By Team Polar Bear

Introduction to Community

• Comedy Series following the lives of seven community college students

• No previous history between group members

• All united by Spanish 101 class

Pierce’s Introduction

Intro to Community:Jeff Winger

• Why There:– Disbarred lawyer trying to get legitimate

degree

• Personality: – Sarcastic, dry humor, self-centered,

egotistical

Intro to Community:Britta Perry

• Why There:– Trying to get life back on track after

dropping out for Peace Crops

• Personality:– Grounded, “buzz kill”

Intro to Community:Abed Nadir

• Why There:– Parents wanted him to get a Business

degree, ends up following passion for film making

• Personality: – Odd mannerisms (Asperger), peculiar

humor

Intro to Community:Troy Barnes

• Why There:– No other options (former HS football

star, injured self)

• Personality:– Dimwitted, Jehovah's witness, arrogant

Intro to Community:Shirley Bennett

• Why There:– Take classes to market her baked goods

• Personality:– Friendly, informed by Christian beliefs

Intro to Community:Annie Edison

• Why There:– Dropped out from pill addiction, trying to

get life back on track

• Personality:– Cheerful, school spirited, straight-edge

Intro to Community:Pierce Hawthorne

• Why there:– Companionship and popularity

• Personality:– Good intentions, clumsy, out of touch

with youth

Features and Processes

Family DynamicsDistinct individual characteristics

Study Room

Feature and Processes: The ‘Family’ Feeling

• The group refers to itself as a family• They try to fit themselves into familial roles

to explain the dynamics and process– The group tends to go between referring to

themselves as a dysfunctional and family, group of friends, and study group

• Contemporary American Poultry• Introduction to Film• Romantic Expressionism– The group in not a family in the traditional

sense

Romantic Expression

Group Dynamics

• What is the function of a group?– To support and provide opportunities that did

not exist for the individuals

• Behavior=exchange of words or objects amongst group members and activities

• Attitudes=group’s perceptions, feelings, and values of each individual

• Norms=procedures or unwritten rules impacted by behavior, attitudes, utility, and values

Group Dynamics:Essential Group Shift

• The protest is the crucial event that dictates the group’s norms

• What happens?• Britta is Self-reflective• Annie and Shirley Bond-Protest• Abed and Troy Bond-Project• Pierce and Jeff fight

Britta Self-Reflective

Jeff and Pierce Interaction

Group Dynamics:Leadership Formation

• Jeff is center of power structure– Authoritative leader

• Formation of power structure allows the rest of the group to feel accomplished

• Group will remain from moving forward without Jeff present

Jeff’s Leadership

Jeff

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Group Dynamics:Hierarchy

Feature and Processes: The Characteristics

• The group stereotypes represent how they understands each other

• Each of the characters fit into at least one of Benne and Sheats’ Typology of Roles in Groups: task roles, relationship roles, individual roles (Forsyth  p151)

• The understood roles of the characters can be seen as norms, “consensual, implicit, self-generating, and stable” (173)– The group understands how each other act

and react accordingly

Annie: Doe Eyed Princess Roles: Initiator/contributor, coordinator,

energizer, procedural technician, recorder, opinion seeker, information giver, standard setter; on occasion – dominator

Britta: ‘Activist’Role: evaluator/critic, special-interest giver; on occasion – encourager, compromiser

Jeff: Cool but InsecureRole: initiator, orienteer, critic, dominator, recognition seeker, playboy

Shirley: Judgmental EncouragerRole: opinion giver, critic, encourager, help seeker; on occasion – dominator

Troy: Athlete – Role: follower,

recognition seeker

Abed: OddballRole: group observer/commentator; on occasion compromiser

Pierce: ‘Old’ ManRole: follower, aggressor, recognition seeker, opinion giver

Feature and Processes: Study Room

• Important place for the group – Main setting of the First Season

• Place where group initially came together• They dislike when others invade ‘their’

space• Important events occur in the room– Halloween Party– Christmas Party– Paintball– Finale Episode

Problems and Resolutions

Trivial conflictsInterfering romantic interests

College experienceGroup expiration date

Problems and Resolutions:Trivial Conflicts

Problems• Each episode is driven by a conflict• Example:– Halloween Party, Pierce’s problem

Resolutions• Group generally looks to Jeff for

answers/conflict resolutions

Problems and Resolutions:Romantic Interests

Problems:• Internal and external relationships affect

the group in different ways (i.e Jeff and Britta vs. Jeff and Slater)

Resolutions:• External relationships do not affect the

internal group dynamic• Internal relationships do affect the group

dynamic

Problems and Resolutions:

Romance Flow Chart

Problems and Resolutions:College Experience

Problem• Each character is at Greendale for

their own reasons (not all by choice) therefore dragging in their personal conflict into the group dynamic

Resolutions• May not be solved until graduation?

Problems and Resolutions:Group Expiration Date

Problem:• Spanish 101 brought class together and

class is ending• What is group incentive to stay together?

Resolutions:• Anthropology as a new study group • Shows individuals benefit from the group as

a whole

Conclusion

• Is the group functional?– Personal Goals– Group Goals– Social Growth

• Can the current process continue?• The Future– Their interactions will include more activities

outside of studying– Post-Greendale: interactions will subside because

group’s initial goal is non-existent

• Team Polar Bear and Community Spanish Study Group

CommunityTeam Polar Bear