Groups

Foundations of Group
Behavior

Approaches to Understand
groups
Involves experience of a common fate.
Some formal or implicit social structure,
usually in the form of status and role
relationships.
Face to face interactions amongst people
resulting in the structural relationships.
Group exists when two or more individuals
perceive themselves as members of the
same social category.
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Some definitions
As per Turner A group exists when two or more
people define themselves as its members and
when its existence is recognized by at least one
other.
As per Schein three main conditions for an
aggregation to be called a group are:
People must interact with one another.
They are psychologically aware of one
another.
They should perceive themselves as a group.
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A working definition of Groups

A group may be defined as two or more
individuals interacting and
interdependent, who come together to
achieve certain objectives.

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Why People Join groups?...

There is a strength in numbers!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Economic reasons.
Security Reasons.
Need satisfaction.
Communication an information.
Self Esteem & Status
Goal Achievement.
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Theories of Group Formation

Propinquity Theory:
Theory Individuals affiliate with
one another because of the physical
proximity.
Homans Theory:
Theory The individuals come
together in a group because of three reasons
namely interactions, activities and
sentiments.
Balance Theory by Theodore Newcomb:
Newcomb People
are attracted towards one another on the
basis of common attitude that they hold
towards a relevant object.
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Theories continued
Exchange Theory: A minimum positive
levels of rewards must exist for attraction
or affiliation to take place i.e. the rewards
of interaction should exceed the costs
involved.

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Stages in Group development

Forming Stage
Storming Stage
Norming Stage
Performing Stage
Adjourning Stage
Punctuated equilibrium model
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Informal Versus Formal Groups

BASIS

Formal Group

Informal Group

Structured or planned to
sub serve organizational
interest.

Emerges voluntarily and

spontaneously.

Purpose

To serve the organizational

ends

Social satisfaction an
stability to work groups.

Authority

Authority is delegated by the

upper rungs in the
organization.

Authority is earned and

given permissively by the
other members.

Communication

Flow is either upward or

downwards or follows a
proper channel

No specific direction.

Control on behavior

Behavior I regulate by well

lay out rules and regulation

Behavior is governed by the

values, beliefs of the group.

Origin

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Conti

BASIS

FORMAL

FORMAL

Size

Big

Small

Nature

Stable

Unstable

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Group Structure
Some of the Important Structural aspects of
the group:
Role
Norms
Status
Size
Cohesiveness
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Role
Set of expected behavior patterns attributed to
someone occupying a particular position in a
group.
Role identity: the attitudes that one acquires as a
result of the identification with the role that one
has.
Role perception: our view as to how we are
expected to behave or act n a given situation.
Role Conflict
Role expectations
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Norms
Acceptable standards of behavior that are
shared by the members of a group.
1.

Norms provide the members of the groups with the

guidelines to behave in ambiguous or novel situations.
2.
Bring order and predictability in a persons environment.
3.
Regulate the social behavior in a group by ensuring better
coordination.
4.
Norms encourage goal facilitative action and discourage goal
inhibitory action as norms are very closely tied to the goals
of the group.
5.
Enhance an maintain the identity of the group as they reflect
its value system and beliefs.
Conformity
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Status
Socially defined position or rank given to
group or group members by others. This
gives rise to status hierarchies in a
group.
Three sources of status are:
1. Power a person wields over the others.
2. Ability on the part of the individual to
contribute towards the group task.
3. Individuals personal characteristics.
characteristics
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Size
A large group consisting of 10 or more
people will be more effective in generating
diverse ideas or solving complex problems
as multiple perspectives will be available.
Smaller groups are faster in completing the
than the larger groups. Thus smaller groups
can prove out to be more efficient.
Social loafing: Tendency on the part of the
individual to exert less effort while working
in a group than while working alone.
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Cohesiveness
This is the degree to which the members
of the group are attracted to each other
and are motivated to stay in the group.
Greater cohesiveness is seen in the groups
with:
1. Smaller size.
2. Great deal of time spent together.
3. Agreement on group goals.
4. Face a number of external threats.
5. Personal attractiveness and favorable view of the
group.
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