1st Down and 6 social psychological principles to go for Vikings and Brett Favre

Last week we discussed the fascination fans and media have with Brett Favre. One of the challenges the Vikings will face is how to integrate Favre with the rest of the team members, all of whom participated in training camp. Favre did not take part in training camp, and rumors flew regarding a schism in the Vikings locker room due to the perceived fairness of Favre's absence as well as the starting quarterback position being handed to him. In this week's edition of "Goal Posts", we examine six factors identified by social psychologist Elliot Aronson that teams such as the Vikings can utilize to promote team unity and cohesion in difficult situations such as the Favre soap opera.

In 1973, Aronson was a social psychologist at the University of Texas when a number of area schools began to integrate. Suddenly, large numbers of African-American, Hispanic, and Caucasian students were simply thrown together with little infrastructure. Rather than breaking down racial barriers, these walls seemed to get bigger. Schools found acts of prejudice increased and test scores decreased. Simply put, the results of this experiment did not support the notion that mere contact between members of different groups can promote cooperation, learning, motivation, and group cohesion. Eliminating competition within the group was not enough to promote positive outcomes such as learning, motivation, and group harmony. Thus, the absence of competition is a necessary, but not sufficient condition to promote harmony within a group.

For football teams, training camp is the time of year when there is the highest degree of competition within a team. Players are fighting for a spot on the team and on the field. These battles can be fierce, and in the NFL they can be the difference between million dollar paydays and unemployment. Once the regular season begins, lineups are set and the team works to move forward together. This can be a difficult transition, particularly in such a short span of time.

In the case of the Vikings, Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson had competed for the starting QB spot when Favre came out of retirement. Both of them were understandably disappointed that they did not get the opportunity to compete for the starting position. However, once Favre was named QB, both Rosenfels and Jackson appeared to understand the decision. How these quarterbacks, and the rest of the Vikings work together, will play a large role in their success this season.

The research described above by Elliot Aronson and his colleagues created what came to be known as "Jigsaw Classrooms". These learning environments rested on six basic principles designed to enhance learning, foster cooperation, and facilitate positive relationships between members of different races. Knowledge and application of these six factors can help sports teams, in particular, the Vikings and Brett Favre.

1) Equal status: In Aronson's study, this meant all students were equally important to the group's success. In fact, this is one of two factors that present major challenges for the Vikings because Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback. He came to the team with a different status than most of the other players, and missing training camp only served to magnify this status differential.

2) Social norms that promote equality: In Aronson's study, this meant that teachers worked diligently to provide an environment that allowed each student to feel valued. Training camp is an annual rite of passage that players dread. Over approximately three weeks, players brave hot, humid July and August practices, twice per day, sandwiched between countless meetings. The National Football League is a billion dollar business and training camp is the behind the scenes blood, sweat, and tears that most fans never witness. It is understandable why Brett Favre did not want to participate in training camp, and also why the Vikings allowed this to happen. They wanted to preserve the aging Favre's body and prevent injury. However, when Coach Brad Childress repeatedly stated that the Favre talks were over, many felt that he had been less than forthright when Favre eventually signed. Of course, Childress does not owe fans access to the Vikings plans. However, if he were not up front with the players, this could shatter trust within the team.

It will be important that Coach Childress and the rest of his staff send clear messages that no one player is more important than the next. One positive step the Vikings have taken is naming all three quarterbacks to the "Leadership Council", a group of veteran players who regularly meet with Coach Childress. The Leadership Council serves as a liaison between Childress and the entire team, and including Rosenfels, Jackson, and Favre is a good message to back-up quarterbacks that they are valued members of the team.

3) Friendly, informal contacts: Aronson created time for students to get to know one another. In the locker room, it will be critical that Brett Favre is one of the guys. In the past, some of his teammates claimed that Favre was a prima donna. If Favre is able to connect well with his teammates, that will bode well for dealing with potential issues stemming from Favre's absence at training camp. It was encouraging to read about some good-natured ribbing that Favre's teammates dished out to him upon his arrival.

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4) Repeated (multiple) contacts: This one should be easy - there is no way around lots of contact for a football team during the season. The Vikings placed Favre's locker next to their star running back Adrian Peterson's locker. This seems like a wise attempt to promote a strong relationship between their two most important offensive players.

5) Mutual interdependence: Students in Aronson's study relied on one another to teach important information. Similarly, each player on a football team needs the others to perform well on the field. Quarterbacks and running backs need a great offensive line; kickers need holders; holders need snappers; the defensive secondary needs an excellent pass rush, and the defensive line needs stellar linebackers. Each player has an assignment that he can only carry out effectively if he trusts each of the other ten players on the field is doing the same. Essentially, the team has moved from in-group competition during training camp to in-group cooperation as they compete against other teams.

6) Superordinate goals: Students in Aronson's study had a goal of helping each other get a good grade. Winning the first Super Bowl Championship in Vikings history. The goal is there. Players are committed to the goal. Whether or not it is attained will depend in part on how successfully the Vikings are able to integrate Brett Favre into the fabric of their team. The quarterback is the leader of an offense. It is critical that other players trust and respect that the quarterback is committed to do whatever it takes for the team to be successful.

Aronson's Jigsaw Classroom Technique had amazing effects in Texas public schools that were being integrated. Students learned more, they were more motivated, and they got along better with children from different ethnic backgrounds. Quite simply, this technique transformed a dangerous and unhealthy academic environment into a positive learning and social experience.

Currently, the Vikings and Brett Favre are in the early stages of a season full of expectations (they defeated Cleveland 34-20 in Game 1). The Vikings franchise has never won a Super Bowl (they are 0-4 in Super Bowls), and fans have lamented their inability to win big games. The Brett Favre saga has added both excitement and the potential for disaster. The extent to which Favre and the Vikings are able to create team chemistry, trust, and interdependence will go a long ways in predicting their success (or lack thereof). If the Vikings and Favre don't mesh (and lose lots of games), rest assured players, fans, and media alike will be talking about Favre's absence in training camp as an important factor in their failures. On the other hand, if the Vikings and Favre are able to utilize these six social psychological principles centered on equality, camaraderie, and common goals, Vikings fans may finally get their chance to tear down the goal posts after the 2010 Super Bowl.