Working with Diverse Populations on Social Cohesion
PSY FPX 8842 Assessment 3 Success in a team, amateur or professional, largely hinges on social cohesion. According to Eys and Kim (2017), cohesion is where the belief in oneness and individual affiliation to the task and social objectives of the team occurs. Achieving such cohesion is not easy, particularly for National Football League (NFL) clubs, which record an average of over 200 deals per year (Spotrac, 2019). When added to general social issues such as police brutality and racial inequality in the United States, achieving cohesion becomes even more elusive. While there were initial hesitations, the NFL officially embraced social justice initiatives, most notably through the Inspire Change Program (NFL, 2020), following a kneeling protest by a retired player during the National Anthem in 2016.
The racial composition of NFL players also brings about challenge in attaining cohesion. 70.1% of NFL players are non-white, according to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (2019), which is a stark difference from the 39.9% non-white United States population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). Yet until recently, the league had been hesitant to publicly endorse its non-white players. Establishing cohesion hence involves tailored strategies for various player groups, depending on their backgrounds and histories.
PSY FPX 8842 Assessment 3 Working with Diverse Populations on Social Cohesion
Establishing awareness among white players of racial difference and how this impacts their non-white colleagues is critical. This includes simple yet powerful exercises on the basis of personal experience, such as remembering situations of unjust treatment on the basis of arbitrary differences, e.g., offensive versus defensive stances (NFL Communications, 2020). Non-white players, on the other hand, need open communication environments, requiring patience from their white counterparts, who might take time to understand novel ideas based on their different upbringing (Crace & Hardy, 1997).
Similarly, gender dynamics have to be navigated by the coaching staff to ensure social integration is achieved. Despite an increased number of women entering football, coaching remains very much a male domain. Gender inequality that has been highlighted by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (2019) places the attention on work done to eliminate gender-based genderism and microaggressions when it comes to coaching (Yang & Carroll, 2018).
Coaches in men in order to tackle subconscious biases including microaggressions must acknowledge and address these. Empowerment of women coaches entails imparting them assertiveness and conflict resolution skills with which they would be able to manage inevitable differences in coaching and tensions they breed (Hanrahan & Andersen, 2010).
PSY FPX 8842 Assessment 3 Overall, direct intervention is the strongest means of obtaining social cohesion between athletes and coaches. Yukelson’s (1997) four-component intervention model—assessment, education, brainstorming, and implementation—is an orderly approach to introducing team building activities. By means of active participation by participants, the model promotes receptivity and lessens the effect of previous assumptions, thus promoting inclusive settings appropriate for cohesion (Eys & Kim, 2017).
But although the efforts towards cohesion are commendable, cultural and individual differences cause recurring problems. Avoidance must be used to prevent exclusionary attitudes so that social intimacy and constructive criticism can coexist to enable there to be ongoing progress of task cohesion in sports teams.
References
Eys, M., & Kim, J. (2017). Team Building and Group Cohesion in the Context of Sport and Performance Psychology. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology, 0.https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.186
Hanrahan, S. J., & Andersen, M. B. (2010). Routledge handbook of applied sport psychology: A comprehensive guide for students and practitioners. Abingdon, Oxon, England: Routledge.
National Football League. (2020). SOCIAL JUSTICE INSPIRING CHANGE IN COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE.
https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/league/xbqfviillqpzixhy6cz1.pdf
NFL Communications. (2020). Houston, Florida, Saint Thomas Aquinas produce most NFL players.https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/Houston,-Florida,-Saint-Thomas-Aquinasproduce-most-NFL-players.aspx
PSY FPX 8842 Assessment 3 Working with Diverse Populations on Social Cohesion
Spotrac. (2019). NFL Transactions. Spotrac.Com.https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/transactions/
The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES). (2019). 2019 Racial and Gender Report Card.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States. Census Bureau QuickFacts. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045219#qf-headnote-b
Yang, Y., & Carroll, D. W. (2018). Gendered microaggressions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
