Interdependence theory is a social exchange theory that states that interpersonal relationships are defined through interpersonal interdependence, which is “the process by which interacting people influence one another’s experiences The essence of a group is not the similarity or dissimilarity of its members, but their interdependence … A change in the state of any subpart changes the state of any other subpart … Every move of one member will, relatively speaking, deeply affect the other members, and the state of the group”
see also Positive interdependence
Positive interdependence is an element of cooperative and collaborative learning where members of a group who share common goals perceive that working together is individually and collectively beneficial, and success depends on the participation of all the members Positive interdependence can also be understood by its effects on the psychological processes of learners in a group setting. It promotes substitutability (the degree to which actions of one group member substitutes for the actions of another), positive cathexis (investment of positive psychological energy in objects outside one's self), and inducibility (openness to influencing and being influenced by others), whereas Negative Interdependence creates nonsubstituability, negative cathexis and a resistance to being influenced by others