Managing group dynamics with the Viable Systems Approach

In classical conformity experiments, the conformity has been defined as a negative phenomenon or as a distortion of judgment under the group pressure. Furthermore, experiments are mainly performed within social aggregates rather than on groups, and even less on cohesive ones. This study aims to reshape positively the conformity while happening within cohesive groups. For measuring group cohesiveness by assessing interpersonal attraction of group members through categorical values, it was intertwined the Sociometric Test with the novel Picture Apperception Value Test (PAVT). Then, it was used the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) for measuring members' optimism level as a condition for performing the positive conformity experiment. Findings indicate that the holistic framework by combining Sociometric Test with PAVT serves as an effective model for measuring group cohesiveness, much more that it can be the Sociometric Test alone. The quasi-experiment demonstrated that it was possible to achieve the 'positive conformity' in 66% of the cases.