Authors : Andrey Koshkin, Dmitriy Shtyhno, Andrey Novikov and Irina Spirina
Abstract: Students constantly have to correlate their personal image with relations that have already developed in a group which has a considerable influence on the educational process quality at university. Unfortunately, the influence of a personal image on group cohesiveness which is a complicated but an important process, is sometimes difficult to optimize. We often see discrepancy in interpersonal relations inside a group at university, at work and in everyday life which negatively affects not only their personal development but also group cohesiveness. One of the most important mechanisms of developing group cohesiveness is everyday resolution of contradictions arising from the influence the image has on relations within a group. The study studies the influence of a student image on group cohesiveness in the context of intensive activity at university, at work and in everyday life. Negative and positive images of first and last year students have been revealed. The main peculiarities of group cohesiveness development as well as factors that reinforce or, on the contrary, destroy group cohesiveness of Russian students have been defined. High level of group cohesiveness at Russian universities can be achieved by developing students ’ability to successfully form their image focusing on po sitive interpersonal relations and social recognition.
Andrey Koshkin, Dmitriy Shtyhno, Andrey Novikov and Irina Spirina, 2016. Influence of a Student Image on Group Cohesiveness at University. The Social Sciences, 11: 5869-5879.