Social networks and psychological safety: A model of contagion
Abstract: We attempted to
explain how the interactions between members influence the psychological safety
of a team using social network analysis by proposing a model based on social
contagion in which the psychological safety of the central node has a key role
in the psychological safety of the whole team.
Design/methodology/approach: We present a theoretical paper which crosses
theory about social network analysis, psychological safety and social
contagion.
Findings and Originality/value: We suggest that there are two groups of
variables that mediate this relationship. The first group concerns the
characteristics of the node and is composed by the proximity to the node’s personal
characteristics and the value of the central node as a source of information.
Second, we advance that there are two dimensions at the level of tie properties
that mediate the influence of a central node on team psychological safety – tie
strength and friendship level. Finally, the interacting opportunities- a
variable at context level - is considered to affect the strength of the
ties. We also advance some variables
that mediate the influence of the psychological safety of a central node on the
psychological safety of the team.
Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge there is no significant
research using social network analysis to explain the process by which a team
becomes psychologically safe. On the other hand, because psychological safety
tends to be a team construct it is important to understand how team dynamics,
evidenced by social network analysis, influence the formation of psychological
safety through contagion processes.
Author: André Escórcio Soares,
Miguel Pereira Lopes
Journal Code: jptindustrigg140075
