’s Society. The name of the group is Dead Poet’s Society. Out f curiosity when one student was going through the works of English professor came to know about the Dead Poet’s Society. He then asked the professor to elaborate about the Dead Poet’s Society. After finding Dead Poet’s Society alluring the students formed themselves in a group and started meeting to discuss the same. It is a natural process that when a number of people meet and form a group then several issues occur. The major issues that occurred in the movie are conformity, lack of communication, distrust and legal and ethical issues (Church, 2013). The first issue occurred when a student was not allowed by his father to take part in the play being organised by Dead Poet’s Society. But the student resisted and played a lead role in the play and somehow his father got to know about it. His father was very orthodox and strict and he took decision to pull his son out of that institute and send him to some other institute. Due to this the student got angry and committed suicide. This way the student did not conform to the norms set by his father and decided to end his life. The drama started from this point as the father of the boy blamed English teacher’s teaching behind this and asked headmaster to expel the English teacher. In this row the headmaster forcefully asked the Dead Poet’s Society students to sign the document that contains that the English teacher is responsible for all this. Here the legal and ethical ground is being questioned. It is unethical to force someone to sign a document and conform to the norms. But at the end all the students waved goodbye to their English teacher by treating him as their captains and without caring about the headmaster’s threatening of expelling them from the school. This way the group issues in the film took place. Critical analysis of the group’s dynamics and functioning in this part of the film The group dynamics depict the behaviour of the member and their psychological perspective in the group. In the film the group members of Dead Poet’s Society were not behaving in an appropriate manner. The first and foremost problem that has been faced by the members is conformity. Conformity is an issue when the individuals behave in the same manner. In this the individuals tend to follow others and behave exactly the same as other party. Due to this the functioning of the group has also affected. When the conformity spreads in the group the group members stop thinking rationally and starts following the herd. This is the problem faced by this group and they could not even take the decisions properly (Andres, 2002). The decision making power of the individuals has been affected due to conformity. In the movie the group members when faced threatening of the headmaster could not stick to their decisions and thus diverted from their goals. Critical analysis of the probable causes for the group’s ability to function / dysfunction There are a number of factors that help the members in the group to behave in such a manner that it would result in increased the functionality of the group. While there are several factors that reduces the functionality of the group. In this movie there are two such situations. In the one situation the functionality of the group has been increased but in the other situation the functionality of the group has been decreased (Castka et al., 2013). The first situation is when the group members decided to organise a play on Dead Poet’s Society and every member stick to this point and contribute in the same direction. This is due to the cohesiveness of the group. The second situation is when there was a need of co-operation among all the members of the group so as to support their leader but all of them diverted from their goal and went against the leader. This is due to the conformity in the group. Critical analysis of the group’s stage of development in this part of the film, with reference to at least one published theory of group development There are several stages in the formation of a group. The stages in group formation are forming, storming, norming and adjourning. The first stage is when the members started interacting when they have something in common. With respect to the movie the students started interacting when they had Dead Poet’s Society in common. The students used to share their ideas and finally they form a group since they all had same objective. The individuals form a group when their objectives and goals are same. After this the next stage in group development is storming. It is when the individuals have difference in the opinion (Church, 2014). With respect to the movie the students had differences in the opinion about the same topics and this is why they were not able to come to a conclusion. This stage of group development is denoted by the conflicts, indecisiveness, differences in opinion, lack of decision making ability etc. After this the third stage of group development is denoted by norming. In this stage the students finally come to a conclusion and started working in the same direction. The students have conformed to the norms of the group in this stage (Baron & Kenny, 2013). This stage is denoted by the same working behaviour, cohesiveness and co-operation among the group members. The next stage in the group development process is performing. In this stage the group members finally perform. The group has performed the play for which they have formed the group. This is the ultimate objective of any group. After performing a particular task the final stage is adjourning. In this stage the members of the group are free to leave the group. After performing the play the members adjourned. This is a continuous process and continuously goes on .The group in the movie has also developed in the same manner. But in the film the adjournment was not a happy one. The group adjourned because one of the members of the group has committed suicide due to some reasons (Johnson Heimann, & O’Neill, 2013). After that the group of the students and the English professor have faced so many consequences. Figure-1 shows the development of group process and how it relates to the group development in the film. Figure-1: Stages in Group Development Source: Harris, P. R. & Harris, K. G. (2013). Managing effectively through teams. Team Performance Management. 2(3), 23-36. A discussion of the group members who demonstrate task and management functions, the power issues evident in the group and their outcomes The dominant group members in the film are English professor Keating, Todd, Neil, Knox, Pitts and Nolan the headmaster. There are three basic types of function that an individual does as a group member. The one is task function, second is management function and the third one is power function. Neil was the member who demonstrated the task function. It can be said on the basis that he was pursuing something that he wanted to do. Besides knowing the fact that his father is very orthodox and wanted him to become a doctor, he entered into acting. This gesture is enough to suffice the fact that Neil was demonstrating task function (Church, 2014). The English professor Keating was doing management function as he was the one who was managing the every activity in the group. He was motivating the students to do something unique and different. He used to teach in a unique way so that the students will get to think in a unique way. The issues of power were associated with Nolan the headmaster. He has misused his powers to threaten the students that he will expel all of them if they would not sign the document that states that Keating is responsible for Neil’s committing suicide. While it is very clear that Neil just wanted to pursue his career into acting whereas his father did not want him to do that and this led him to commit suicide. Todd also demonstrated the task function as in the end when the English professor Keating was leaving he was the one who initiated and said to Mr. Keating that they were forced to sign the document against him and they all believe that Keating is not responsible for the suicide committed by Neil. Todd saluted Keating and also said him “O Captain! My Captain!” and after that other students also joined him. Identification of task and maintenance functions present in the group, and critical analysis of any power issues present in this part of the film The task and maintenance function have been identified in the film on the basis of the characters of the film. Charlie Dalton has always taken the leadership roles he was the one who always initiated. Neil Perry was also a leader and he was the one who started Dead Poet’s Society on the basis of his interest. Todd Anderson was a very shy and introverts kind of the guy but at the end in the film he was the one who initiated. Mr. Keating was a very influential member in the film. The English teacher had power and he used this power in a very creative manner but there is a turning point here. Throughout the movie Mr. Keating had been a very inspirational personality but in between he has misused his powers. When Neil’s father came to know that his son is more interested in acting he became very angry and asked him to drop the idea of acting (Duarte & Snyder, 2012). But at this time Mr. Keating asked him to continue with the acting and pursue what he likes. Due to this Neil got encouraged and pursued acting and somehow his father got to know this. After that he took his son out of that institute and forced him to pursue with the medical. This way Neil got depressed and committed suicide. It is not that Mr. Keating is responsible for this but it’s just that he motivated Neil to go against the decision of his father and all these happened. An evaluation of any ethical and legal dimensions of the group work There are several norms of a group that are required to be followed by all the members of the group. The norms comprise of a number of ethical and legal dimensions. A group has to follow the ethical practices while working in the group. In between the film there was a phase when the group members used to meet in the night for discussion about the Dead Poet’s Society at that time some group members started drinking, smoking and other stuff that was not ethical. When Mr. Keating got to know about these unethical practices he called all the group members and asked them to behave in an ethical way in the group (Harris & Harris, 2013). The legal dimension is also associated with the group work. The members of the group were asked to sign a document that contained the clause that Mr. Keating was responsible for the suicide committed by Neil and for this reason he is being expelled from the job. This was an illegal act because the group members did not want to sign that document but the headmaster told them that if they would not sign it then they will also get expelled from the institute. This was an illegal act being victimized by group members. Conclusion The film Dead Poet’s Society had a huge impact on the education society. It contributed in understanding the concepts of group dynamics to a very great extent. Along with this a number of psychological implications of the film are also there. The movie helped in critically examining the task, management and power issues related to the group dynamics. References Andres, H. P. (2002). A comparison of face-to-face and virtual software development teams. Team Performance Management, 8(1/2), 39-48. Bal, J. & Teo, P. K. (2014). Implementing virtual team working. Part 1: a literature review of best practice. Logistics Information Management, 13(6), 346-352. Baron, R. M. & Kenny, D. A. (2013). The Moderator-Mediator Variable Distinction in Social Psychological Research: Conceptual, Strategic and Statistical Considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173-1182. Castka, P., Bamber, C. J., Sharp, J. M. & Belohoubek, P. (2013). Factors affecting successful implementation of high performance teams. Team Performance Management, 7(7/8), 123-134. Church, A. H. (2013). Diversity in workgroup settings: a case study. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 16(6), 3-9. Church, A. H. (2014). From both sides now: the power of teamwork – fact or fiction? Team Performance Management, 4(2), 42-52. Duarte, D.L. & Snyder, N. T. (2012). Mastering Virtual Teams. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, CA. Harris, P. R. & Harris, K. G. (2013). Managing effectively through teams. Team Performance Management. 2(3), 23-36. Johnson, P., Heimann, V. & O’Neill, K. (2013). The “wonderland” of virtual teams. Journal of Workplace Learning, 13(1), 24-26. Read More

Figure-1: Stages in Group Development Source: Harris, P. R. & Harris, K. G. (2013). Managing effectively through teams. Team Performance Management. 2(3), 23-36. A discussion of the group members who demonstrate task and management functions, the power issues evident in the group and their outcomes The dominant group members in the film are English professor Keating, Todd, Neil, Knox, Pitts and Nolan the headmaster. There are three basic types of function that an individual does as a group member.

The one is task function, second is management function and the third one is power function. Neil was the member who demonstrated the task function. It can be said on the basis that he was pursuing something that he wanted to do. Besides knowing the fact that his father is very orthodox and wanted him to become a doctor, he entered into acting. This gesture is enough to suffice the fact that Neil was demonstrating task function (Church, 2014). The English professor Keating was doing management function as he was the one who was managing the every activity in the group.

He was motivating the students to do something unique and different. He used to teach in a unique way so that the students will get to think in a unique way. The issues of power were associated with Nolan the headmaster. He has misused his powers to threaten the students that he will expel all of them if they would not sign the document that states that Keating is responsible for Neil’s committing suicide. While it is very clear that Neil just wanted to pursue his career into acting whereas his father did not want him to do that and this led him to commit suicide.

Todd also demonstrated the task function as in the end when the English professor Keating was leaving he was the one who initiated and said to Mr. Keating that they were forced to sign the document against him and they all believe that Keating is not responsible for the suicide committed by Neil. Todd saluted Keating and also said him “O Captain! My Captain!” and after that other students also joined him. Identification of task and maintenance functions present in the group, and critical analysis of any power issues present in this part of the film The task and maintenance function have been identified in the film on the basis of the characters of the film.

Charlie Dalton has always taken the leadership roles he was the one who always initiated. Neil Perry was also a leader and he was the one who started Dead Poet’s Society on the basis of his interest. Todd Anderson was a very shy and introverts kind of the guy but at the end in the film he was the one who initiated. Mr. Keating was a very influential member in the film. The English teacher had power and he used this power in a very creative manner but there is a turning point here. Throughout the movie Mr.

Keating had been a very inspirational personality but in between he has misused his powers. When Neil’s father came to know that his son is more interested in acting he became very angry and asked him to drop the idea of acting (Duarte & Snyder, 2012). But at this time Mr. Keating asked him to continue with the acting and pursue what he likes. Due to this Neil got encouraged and pursued acting and somehow his father got to know this. After that he took his son out of that institute and forced him to pursue with the medical.

This way Neil got depressed and committed suicide. It is not that Mr. Keating is responsible for this but it’s just that he motivated Neil to go against the decision of his father and all these happened. An evaluation of any ethical and legal dimensions of the group work There are several norms of a group that are required to be followed by all the members of the group. The norms comprise of a number of ethical and legal dimensions. A group has to follow the ethical practices while working in the group.

In between the film there was a phase when the group members used to meet in the night for discussion about the Dead Poet’s Society at that time some group members started drinking, smoking and other stuff that was not ethical. When Mr.

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