Kassandra Remmel

Cassi Anderson

Sweta Patel

Survivor, Borneo: Analysis of Individual and Group Communication

Survivor, Season 1, takes place on a little fishing village called Borneo. Two tribes--Tagi

and Pagong--compete. After each challenge, one member from the losing team is voted off.

Season 1 is particularly interesting because the members don't know what to expect (unlike

members of future seasons), which gives us an opportunity to analyze more spontaneous

behaviors. This paper progresses from (1) a communication profile of each cast mate as an

individual member of the larger group to (2) a reflection on their group communication to (3) our

recommendations for increasing communication effectiveness.

Individual Communication Profiles: Tagi Tribe

From the first moment the Tagi tribe arrives on their part of the island, confusion ensues

about what to do first. Some are looking through what they found, some are thinking about how

to build a shelter. Richard is the only one who wants to talk first before acting. From his

interviews, it is clear that he understands how groups work best from the business sector. He

wants to get to know everyone and to communicate as a group (Burnett, 2000, Episode 1). Upon

first glance, it appears that he genuinely wants to build a supportive climate, where individuals

are recognized and trust is established. However, as episodes progress, it is clear from the other

members' perceptions that the wheels are always turning in his head on how to create situations

that benefit himself. For example, he decides to join an alliance so he can "control who is getting

voted off, control fate." Even when he is called out on being in an alliance by the host during a

tribal council, he is quick on his feet and calls the alliance a mere friendship among many

friendships within the team (Episode 4). He doesn't allow himself to be caught so early in the

game.

Given this need for control ("a need for status and power"), we can return to his attempt

to get the whole group together on the first day with a fresh eye (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p.

54). Did he want to build a supportive climate, or more likely, did he want to establish a

dominator role? Dominators in a group "[make] an effort to assert authority by manipulating

group members or attempting to take over the entire group" (p. 74). It's ironic then that he tells

the group, "When people get together and everyone isn't headed towards the same goal,

individual goals will take over" (Burnett, 2000, Episode 1). He is always operating with the

hidden agenda of dominating the group to establish control, rather than working together.

However, in his favor, he does pull back on his overt dominating behavior. He learns

from Rudy's example, another cast mate, who struggles with the younger members. Richard

acknowledges the generation gap between himself and the other members as well (Burnett, 2000,

Episode 2). Perhaps, for this reason, he attempts to gain control in other ways. For example, he

becomes the sole member who can spear fish. He goes on to remind the group multiple times that

as long as they keep him in the group, he will always feed them (Episode 5). He establishes his

role and importance through actions, rather than voice. And it works, as he is invited to join the

sole alliance.

Rudy is another cast mate who adapts well to fit in with the group. Initially, he is a

blocker, "generally negative, stubborn, and disagreeable without apparent reason" (Beebe &

Masterson, 2009, p. 74). In the first episode, he wants to start acting, rather than talking with the

group first about the best plan of action (Burnett, 2000). His preference for action over talk has

roots in his military past. He says himself that if it were up to him, everyone would get haircuts

and stand in formation every day. He is used to one person giving orders with no back talk.

However, his awareness of his relationship as an individual member within a larger group is

what saves him. He realizes that there are "more of them [young people] than me" (Episode 2).

His inclusion need spurs his adaptation. For example, when building a stretcher for a challenge,

he draws various plans in the sand, rather than pushing everyone on his own vision of the perfect

stretcher. His inclusion need is further met when he joins the alliance with Richard, Susan, and

Kelly. He doesn't want to initially, but he has come to realize that the best way to survive is to

stick together. He also has an esteem need, where he wants to help out the group in his own way.

He fulfills this need by taking over some of the cooking responsibilities (Episode 4). Because of

these behavioral changes, the younger members begin to accept him.

Susan is the third member in the alliance with Richard and Rudy. Communication is

always filtered through an individual's perception, and Susan's perception is very gendered. She

tries to keep up with the physical labor of finding food and helping build the shelter. Then, in one

challenge, she has to throw a spear at a target. She is ecstatic about the possibility of beating a

man (a member from the Pagong tribe) on national television (Burnett, 2000, Episode 5). She

displays Maslow's esteem need as she attempts to prove her worth as a woman.

Yet, to complicate her gendered communication, Susan originally joins an alliance with

two young women, Stacey and Kelly. She openly says, "These chicks think I'm voting one way,

when I'm not" (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2). When Stacey is voted off, and Rudy joins the alliance,

she says, "I feel good about this alliance" (Episode 4). So, while on one hand, she attempts to

prove her worth as a woman, on the other, it almost seems the presence of a man in the alliance

is comforting. Could this be a fulfillment of Maslow's safety needs? Ultimately, we see both

strength and vulnerability in her communication.

Also, according to Julia Wood (2007) in Interpersonal Communication: Everyday

Encounters, women generally use language to build relationships, while men use language

instrumentally (p. 118). Susan is able to do the latter. When she feels Sean and Dirk are wasting

their time not catching any fish during daylight hours, she states her mind openly in order to get

them to change their behavior (Burnett, 2000, Episode 5). She has a voice and uses it, not merely

to bring harmony, but to bring members to action. Sean and Dirk do ultimately stop fishing and

search for food, instead.

Kelly is the fourth and final member of the alliance within the Tagi Tribe. She shows an

inclusion need when she continues the alliance with Susan after Stacey is voted off. She is also

the one who brings in Richard. Her inclusion need is further demonstrated by her adaptation to

Susan's and Richard's needs. As Richard and Rudy adapt to the younger members' behavioral

norms, Kelly adapts to the older members' norms. Richard and Susan both call Kelly more

mature than the other girls. She participates in all the work, for example, in reworking an old

parachute to give shade (Burnett, 2000, Episode 4). This norm of hard work carries over when

she describes the other team as "just having fun, being silly, getting mud facials, and don't have

anything to do" (Episode 6). When the groups merge, she may have a difficult time if she doesn't

adapt once again to the majority's norms.

While the others have their alliance, Sean and Dirk enjoy a friendship of their own. They

both share a hidden agenda of wanting to have fun. This is possibly one reason why they aren't

asked to join the alliance; there is a lack of mutuality of concern, "the degree to which members

are concerned with the group's task needs" (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 58). In this case, the

group's task should be to win challenges and essentially, to survive. However, Sean and Dirk

enjoy going fishing for hours and hours, knowing they won't catch anything. Sean even puts

some effort into building a bowling alley in the sand. Dirk also admits that he came to have a

good time: "The minute I'm not having a good time, I'm ready to go" (Burnett, 2000, Episode 4).

After Susan talks to them about their wasting time and not helping out the group, they change.

Perhaps, for the first time, they recognize their individual role within the group. They go into the

woods to look for Tapioca, but come back empty handed (Episode 5). Their attempt isn't enough,

as Dirk is the next to go.

Along with wanting to have fun, Dirk is also a self-confessor, someone who "uses groups

as an audience to report personal feelings" (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 74). Throughout many

of the episodes (Burnett, 2000), we can see him sitting alone, reading the Bible. Often times, he

is preaching about Jesus to the group. In this way, he is also trying to meet Maslow's self-

actualization need, or a need for personal growth. He is there to become more self-aware, rather

than to win any competition. He also openly displays his annoyance for Richard for being gay

(Episode 3). He is focused on personal attacks rather than attacking the group's goal of winning

head on. When members put their individual needs and goals ahead of the group's, they don't

contribute their part in moving the whole group forward. And so Dirk is voted off. To note, while

the others in the alliance may have their own individual needs and goals of control and survival,

they blend into the group's overall goal of winning. Dirk's and Sean's goals of having fun, on the

other hand, do not blend. Thus, they're excluded from the alliance.

The last two members of the Tagi Tribe are Stacey and Sonja. We know the least about

them because they are both voted off within the first few episodes (Burnett, 2000). Stacey is the

first to create an alliance, with Kelly, partly because of her hatred for Rudy (generational gap).

The alliance also reflects a control need. She even says she's not worried because she and Kelly

have paired up and are talking strategy. Also, her choice of members to include in the alliance is

guided by similarity interpersonal attraction. She first chooses Kelly, a young woman like

herself, and then Susan, a woman. She perceives Susan will cooperate based on gender, when in

fact, Susan dislikes her because she doesn't work and doesn't fit her norm of hard work (Episode

2). Because Stacey chooses like members to align herself with, it reveals her unwillingness to

adapt and build relationships with the other, different, members. Even if she hadn't been voted

off so soon, this unwillingness to accept or adapt to diversity may have been her downfall.

Lastly, we see Sonja very briefly. During the first episode (Burnett, 2000), she plays the

role of the harmonizer as she starts to play on her instrument and sing a song and bring everyone

together. Also, she is among the older generation. Maybe she would have survived if she had

performed better in the first challenge, instead of lagging behind? Perhaps the similarity

interpersonal attraction would have led the others in the older generation to keep her in? Maybe

they would have formed their own alliance? These questions remain unanswered as she is voted

off in the first episode.

Individual Communication Profiles: Pagong Tribe

When the Pagong tribe is first marooned to the island, they work as a team. Even though

they have never met one another, they work together to get the supplies off of their boat and into

their raft, which they will be taking to their new, temporary home.  During the first night, after

being marooned, they sleep together, side by side, and start to show signs of a group forming.

The next day after the immunity challenge, we start to see how the group truly communicates

when B.B. (the oldest of the tribe) starts to build a shelter for them.

B.B. is a 64 year old realty manager from Kansas City. On the second day of being

marooned, the tribe quickly learns that B.B. is an aggressor. He demands that people respect him

because of his age. He states that only when the other tribe members are 64 years old can they

give orders (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2). Also, he thinks it is out of the norm to take a break while

working. He even states, “Working is my hobby" (Burnett, 2000, Episode 1). As the tribe

decides that building the shelter is their first goal, B.B. leads them throughout the process. As he

assumes leadership, B.B. shows many different needs and traits through his actions. For

example, when other group members try to offer him their opinions on where to build the shelter,

he doesn't listen. He is a blocker, aggressor, and standard setter by being disagreeable, putting

others down, and setting all the goals (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 73-74). B.B.’s blocker

traits are also highly evident when examining his relationship with Joel. Joel claims, “He

disagrees with me just to disagree” (Episode 1). Even tribe members state, “Whatever B.B. says,

goes" (Episode 1). He assumes power and expects everyone to work constantly until the shelter

is completed. 

B.B. has a second side that shows a blend of belongingness, affection, esteem, and

inclusion needs. Although he is hard on the group, he also tries to become a part of them by

telling his life stories. Colleen states, “That man has more stories than anyone I have met in my

entire life” (Burnett, 2000, Episode 1). According to Shultz's theory, this shows that B.B. has an

affection need in which he feels that sharing his stories will help make the tribe members

understand him (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 54). Other group members choose not to argue

with him and accommodate him, giving forced affection. Ultimately, when the group loses an

immunity challenge, he ends up showing his esteem need by asking members if they want to

vote him off. It almost seems he is trying to “save face” and also to see if the group will admit

that they really need him (Episode 2).

During Ramona’s stay on the island, she proves to be a weak competitor and attention

seeker, someone who “tries to evoke a sympathetic reaction from others” (Beebe & Masterson,

2009, p. 74.). Ramona is consistently sick, distraught, and unable to eat. Whether conscious or

subconscious, she is trying to evoke sympathy in the other tribe members. Ramona spends most

of the days on the island sick and comes into Survivor thinking she will be able to handle the

conditions due to the fact that she is extremely successful in all other areas of her life. Gretchen

says it best when she states, “I don’t think this is what she expected. I don’t think she wants to

admit that she isn’t successful because at home she is successful” (Burnett, 2000, Episode 3).

Ramona also displays a belongingness need. She says that she does not feel a part of the group

and thinks that there a lot of cliques within the tribe. She also mentions that she has not had a

white friend since high school; this may also contribute to the fact that she does not feel she

belongs (Episode 3). This inability to relate to her tribe and to feel like part of the tribe has a

large impact on Ramona. She is unable to eat, unable to work, and unable to sleep well at night.

Seeing that Ramona is unable to get past her feelings of failure, Gervase approaches her

and she confides in him. After Gervase advises her to change how she's perceived by the tribe

by working harder, Ramona changes and starts to pitch in. The others notice that she is feeling

better, working more, and they are very supportive. Once Ramona begins to feel a part of the

group, her belongingness need is fulfilled and this creates a drastic change in her. All of a

sudden, Ramona is no longer sick and she is even able to eat. In fact, she eats a rat when she

couldn't even eat rice before! Ultimately, however, even though Ramona changes and begins to

contribute more, most of the tribe members feel that it is too late for Ramona to redeem herself

and vote her off of the island in episode 4 (Burnett, 2000).

Gervase does not do much work, either, but his charm gets him by. It is not until episode

6 (Burnett, 2000) that the tribe starts to notice what he is trying to do.  Colleen picks up on this

fact a bit earlier and states in episode 3 that she cannot believe he hasn't been voted off yet

because he does not contribute anything to the group. Gervase offers a complementarity

attraction in which his fellow tribe members feel a sort of attraction to him because of his charm

(Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 60). Gervase also shows his part as a recognition seeker. For

example, in an immunity challenge, he has to row around buoys and pick up his team members

one at a time and row them to safety. Gervase, who can't even swim, races against Kelly, a

professional rafter. Gervase wins the challenge for his team and boasts his success (Episode 5).

Gervase also shows numerous times that he is unafraid of being voted off. He believes that his

charm will get him by and is extremely vocal about the fact that he does not believe that he is

going anywhere because he is such a charmer (Episodes 5 & 6) .

In a group full of followers, Joel tries be an aggressor at first. He is able to stand up to

B.B. while building the shelter, but not enough to make a difference. After standing up to him

once, he becomes an accommodator and a follower (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2). After being

rejected by B.B. and realizing that the rest of the tribe follows B.B., he ends up doing as B.B.

says as well and stops trying to give input (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 74). However, once

B.B. is voted off, he tries to assume power. He fails to understand that this is a group of

followers who are attracted by charm and not by controlling behaviors. This group is attracted to

members like Gervase (and Greg, as we will soon see), not to members like B.B. Joel has a

chauvinistic personality. They show a montage once where Joel constantly corrects how the

women do things (Burnett, 2000, Episode 6). Ultimately, his condescending personality is his

downfall and he can never quite gain control of the tribe.

Colleen is also a follower in her tribe. She even admits herself that she is not one of the

major competitors in the group (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2). During the S.O.S. reward challenge,

she says she did not like the final idea of the tribe and knew that they would not win, but she

never states this to any of her group members. She just follows along. In addition, she tries to fill

a belongingness need by sneaking off with Greg to explore the island. Colleen is able to fulfill

her belongingness need by attaching herself to the group member who is most like her friends

back home (Episode 3). Colleen also shows her ability to be an encourager in episode 3 during

their immunity challenge. In this challenge, she has to play a damsel in distress. The challenge

is set up so that she is strapped to a tree and her team has to find her. She yells, screams, and

kicks while her tribe looks for her. She attempts to encourage her group to go as fast as they can

(Episode 3). Colleen is a very supportive member of the tribe and seems to be extremely

attached to all of her members. She states in numerous episodes that losing one of her tribe

members is like losing a family member. She encourages the team to do their best so they will

not have to lose another team member.

Greg is considered the joker of the group. He brings the group together in episode 2 by

hosting the tribe's very own Survivor Newlywed Game (Burnett, 2000). He clears up

tension with jokes that allow everyone to share in laughter. When tension is high while they are

moving their shelter, he speaks into a shell that he uses as a cell phone to relieve tension

(Episode 3). Like Gervase, he attracts others through complementarity. He draws people in with

his charm and sarcasm. When B.B. is the tribe leader, he is treated like a child. For example,

when Greg helps the tribe to build their shelter, B.B. grabs him from the back of the pants and

lifts him up like a two year old (Episode 1). However, once B.B. leaves, Greg truly shines.

Gretchen says several times that Greg is probably the leader of the group (Episode 3). His charm

is so magnetic and powerful that he can lead without trying, but he declines that power for the

more easier role of joker.

Jenna is a follower. Throughout her tribe’s endeavors, she never gives any input towards

any of their tasks or challenges and she, like many other Pagong members, is a part of the

audience during discussions (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 74). Jenna also has a great deal of

respect towards B.B. and likes the way that B.B. takes control of their tribe. Jenna wants what is

best for the group which helps show her inclusion needs. Jenna’s kind nature and her out-going

personality prove that she needs to belong to the tribe. Her nurturing nature also makes her a

very large encourager for the group (p. 74). During every challenge, she is cheering her team on

and tries to lead them to success. Jenna truly cares about the well-being of the tribe and wants to

stick together as long as possible.

  Gretchen proves to be a stronger competitor than the others. Even when B.B. constantly

criticizes her work as they build the shelter, she shows patience. Once they develop a mutual

respect for each other, she offers her suggestions. She is able to read the members, act

accordingly, and gain control. After B.B. leaves, she shows a small amount of leadership in

Episode 4 when she leads the tribe to move and rebuild parts of their shelter out of harm’s way

of high tide (Burnett, 2000). Soon, however, she begins to accommodate the minority; the others

are followers, more relaxed, and attracted more by charm than control. She adapts her behavior

accordingly. She even says herself that even though she is the more controlling and organized

type, the others teach her how to have more fun (Episode 7). Lastly, she reveals an ethical side

by refusing to join any alliance. She just states that she will do whatever it takes to stay on the

show as long as she can and will vote accordingly (Episode 5). While an accommodator on the

outside, she reveals inner strength and morality throughout.

Group Communication Profile

Stranded on a deserted island with fifteen strangers and competing against half of them

for one million dollars makes a great setting for analyzing the interactions that occur. Some

members want to work as a group, some members want to build an alliance, some members just

want to have fun, but all members want the money. What happens when sixteen strangers are

put into a situation where they have to find their own food and figure out how to work as a team

but win as an individual makes the interpersonal communications between the members all the

more interesting. Now that we have analyzed each individual member's communication, we will

look at group communication.

On an island with no shelter aside from trees and no food aside from rice, the contestants

need to find food and build shelter. All members of the Tagi tribe and the Pagong tribe have

these physiological and safety needs (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 52-53). They have

physiological needs because in order to stay on the show and to survive, they need food and

water and this ends up becoming one of their biggest tasks. Secondly, both tribes demonstrate

safety needs by constructing shelters that all members are able to sleep in (Burnett, 2000,

Episodes 1 & 2).

As each tribe tries to meet their basic needs, they begin to form interpersonal

relationships. Early on, we can see that Colleen and Greg share similarity and are

interpersonally attracted to each other (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 60). In interviews, Greg

and Colleen state that they feel very comfortable with each other because they share the same

views and have friends similar to one another back home (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2). Greg and

Colleen sleep apart from the rest of the group as well. They find comfort in each other. Also, as

described in their individual profiles, Sean and Dirk of the Tagi tribe share similarity as well.

Both men reveal that they want to be able to relax and be comfortable, and fish on their raft for

hours on end (Episode 5). They share a mutual desire to have fun.

While some relationships are formed through similarity, others are formed through

complementarity. For example, Greg is a joker and this makes the other members of the Pagong

tribe admire him because he is able to relieve tension in the group. They feel complementarity

towards Greg because his personality offers a nice balance to the group's stress at times. For

example, when tension is high as the Pagong tribe is moving their shelter further into the woods,

Greg speaks into a shell as if it were a phone to make the others laugh. This is also the moment

where the other tribe members realize his power to manipulate others without even trying

(Burnett, 2000, Episode 4). His complementary personality actually has the effect of drawing

the other members towards him and ultimately, following him.

Gervase is another Pagong member who offers complementarity attraction. He even

admits numerous times that he does nothing to contribute to the group, but survives each tribal

council vote because of his charm (Burnett, 2000, Episode 6). His charm, like Greg's comedy,

makes him very likable and the group is drawn towards him. They both reveal the power of

personality in giving someone control.

While interpersonal attractions form because of similarity and complementarity, physical

attractiveness has very little influence. Aside from Dirk feeling attracted to Kelly for a short

period of time and Gervase implying that he voted Jenna off because she was not as attractive as

Colleen, physical attractiveness does not play a very big role (Burnett, 2000, Episode 6). In

Survivor, physical attractiveness takes a back seat to physical strength, at least initially. At first,

cast members are voted off based on their performance in immunity challenges; the weaker

players go first. Once the tribes are balanced and all team members are strong and able to

compete, personality becomes the reason people are voted off over others. In the Pagong tribe,

for example, at first, they vote B.B. and Ramona off for their weak physical strength (B.B. is old

and Ramona is always sick). Later, however, they vote Joel off because of his chauvinistic

personality. Also, in the Tagi tribe, Sonya and Stacey are voted off, as Sonya is old and Stacey

loses the rowing challenge. However, later, Dirk is voted off for his preachy personality. Again,

we see power in personality.

In addition to individual personalities cementing members to each other and the group,

there is also group attraction through group activities and group goals. According to Beebe and

Masterson (2009), people who are interested in the same activities or in achieving the same goals

tend to form groups (p. 62). In Survivor, members of both tribes are attracted to the prize of one

million dollars. To achieve this goal, they have to participate in the group activities of reward

challenges and immunity challenges. Tribe members are motivated to do well because on an

individual level, they can gain a better standing within the group, and on a group level, they can

help gain rewards or immunity. A bad performance only means getting further away from the

prize. We see a display of a common group goal and activity cementing the group when the

Pagong tribe comes to a challenge, dancing and chanting together (Burnett, 2000, Episode 3).

We see further group attraction every time a tribe wins a challenge and hurrahs each other for the

win.

When participating in group activities, members should avoid groupthink. Groupthink is

the "illusion of agreement--a type of thinking that occurs when a group strives to minimize

conflict, maximize cohesiveness, and reach a consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and

evaluating ides" (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 168). The Pagong tribe displays groupthink with

B.B. In the first two episodes, B.B. is very controlling (Burnett, 2000). He decides where to

build the shelter, how to build it, and calls the others lazy repeatedly. The others go along with

what B.B. says because they do not want to offend him or feel his wrath, but, in their personal

interviews, most of them admit they do not like the way he run things. Ultimately, when B.B.

uses the tribe's only fresh water supply to wash his clothes, they vote him off (Episode 2).

The Tagi tribe isn't immune to groupthink, either, at least initially. In the first episode,

when they're deciding to build a fire, they accept Sean's first idea and start working, even though

the others admit they didn't think the idea through (Burnett, 2000). Later, we see improvement

during the S.O.S challenge, where they have to build a help sign on the beach. We can see Rudy

drawing different configurations in the sand before one is decided on. With groupthink, the

group misses out on a variety of ideas to draw from.

Groupthink essentially effects how each tribe responds to conflict. There are times in

each tribe that an argument could have ensued, but the argument is quickly squashed by the

response of the person being attacked. This is also called accommodation, where "some people

simply give in to avoid a major blow-up or controversy" (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 160).

For example, Sue of the Tagi tribe confronts Dirk about his fishing being a waste of time, and in

a rude manner, points out the fact that he has not caught anything. Dirk could have started a

conflict here, but instead, agrees, stops fishing, and begins searching for Tapioca the next day

(Burnett, 2000, Episode 5). Dirk accommodates Sue's complaint (p. 160). Rudy is also in

constant conflict with the younger members initially. However, he too recognizes that he has to

adapt. He takes more of a backseat role and follows the role of others, for example, by giving in

to joining the alliance. Other examples of adaptation/accommodation include Pagong's accepting

B.B.'s demands, Ramona's working harder after others imply she's not working enough, and

Sean's dropping his bowling and fishing ideas to search for food. On the flip side, those who

don't accommodate suffer. For example, B.B. says that he can do what he wants when he wants

(Episode 2). Even Joel doesn't change his attitude when the girls tell him he's been chauvinistic.

They're soon voted off. It seems then that accommodation is the key to survival. (Part 3 of this

paper will discuss the problems of accommodation.)

Because leadership involves confronting conflict, yet accommodation is the key to

survival, neither tribe has definite leaders. The Tagi tribe does not have a definite leader, but they

have a lot of members with leadership qualities. At first, Rudy is very upfront and it seems as if

he will become the leader. In Episode 2, however, he recognizes that he is the minority and has

to fit in with them to survive (Burnett, 2000). Richard also has leadership abilities. He is able to

manipulate the members of the tribe by acting very friendly, not being demanding, and by

gathering food for them. He is not a true leader, however, because he knows that if he puts

himself in that position, he will likely be voted off (Episode 3). In the Pagong tribe, B.B. is the

leader at first. He forces himself upon others. After B.B. is voted off, Greg is thought to be the

leader. Gretchen states in Episode 2 that he manipulates people and they do not even know it.

Greg, later in the episode says that he does not want to be the leader. In both tribes, it seems as if

the role of leader will hinder someone rather than help them.

As the tribes negotiate conflict, norms are established which all members obey. For

example, being scantily clothed in casual clothes is a norm for both tribes. This norm starts right

away because of the warm climate, where they're working to create a place to call home for 39

days. An exception to this norm is Richard's being naked a lot. But this too becomes a norm for

the Tagi tribe. Although he does spend a lot of his time clothed, seeing Richard running around

in his birthday suit is no longer surprising after a while for both the audience and his tribe

members. Another mutual norm is calling each other by first name. In this type of setting, being

formal would not have been appropriate. This is seen in every episode when the tribe members

speak to each other (Burnett, 2000).

We also see food-related norms in the Tagi tribe. After the tribe wins a reward challenge

and gets a spear, Richard's catching fish becomes a norm. Sean and Dirk generally spend a lot of

time making fishing poles, but the norm for the women is to check and set the fishing traps every

day and search the woods for edible plants. And Rudy cooks. Kelly even sews a sign to post in

their dining area that says, “Rudy’s Rowdy Diner,” confirming this norm (Burnett, 2000,

Episodes 5& 6).

Pagong’s norms change drastically after B.B. leaves. When B.B. is a part of the group, it

is a norm to wake up very early and get working on what he thinks needs to be done around their

living area. After B.B. is voted off, however, sleeping-in becomes the norm. Gretchen, the

member who is closest to B.B., often comments that the camp has fallen into disarray and should

be cleaned up and looked after. However, she is now in the minority (Burnett, 2000, Episode 4).

The work in the group is also now divided up equally, where most members rotate between

checking the fishing traps and setting them up, going to get water, cooking, and finding different

types of food in the forest.

Unfortunately, voting off team members is another norm for both tribes. When a tribe

loses immunity, they have to vote a member off because that is the name of the game. Because

of this overall norm, other norms develop, such as practicing for challenges when they are given

hints or props beforehand. Another norm that arises from this is talking about strategy before

each immunity challenge. Both tribes discuss their plans based upon the clues they are given

before each challenge.

While both tribes share similar norms, their group climates are very different. The

Pagong tribe slowly becomes very close to one another. At first, for example, Ramona mentions

that she feels there are a lot of cliques and feels excluded. Gretchen also mentions that she didn't

come to make friends (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2). However, after losing the first few immunity

challenges, the tribe members all start to speak about how hard it is to lose a tribe member.

Gretchen states that it is the part that she likes the least (Episode 5). Colleen states that she does

not like doing it and that it hurts the whole group when they lose one of their tribe members

(Episode 5). Because the Pagong tribe becomes so close to one another and displays empathy,

their climate becomes more supportive: "Involvement and concern for the group task and for

other group members are perceived as supportive" (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 104).

As Pagong's norms change drastically after B.B.'s departure, their climate does also.

While B.B. is there, the climate is defensive. He is very blunt and ridicules tribe members and

says, "You people are lazy" (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2). He makes them feel as if they are not

worth very much, as he evaluates members in "you" language (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p.

103).

After B.B. leaves the tribe, a supportive climate is developed through empathy, as

described above, but also through problem-orientation and equality. Members attempt to find

solutions to problems and enter into discussion with mutual respect (Beebe & Masterson, 2009,

p. 104). For example, their shelter almost gets washed away because it is too close to the shore.

Gretchen advises they move it further away. The group members automatically start discussing

where the shelter should be moved and how to move it (Burnett, 2000, Episode 4). They work

together to make it happen and are successful. Equality plays an additional role as the Pagong

members know that they respect each other for the individual roles that they play. Some may

help build a shelter, while others search for food, but as Gervase says, everyone's job is equally

important (Burnett, 2000, Episode 2).

On the other hand, the Tagi tribe’s climate is more defensive. This tribe makes no real

personal connections--they do not really care about one another, just about the game. Control is

shown within the group by Richard, Sue, Kelly, and Rudy. These four members create an

alliance so that they can stay longer. Although they do not outwardly demand things from other

group members, they take control behind their tribe’s backs. One of the key points to a defensive

climate is strategy over superiority (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 104). Members often point out

that they always feel Richard, for example, carefully chooses what he says and does (Burnett,

2000, Episode 4). Even the tribes' campsites reflect their climates. Pagong's tribe is disorganized,

with their flag on the ground, with tools and utensils everywhere. Their climate is more loose and

informal. Tagi's tribe, however, is very organized, where every object has its place (Episode 7).

Their climate is more rigid with members watching over their shoulders.

Another shared trait between the tribes is their nonverbal communication. Members

often show their importance through their actions and how much they contribute and benefit the

tribe. For example, in the Tagi Tribe, Susan is always seen searching for food, Richard fishes,

and Rudy cooks. Sean and Dirk's nonverbal communication, on the other hand, of building

bowling alleys or taking long fruitless fishing trips, communicate ineffectiveness. In the Pagong

tribe, in episode 6, they show a montage of Gervase's nonverbal communication (Burnett, 2000).

Similar to Sean and Dirk, he accompanies Joel on fishing trips to sunbathe, plays cards, and

enjoys food made by others. He also openly admits numerous times that he does very little. It

appears that because his words honestly reflect his behavior, the group continually keeps him

around. Honest communication appears to outweigh tangible contributions, in this instance.

Ramona’s nonverbal communication actually gets her voted off of the island. In the first

few episodes, she continually appears sick (Burnett, 2000). She also does not contribute to

building the shelter. Even after Ramona tries to redeem herself by working harder, the tribe

agrees that she should leave. Jenna says it best, “She did a little too little too late” (Episode 4).

In all cases, nonverbal communication is used to form judgments about a person.

The Systems Theory is one of the best ways to analyze the Pagong and Tagi tribes in a

big picture view. The Systems Theory has several parts: environment; interdependence; input,

process, and output variables; synergy, entropy, and equifinality (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p.

40). Openness to environment states that the group is affected by the environment and has to

work with it. If the group suddenly has a high demand for something, the goals will be changed.

Both tribes display this openness to environment: The temperature and resources directly affect

the goals that the tribes focus on as they strive to build shelter and find food. In the Pagong tribe,

they are unable to find substantial food aside from rice and fruit. This takes a toll on them and

also alters their goals. In episode 4, the tribe actually eats rat because they are so desperate for

protein (Burnett, 2000). The Pagong tribe eventually wins a reward challenge and gets three

chickens, and this boosted group morale (Episode 5). Similarly, in the Tagi tribe, the morale is

lowered after they are unable to catch fish. However, after they win a reward challenge and get a

spear, the tribe is very excited. Richard is able to catch rays and this boosts group morale.

Interdependence also plays a role in both tribes. Interdependence reflects that a "change

in one component will alter the relationships among all the other components" (Beebe &

Masterson, 2009, p. 40). We see this in the Pagong tribe when Colleen says in an interview that

when a tribe member is voted off, it is felt throughout the whole group (Burnett, 2000, Episode

6). To the Pagong tribe, losing a member affects all of the members emotionally.

Interdependence is also shown when two of their chickens are eaten by a lizard. A resource that

they thought they had was taken away from them and this affects them in a negative way.

Morale is lowered and the remains of the chickens are actually salvaged and eaten because they

have such a high want for protein (Episode 6). In the Tagi tribe, interdependence is shown

through the alliance between four of the members. It changes the voting pattern.

Input variables determine the lasting power of tribe. They include the tribe members, the

resources that are available to them, the tools that the tribes have or can make, the resources that

they can win, and the physical environment. The input variables for both tribes start out roughly

the same: They all have the same amount of members and the same kinds of food available to

them such as rice and fruits found on the island, fish, and certain types of edible plants. The

teams also have the same amount of resources to build shelter. Reward challenges give the tribes

more input variables. Rewards that add to the tribe’s input include waterproof matches, fishing

gear, chicken, fruit, hammocks, towels, and canned foods. Again, through interdependence,

adding to input variables affects group morale.

The knowledge that each tribe member has is also part of the tribe's input variables. For

example, both Rudy and B.B. have knowledge of building shelters. The process variables

involve the other tribe members' following their lead. Before several challenges, we also often

see members practicing (Susan and Joel with the spear, for example), or even discussing ideas, as

Tagi did with the S.O.S. challenge (Burnett, 2000, Episodes 4 and 5). However, it's important to

remember that given a strong set of input and process variables, the output isn't always positive.

For example, after the group followed B.B.'s lead in building a shelter, it got washed away. In

this case, the process variable of following someone's lead in where to build the shelter versus

discussing it was the problem. Also, in one of the challenges, the teams have to row in the ocean.

Kelly of the Tagi tribe is a professional rower in Las Vegas, so the Tagi tribe believes they will

win. Gervase from the Pagong tribe has absolutely no experience rowing, cannot swim, and does

not perform very well in other water-related challenges. In this case, the input variable--Kelly--

may have overestimated her abilities and underestimated Gervase's, and so the output was losing.

Another part of the Systems Theory is synergy. It is reached when “the whole is greater

than the sum of its parts” (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 40). Synergy is very evident in the

Pagong tribe. The tribe’s morale is lowered when they lose a tribe member and work very well

as a team. It is also evident that each individual would not be as healthy or able to survive on

their own.

In the Tagi tribe, they never seem to reach synergy. Richard, Susan, Rudy, and Kelly

seem as if they would be able to sustain themselves. They are strong and have established

individual roles--Richard fishes, Susan and Kelly find food, and Rudy cooks. The tribe also

emphasizes the lack of importance in the roles of Sean, Dirk, and Stacey. Susan complains

numerous about their lack of work (Burnett, 2000, Episode 3). There is never a sense of a true

team. The alliance prevents group synergy from occurring.

Entropy is also a part of Survivor. It is defined as “randomness or chaos” within a group

(p. 40). We often seen entropy during immunity challenges. All tribe members perform their

best, but the outcome is never predictable. Also, after immunity challenges are lost and a

member is voted off, it disrupts the tribes and throws them off kilter.

Lastly, equifinality states that there are many roads a group can choose, but they all may

bring them to the same destination, and conversely, groups may start in the same place but end

very differently (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 41). We see the latter throughout. While both

tribes start out essentially the same, differences in the knowledge of team members, resources,

and morale affect the outcome of the challenges.

Overall, there are similarities and differences between the tribes. Both groups strive to

meet their basic needs, but approach interpersonal attraction differently, either through similarity

or complementarity. All attractions, however, reveal the power of personality to cement

relationships. Group activities also help to from group attraction, which often leads to groupthink

to minimize conflicts. It also appears that those more willing to accommodate others have

staying power. Thus, no leaders emerge in either tribe. Leaders have to confront conflict, and in

Survivor, this often leads to getting voted off. Both tribes also establish norms, which create two

different climates (supportive in Pagong and defensive in Tagi). Both tribes display nonverbal

communication as well, by which other members judge their importance. Lastly, the big picture

of their group communication can be explained through Systems Theory with tribes affected by

the environment, displaying interdependence, using input and process variables to get output

variables, and displaying varying levels of synergy, entropy, and equifinality. Ultimately, the

Tagi tribe and the Pagong tribe are the first to experience Survivor. They set the tone and

expectations for the tribes to come.

Recommendations

Beebe and Masterson (2009) offer several characteristics of an effective team, which

include a clear goal and unified commitment; a results-driven structure and a collaborative

climate; and principled leadership (p. 8). From the individual profiles, we observe that many of

the cast mates have their own hidden agenda. Sean and Dirk are there to have fun. Richard acts

in a way that benefits himself first, the group last. B.B. dominates from the start and attempts to

set goals for the group. There is a lack of unified commitment in defining and abiding by the

group's goals. In the first episode, Richard attempts to get the Tagi tribe together and just talk,

but the rest want to start acting. They view talk as a waste of time (Burnett, 2000). If the tribes

could have come together as one from the start by establishing a common goal of winning each

challenge, a sense of unity may have carried them to wins. However, throughout, there is always

a sense of every man for himself. For example, Ramona starts working harder to establish her

spot on the team, versus for the reason of moving the team forward.

A results-driven structure involves a "method of organizing how they [groups] work

together" (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 8). The process of attacking problems is undermined by

groupthink and an emphasis on personality. For example, B.B. starts building a shelter, and the

others follow suit to avoid conflict. There is no talk of how to do it or where to do it. Tagi faces

the same when attempting to build the first fire. Everyone acts on the first idea--Sean's. Members

accommodate each other, rather than respectfully giving and hearing other ideas. Also, neither

tribe talks about strengths and knowledge that each member has to offer. Instead, they focus on

personality. When Ramona starts working after days of lying around, she says that this was the

real her, that this is what she could do at a 100% (Burnett, 2000, Episode 4). However, by the

time her ability to work is revealed, the group has already judged her on personality and soon

votes her off. Rudy is an ex-Navy Seal and Tagi tribe members even ask why he only cooks. He

may have knowledge that he can use, but he is never given an opportunity to share it. He tries at

first, when they're building a shelter, but he comes off as controlling. This is unfortunate: He is

unable to show them his skills for the fear they will judge his personality as controlling and vote

him off. And so, he only cooks. Both teams could have increased their effectiveness by creating

a collaborative climate, rather than attempting to minimize conflict. In doing so, they would have

had more solutions to work with for each problem, had a clear idea of each person's knowledge,

and assigned appropriate tasks to members.

Lastly, a lack of leadership is also a weakness. Beebe and Masterson (2009) clarify that

effective leadership isn't authoritarian dictatorship (p. 9). Instead, the tribes need leaders who

could helpsustain the group's overall goal of winning challenges and support a collaborative

climate. B.B. attempts to lead, and the others follow for a while; however, it doesn't last because

he doesn't include other voices. His is the final word. Rudy attempts to be leader as well, but

quickly realizes he will be painted as a dictator and voted off. Instead, to increase effectiveness,

both tribes could have collaboratively decided on the need for a leader and how this leader would

operate. Then, when it came time to attack a problem--for example, of building a shelter--the

leader could have offered a climate of sharing and listening to ideas, helped to fairly decide on

the best idea, and aided in listing tasks and assigning the best person to each task. In this kind of

climate, everyone's voice could have been heard.

Beebe and Masterson (2009) also offer characteristics for effective members, including

openness, supportiveness, and being action-oriented (p. 10). Openness means members are

"straightforward and willing to appropriately discuss delicate issues" (p. 10). We see many

members accommodate others in order to minimize conflict. Colleen is a harmonizer who only

reveals her thoughts in one-on-one interviews. She doesn't agree with B.B.'s aggressiveness, but

doesn't voice her opinion to the group. Jenna also spots weaknesses in all of her tribe members,

but does not have the heart to voice them. B.B. definitely shows a lack of openness, as he shoots

down others' ideas and does as he wants. Ultimately, if the other tribe members had stood up

against B.B. or had been more aggressive in their thoughts, the tribe could have been much more

successful. Instead of avoiding or accommodating a person like B.B., the tribe could have gotten

further by setting up a democracy and standing up to him, or better yet, helped him to be a better

leader. Consequently, had B.B. stayed on the island, the group’s productivity could have been

much higher and they could have had a leader that led them to more successes. B.B. may have

been stubborn, old, and arrogant, but his knowledge was unmatched by any other tribe member.

Effective members also show supportiveness, where they "listen to others, are willing to

pitch in and accomplish the job, and have an optimistic outlook about team success. Non-

supportive members try to control team members and focus on individual interests" (Beebe &

Masterson, 2009, p. 10). In the Tagi tribe, Richard, Susan, Stacy, and Kelly want to control the

members through an alliance. From the start, by forming a small group within a group, they

show little faith in the tribe as a whole. Instead, they could have learned about the others' skills,

supported them, and organized them into winning challenges, rather than just focusing on

keeping their own alliance strong.

Lastly, effective members are action-oriented, where they "respond when action needs to

be taken" (Beebe & Masterson, 2009, p. 10). Tagi loses the first challenge because of Sonja. Had

Sonja been able to perform better physically, she could have been an asset to her tribe. Sonja

could not help her age, but could have gotten more physically fit before coming to the island.

Her frailty shows the other tribe members that she earned the title of being the first person voted

off of Survivor. Also, Ramona is sick in the first few days and does not help the group in any of

their tasks. She doesn't contribute to the group. Gervase is also an extremely weak contributor to

the group and his charm is the only thing that keeps him on the show. Gervase does not actively

partake in any tribe tasks aside from building the shelter. If Gervase had used all of his talents

and skills in other areas and had contributed to the tribe’s tasks, they could have been much more

efficient and productive. Sean and Dirk both don't respond when action needs to be taken, either.

When the Tagi tribe needs food, Sean and Dirk fish for hours, knowing they won't catch

anything. Sean even puts effort into building a bowling alley, acting on his own agenda.

Greg, Joel, Gretchen, and Rudy also show a lack of being action-oriented when they

display leadership skills, but don't step up to the plate. They are all associated with the term

"leadership" at one point, but Greg and Rudy openly reject the title. They believe being leader

will in turn associate them with being controlling. Gretchen also has many opinions about how

the tribe should be run, for example, where the shelter should be and where utensils should be

kept. She can only critique from a distance. Joel tries to take the reins, but he doesn't do enough

to earn the respect of his cast mates, and thus, earn the title of leader. He makes one too many

chauvinistic comments. Ultimately, both tribes would have benefited from more active members.

In sum, as a group, the tribes needed to develop a clear goal and unified commitment, a

results driven structure, and leadership. As individuals, members needed to offer openness,

supportiveness, and be action-oriented. Tagi and Pagong were the first group of survivors. They

blazed a trail for future “survivors." We can only hope others learn from their experiences.

References

Beebe, S. A., & Masterson, J. T. (2009). Communication in small groups: Principles and

practices. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

Burnett, M. (Executive Producer). (2000). Survivor, Borneo, Episodes 1-7. [Television series].

Chicago: Columbia Broadcasting System.

Wood, J. (2007). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters. California: Thomson

Wadsworth.