Group Dynamics

Definition of Group:

• A group is defined as two or more individuals that are connected to one another through social relationships.

• Size: Can comprise dyads (2 people), triads (3 people), or larger collectives (e.g., classes, mobs, audiences).

• Connection: Members of a group must have links or networks, which can include task-related work connections or social and interpersonal connections, such as family ties.

• Influence and Purpose: Groups are often influential and purposeful in their interactions.

Group Characteristics:

• Groups tend to be small, typically ranging from 2 to 7 members.

• Group size: Sociologist John James recorded group sizes in Oregon with a sample size of 9000, finding that the smallest group has 2 people

  • No two groups are identical; they possess unique characteristics while sharing common elements.

Types of Groups

• Groups can be categorized based on their attributes:

  • Categories: Collection of individuals sharing a common attribute or relation.

  • Aggregate: A collection of individuals who are present in the same time/place but do not form a unit (e.g., people on a campus).

  • Collective: Any aggregate of 2 or more individuals, which is larger and less formal in association (e.g., people in line).

• Groups can evolve into more interconnected entities with deeper social relations.

Subtypes of Groups

• Primary Groups:

  • Small, long-term groups characterized by high levels of interaction, cohesiveness, solidarity, and member identification.

    • Examples: Family, close friends, tight-knit peer groups, gangs.

• Secondary Groups:

  • Larger, less intimate groups, focusing more on tasks than personal relationships.

    • Examples: Social clubs, professional associations, work groups.

• Planned Groups:

  • Formed deliberately by members or an external authority.

    • Concocted: Groups planned by an individual or authority outside the group (e.g., task forces, crews).

    • Founded: Groups initiated by individuals who remain within the group (e.g., study groups, clubs).

• Emergent Groups:

  • Formed gradually through interactions without formal planning.

    • Circumstantial: Spontaneous groups formed due to external forces (e.g., waiting in line, crowd behaviour).

    • Self-Organizing: Groups that emerge through cooperative interactions (e.g., study groups, friendships).

Research on Group Perception

• Brian Lickel's Study:

  • Presented 40 aggregates to undergraduate students to analyze group perception and compare entitativity.

    • Used the Likert scale to cluster responses.

Characteristics of Groups

• Common Features:

  • Influence of size: Larger groups influence the structure and features of interaction.

  • Interaction: Groups are systems enabling various forms of interaction.

  • Interdependence: Group members affect one another's experiences.

  • Structure: Groups have predictable organizational patterns.

  • Goals: Groups aim towards common objectives.

  • Perception of Membership: Inclusion in a group relies on individual perception.

Influence of Group Size

• Group size significantly affects structures and relationships:

  • Larger groups have indirect ties (e.g., social media, networks) and varied connections.

  • Connection Equation: N = \frac{n(n-1)}{2}, where n is the number of connections.

Group Interaction Types

• Task Interaction:

  • Actions related to achieving the group’s goals, which can vary in duration (long-term vs short-term).

• Relationship Interaction:

  • Actions reflecting emotional and interpersonal bonds among group members (e.g., gestures of affection).

Group Goals

• Groups strive towards specific tasks and outcomes.

• McGrath’s Circumflex Model of Group Tasks:

  • Two dimensions analyzed: Conflict/Cooperation & Conceptual/Behavioural, resulting in four quadrants focusing on task performance:

  • Generating: Creation of deliverables.

  • Choosing: Making selections among options.

  • Negotiation: Resolving group conflicts.

  • Executing: Implementing actions.

Interdependence Within Groups

• The experiences of members are influenced by others

• Types of Interdependence:

  • Unilateral: One member influences another.

  • Sequential: Influence flows from one member to the next (can be flat or hierarchical).

  • Reciprocal: Mutual influence between members.

  • Multilevel: Larger groups influenced by the activities of smaller subgroups.

Structure of Groups

• Groups are typically organized into predictable structures:

  • Roles: Expected behaviours for specific positions within the group.

  • Norms: Standards defining acceptable behaviours in the group context.

Cohesion Within Groups

• Group Cohesion:

  • Defined by Carron, Brawley, and Widmeyer: Process where a group stays united to reach its goals while also meeting members’ needs.

    • Involves attraction to group members and collective goal achievement.

Theories of Groupness

• Donal Campbell’s Theory of Entitativity:

  • Definition: Quality of groupness vs mere aggregation of individuals.

  • Proposes that groups are more than the sum of their parts based on factors such as:

    • Common Fate: Shared outcomes or destinies among members.

    • Similarity: Homogeneity in attributes or experiences.

    • Proximity: Physical or psychological closeness among individuals.

Perception of Membership

• Membership:

  • Involves an individual's perception of belonging to a group.

  • According to the Thomas Theorem, if members perceive a group as real, it has real consequences impacting their behavior and interactions.

• Minimal Group Paradigm:

  • A research study that involved splitting participants into arbitrary groups (e.g., over-estimators vs. under-estimators) results showed natural in-group favouritism and emotional attachment