Homophily in Personality Enhances Group Success Among Real-Life Friends
Date
2020
Type:
Article
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Abstract
Personality affects dyadic relations and teamwork, yet its role among groups of friends
has been little explored. We examine for the first time whether similarity in personality
enhances the effectiveness of real-life friendship groups. Using data from a longitudinal
study of a European fraternity (10 male and 15 female groups), we investigate
how individual Big Five personality traits were associated with group formation and
whether personality homophily related to how successful the groups were over 1 year
(N = 147–196). Group success was measured as group performance/identification
(adoption of group markers) and as group bonding (using the inclusion-of-other-in-self
scale). Results show that individuals’ similarity in neuroticism and conscientiousness
predicted group formation. Furthermore, personality similarity was associated with
group success, even after controlling for individual’s own personality. Especially higher
group-level similarity in conscientiousness was associated with group performance, and
with bonding in male groups.
Description
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Citation
Frontiers in Psychology 04 May 2020
Keywords
friendship, personality, Big Five, groups, group performance, inclusion-of-other-in-self