Collaborative Research: Social Structure, Agreement, and Conflict in Groups in Extreme and Isolated Environments: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

尽管进行了大量的研究，但关于群体结构以及个人对这种结构的理解对南极群体冲突和心理健康的影响，我们所知甚少。我们的研究努力的第一部分解决了三个具体问题：1)在极端和孤立的环境中共同工作和生活的个人之间的社会关系的特征是什么？2)个人对他们的群体有什么了解，这种了解是如何发展的，又是如何在社会上分布的？3)这种理解与个人和群体绩效之间的关系是什么？在拟议的第二部分中，我们希望确定在上述因素在这些群体的功能中所起的作用方面，从一种文化环境到另一种文化环境是否存在显著差异。如果我们要进一步了解个人和群体如何适应极端环境，特别是跨文化的异同，那么这些问题的答案是很重要的。这项研究计划新提出的部分的总体目标是比较和对比美国阿蒙森-斯科特南极站与四个文化上不同的南极站的群体动态：印度的迈特里站、中国的长长城站、俄罗斯的沃斯托克站和波兰的阿尔托斯基站。将在四个站点连续三年收集关于群体结构形成、地位和角色共识、感知社会冲突、群体士气和个人心理健康的定量和定性数据。将发展群体结构形成的定量模型。此外，最近在社会网络和文化内变异研究方面的方法学发展将允许在跨文化背景下测试有关认知、社会结构和群体功能方面的一些相关假设。本研究将：1)大大有助于从理论上理解社会结构和认知在孤立群体功能中的作用；2)补充目前关于极地环境中健康和适应的工作；3)提供群体结构形成的模型，这将有助于为南极和其他孤立环境（例如空间站）制定更好的群体聚集程序；4)允许在孤立和极端环境中对人类群体动态的跨文化差异进行有效比较。

9610232 Boster Despite a vast amount of research, little is known concerning the effect of group structure, and individuals' understanding of that structure, on conflict and psychological well-being in Antarctic groups. The first segment of our research endeavor has addressed three specific questions: 1) What are the characteristics of the social relations among individuals working and living together in extreme and isolated environments?; 2) What do individuals understand about their group, how does that understanding develop, and how is it socially distributed?; and 3) What is the relationship between that understanding and both individual and group performance? In the proposed second segment, we wish to determine whether there is significant variation from one cultural setting to another in terms of the role the above factors play in the functioning of these groups. Answers to these questions are important if we are to advance our knowledge of how individuals and groups adapt to extreme environments, particularly with respect to cross-cultural similarities and differences. The overall objective of the proposed new segment of this research program is to compare and contrast the group dynamics at the United States Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station with four culturally distinct Antarctic groups: India's Maitri Station, China's Great Wall Station, Russia's Vostok Station, and Poland's Arctowski Station. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected on the formation of group structure, status and role consensus, perceived social conflict, group morale, and individual psychological well-being for three consecutive years at the four stations. Quantitative models on the formation of group structure will be developed. In addition, recent methodological developments in the study of social networks and intracultural variation will allow for the testing of a number of related hypotheses concerning aspects of cognition, social structure, and group functioning in a cross-cultural context. This study will: 1) contribute significantly to the theoretical understanding of the role of social structure and cognition in the functioning of groups in isolation, 2) complement current work on health and adaptation in polar environments, 3) provide for models of the formation of group structure that will aid in the development of improved procedures for assembling groups for the Antarctic and other isolated environments (e.g. space stations), and 4) allow for the valid comparison of intercultural variation in human group dynamics in isolated and extreme environments.