Social Interdependence Theory
(Johnson, D. & Johnson, R.. (2002). Cooperative learning and social
interdependence theory. Theory and Research on Small Groups. Social
Psychological Applications to Social Issues. (4) pp. 9-35)
• “Social interdependence exists when individuals share
common goals and each individual’s outcomes are
affected by the actions of others
(Deutsch, 1949, 1962; Johnson & Johnson, 1989 in
Johnson & Johnson, 2002. p. 4)
Table 1. Social Interdependence Theory (Johnson & Johnson, 2011. p5.)
Process
Cooperative
Competitive
Individualistic
Interdependence
Positive
Negative
None
Interaction Pattern
Promotive
Oppositional
None
Outcome 1
High effort to
achieve
Low effort to
achieve
Low effort to
achieve
Outcome 2
Positive
relationships
Negative
relationships
No relationships
Outcome 3
Psychological
health
Psychological illness Psychological
pathology
Group members promote each other’s success by (Johnson & Johnson, 1989):
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Giving & receiving help
Exchanging resources & information
Giving & receiving feedback
Challenging each other’s reasoning
Advocating increased efforts to achieve
Mutually influencing each other’s reasoning & behavior
Engaging in the interpersonal & small-group skills for
effective teamwork
• Processing group members effectiveness for the whole
group’s improvement