Group Dynamics

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to group dynamics, including types of groups, characteristics, and social behaviors associated with them.

What is a group?

A group is two or more people connected by social relationships.

Dyad

A group consisting of two members.

Triad

A group consisting of three members.

Aggregate

A collection of individuals in the same time/place who do not form a unit.

Primary group

A small, long-term group with face-to-face interaction and high levels of cohesiveness.

Secondary group

A larger, less intimate group focused on tasks or goals.

Planned group

A group deliberately formed by its members or an external authority.

Emergent group

A group that forms spontaneously as individuals interact with the same subset of individuals.

Entitativity

The perception of a groupness rather than an aggregation of unrelated individuals.

Cohesiveness

The strength of the bonds linking individuals to the group.

Membership

The perception of oneself as part of or included in a group.

Thomas Theorem

If people define a group as real, it has real consequences.

Minimal group paradigm

A research study demonstrating favoritism towards one's own group based on arbitrary classifications.