| ODA QUARTERLY
In the bottom context of shared vulnerability individuals adapt by coalescing. They bond with one another, becoming a collective WE, which reduces their experience of vulnerability. Again, this is a functional response that happens without awareness or choice. Figure 5. Four people coalescing in response to shared vulnerability
Step 3: Sclerosis sets in. What began as adaptive responses harden into rigid boundaries. Differentiations harden into turfs. Each Top becomes increasingly knowledgeable about and responsible for his/her territory and decreasingly knowledgeable about and responsible for the territories of other Tops. And each becomes protective and defensive of his/her turf. Figure 7. Differentiation hardens into turf
In the middle diffusing context, individuals adapt by dispersing out to those individuals and groups they lead, service, manage, or coach. They go their individual ways doing their individual work. Dispersing is an adaptive response to the demands of their work. Figure 6. Four people dispersing in response to a tearing context
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Coalescing hardens into groupthink. There is strong pressure to maintain uniformity in the WE. Deviation is experienced as potentially weakening the WE and is suppressed. The pressure to conform is both exerted on members by others members and is self-imposed.