Introduction

Groups are an essential part of our daily lives, influencing our behaviour and growth as individuals. Groups not only impact us, but we can also influence others and society as members of groups.

Nature and Formation of Groups

What is a Group?

A group is defined as an organised system of two or more individuals who are interacting and interdependent, have common motives, maintain role relationships among members, and follow norms that regulate behaviour.

Salient Characteristics of Groups:

• Social unit of individuals who perceive themselves as belonging to the group.
• Individuals with common motives and goals.
• Mutual interdependence among members.
• Interaction among individuals directly or indirectly.
• Structured interactions guided by roles and norms.

Difference between Groups and Other Collections:

• Crowds: Random gatherings without structure or interdependence (e.g., people at an accident site).
• Teams: Special groups with complementary skills, commitment to goals, and mutual accountability.
• Audience: Collection of people assembled for a specific purpose; can sometimes become mobs under emotional influence.

Why Do People Join Groups?

• Security: Groups reduce feelings of insecurity and vulnerability.
• Status: Being part of an important group enhances self-recognition and prestige.
• Self-esteem: Positive social identity through prestigious group membership.
• Satisfaction of Needs: Fulfils psychological and social needs such as belongingness, love, attention, and power.
• Goal Achievement: Achieving goals that cannot be attained individually.
• Knowledge and Information: Group membership broadens perspectives and provides shared information.

Group Formation

Conditions Facilitating Group Formation:

• Proximity: Frequent interactions with nearby individuals encourage group formation.
• Similarity: Shared interests, attitudes, and values promote mutual liking and consistency.
• Common Motives and Goals: Collective purpose facilitates group establishment.

Stages of Group Formation (Tuckman's Model):

• Forming: Uncertainty; getting to know each other and setting goals.
• Storming: Intragroup conflicts about control and task division.
• Norming: Establishment of norms and development of a positive group identity.
• Performing: Structured group moving towards achieving goals.
• Adjourning: Disbandment after task accomplishment (in temporary groups).

Elements of Group Structure:

• Roles: Socially defined expectations and behaviours attached to specific positions.
• Norms: Unspoken standards of behaviour shared and enforced by members.
• Status: Relative social position of members; can be ascribed or achieved.
• Cohesiveness: Degree of togetherness and mutual attraction among group members.

Groupthink:

Coined by Irving Janis, groupthink refers to a mode where group members suppress dissent to maintain harmony, often leading to poor decision-making (e.g., Vietnam War escalation). Ways to prevent groupthink include encouraging critical thinking, welcoming alternative opinions, and seeking external evaluations.

Types of Groups

Primary and Secondary Groups:

• Primary Groups: Pre-existing, emotionally close (e.g., family).
• Secondary Groups: Formed by choice, relationships are impersonal (e.g., political party membership).

Formal and Informal Groups:

• Formal Groups: Structured by specific rules or laws (e.g., university).
• Informal Groups: Unstructured, based on personal relationships (e.g., friend circles).

Ingroup and Outgroup:

• Ingroup: One’s own group ("we").
• Outgroup: Other groups ("they").
• Minimal Group Paradigm Experiments: Tajfel’s study showed group bias even with minimal group differences.

Influence of Group on Individual Behaviour

Social Loafing:

Reduction in individual effort when working collectively. Demonstrated by Latane's experiments with clapping/cheering, showing less effort with larger group size.

Reasons for Social Loafing:

• Diffused responsibility.
• Less individual accountability.
• Lack of coordination.
• Low importance attached to the group.

Reducing Social Loafing:

• Make individual efforts identifiable.
• Increase group members' commitment.
• Enhance task importance.
• Strengthen group cohesiveness.

Group Polarisation:

Group discussions strengthen initial attitudes, leading to extreme decisions. Happens due to exposure to similar viewpoints, validation, and increased identification with ingroup.

Key Terms

Cohesiveness, Conflict, Goal achievement, Group, Group formation, Groupthink, Identity, Ingroup, Interdependence, Norms, Proximity, Roles, Social influence, Social loafing, Status, Structure.