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Chapter 1 introduction to group dynamics
- 1. UNDERSTANDING GROUP DYNAMICS DONELSON R. FORSYTH
- 2. Introduction to Group Dynamics CHAPTER 1
- 3. Lesson objectives At the end of the chapters, the learners must be able to: Understand what is a group and what some of the common characteristics of groups. Identify the different types of groups and appreciate the assumptions that shape the field’s conceptual paradigm of group researchers. Have an overview on the field of group dynamics and what topics are included in the scientific study of group dynamics. Be part of a group, get to know each members of the group and participate to each activity of the lesson.
- 4. What is a group? there must be a shared purpose or goal key role must be played by a mutual dependence there must be at least two people they have social connection that is meaningful to them By definition, a group is 2 or more individuals who are connected by and within social relationships.
- 5. Two or more individuals DYADS = 2 members TRIADS = 3 members MOBS, CROWDS, AND CONGREGATIONS = very large collections of people GROUP SIZE influences its nature
- 6. Who are connected? The members of any given group are networked together like a series of interconnected computers. The larger the group, the more ties are needed to join members to each other and to the group.
- 7. By and within social relationships Group relationships link each member to one another and to the group as a whole and define who is in the group. GROUP NETWORKING Have stable but permeable boundaries—sometimes unstated but also sometimes explicitly defined—that differentiate between those who are within the group and those who are outside of the group. Busy establishing ties with other individuals
- 8. Are online groups real groups? Let’s have a debate.
- 9. Characteristics of Groups FEATURE DESCRIPTION INTERACTION Groups create, organize, and sustain relationship and task interactions among members. GOALS Groups have instrumental purposes, for they facilitate the achievement of aims or outcomes sought by the members. INTERDEPENDENCE Groups members depend on one another, in that each member influences and is influenced by each other member. STRUCTURE Groups are organized, with each individual connected to others in a pattern of relationships, roles, and norms. UNITY Groups are cohesive social arrangements of individuals that perceivers, in some cases, consider to be unified wholes.
- 10. Describing Groups Interaction Goals Interdependenc e Structure Unity • Relationship Interaction • Task Interaction • Generating Type 1: Planning Tasks Type 2: Creativity Tasks • Choosing Type 3: Intellective Tasks Type 4: Decision-making Tasks • Negotiating Type 5: Cognitive-conflict Tasks Type 6: Mixed-motive Tasks • Executing Type 7: Competitive Tasks Type 8: Performance Tasks • Mutual, reciprocal interdependen ce • Unilateral interdependen ce • Reciprocal, unequal interdependen ce • Sequential interdependen ce • Leader- follower • Subgroups • Cohesiveness • Entitativity Influenced by: - Common fate - Similarity - Proximity
- 11. Types of Groups TYPE OF GROUP CHARACTERISTICS EXAMPLES PRIMARY GROUPS Small, long-term groups characterized by face-to-face interaction and high levels of cohesiveness, solidarity, and member identification. Close friends, families, gangs, military squads SOCIAL GROUPS Small groups of moderate duration and permeability characterized by moderate levels of interaction among the members over an extended period of time, often in goal- focused situations. Coworkers, crews, expeditions, fraternities, sports teams, study groups, task forces COLLECTIVES Aggregations of individuals that form spontaneously, last only a brief period of time, and have very permeable boundaries. Audiences, bystanders, crowds, mobs, waiting lines (queues) CATEGORIES Aggregations of individuals who are similar to one another in some way, such as gender, ethnicity, religion, or nationality. Asian Americans, New Yorkers, Physicians, U.S. Citizens, women
- 12. Nature of Group Dynamics Kurt Lewin The groups and individuals act and react to changing circumstances Dorwin Cartwright and Alvin Zander Field of inquiry dedicated to advancing knowledge about the nature of groups, the laws of their development, and their interrelations with individuals, other groups, and larger institutions. Thomas Kuhn These shared beliefs and unstated assumptions give them a world view—a way of looking at that part of the world that they find most interesting.
- 13. Assumptions About Groups Groups are real Groups are more than the sum of their parts Group Processes are real Groups are influential Groups shape society Groups are living systems Groups can be studies on several levels The field of group dynamics is an interdisciplinary one
- 14. Multilevel Perspective MICRO-LEVEL FACTORS Include the qualities, characteristics, and actions of the individual members. MESO-LEVEL FACTORS Are group-level qualities of the group themselves, such as their cohesiveness, their size, their composition, and their structure. MACRO-LEVEL FACTORS Are the qualities and processes of the larger collectives that enfold the groups, such as communities, organizations, or societies.
- 16. ARE GROUPS GOOD OR BAD? SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
- 17. Major topics in the field of group dynamics CHAPTER AND TOPIC ISSUES FOUNDATIONS 1. Introduction to Group Dynamics What are the groups and what are their key features? What do we want to know about groups and their dynamics? What assumptions guide researchers in their studies of groups and the processes within groups? 2. Studying Groups How do researchers measure the way groups, and the individuals in those groups, feel, think, and behave? How do researchers search for and test their hypotheses about groups? FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT 3. Inclusion and Identity Do humans, as a species, prefer inclusion to exclusion and group membership to isolation? What demands does a shift from individuality to collectivity make on people? 4. Formation Who joins groups and who remains apart? When and why do people seek out others? Why do people deliberately create groups or join existing groups? 5. Cohesion and Development What factors promote the increasing solidarity of a group over time? What is cohesion? As groups become more unified, do they develop a share climate and culture? How do groups develop over time? 6. Structure What are the norms, and how do they structure interactions in groups? What are roles? Which roles occur most frequently in groups? How and why do status networks develop in groups?
- 18. Major topics in the field of group dynamics CHAPTER AND TOPIC ISSUES INFLUENCE AND INTERACTION 7. Influence When will people conform to a group’s standards, and when will they remain independent? How do norms develop, and why do people obey them? Do nonconformists ever succeed in influencing the rest of the group? 8. Power Why are some members of groups more powerful than others? What types of power tactics are most effective in influencing others? Does power corrupt? Why do people obey authorities? 9. Leadership What is leadership? If a group without a leader forms, which person will eventually step forward to become the leader? Should a leader be task focused or relationship focused? Democratic or autocratic? WORKING IN GROUPS 10. Group Performance Do people perform tasks more effectively in groups or when they are alone? Why do people sometimes expend so little effort when they are in groups? When does a group outperform an individual? Are groups creative? 11. Decision-Making What steps do groups take when making decisions? Why do some highly cohesive groups make disastrous decisions? Why do groups sometimes make riskier decisions than individuals? 12. Teams What is the difference between a group and a team? What types of teams are currently in use? Does team building improve team work? How can leaders intervene to improve the performance of their teams?
- 19. Major topics in the field of group dynamics CHAPTER AND TOPIC ISSUES CONFLICT 13. Conflict in groups What causes disputes between group members? When will a small disagreement escalate into a conflict? Why do groups sometimes splinter into subgroups? How can disputes in groups be resolved? 14. Intergroup relations What causes disputes between groups? What changes take place as a consequence of intergroup conflict? What facts exacerbate conflict? How can intergroup conflict be resolved? CONTEXTS AND APPLICATIONS 15. Groups in context What impact does the social and physical setting have on an interacting group? Are groups territorial? What happens when groups are overcrowded? How do groups cope with severe environments? 16. Groups and change How can groups be used to improve personal adjustment and health? What is the difference between a therapy group and a support group? Are group approaches to treatment effective? Why do they work? 17. Crowds and collective behavior What types of crowds are common? Why do crowds and collectives form? Do people lose their sense of self when they join crowds? When is a crowd likely to become unruly?
- 20. Activity The teacher will group you into four or five. You will ask each members of the group these 3 questions: 1. What are your Top 3 Greatest Fears? Why? 2. What do you want to be when you finish college? 3. What are your strengths and weaknesses? You will be given 10 minutes to get to know each member and you will be asked about a random member of your group.