Group Behaviour

Defining and Classifying Groups

Defining and Classifying Groups
(cont’d)
Characteristics of Groups

Interaction among
members

Two or more
People

People see
Themselves
as members Shared Goals
 Types of Groups
Types of Groups

Informal Formal Groups on the In or out Groups

Groups (Clique) Groups Basis of change
Of membership

Interest Group Standing Task In Group

Closed
/ Command
Group
Group
Friendship Open Out Group
Task
Group Group
Group
Reference
Group
 Why do Individuals join
Groups
• Proximity, Interaction and Influence
• Security
• Fulfill Esteem needs
• Fulfill Affiliation needs
• Power
• Goal Achievement
• Identity
• Huddling
A Model of Group and Individual
Behavior

Group Individual
Information
Involvements Attitudes &
Offer expectations &
That behavior
Opportunities
Influence

Individual Abilities;
Group member Group member
Personality Traits
Resources Resources
&
Group Structure
Roles Played by Group Members

Task Oriented Roles:

 Initiator-Contributors:
Recommending new solutions to group members
 Information seekers:
Attempt to obtain necessary facts & figures.
 Opinion Givers:
Share own opinion with others
 Energizers:
Stimulate the group into action whenever interest
drops
Roles Played by Group Members
Relations Oriented Roles:
 Harmonizers:
Mediating Group Conflicts
 Compromisers:
Shift opinions to create group harmony
 Encouragers:
Praise & encourage others
 Expediters:
Suggest ways the groups can operate more
smoothly
Roles Played by Group Members
Self Oriented Roles:
 Blockers:
Act stubborn & resistant to the group
 Recognition seekers:
Call attention to their own achievements
 Dominators:
Assert authority by manipulating the group
 Avoiders::
maintain distance, isolate themselves from
fellow group members
 Role Relationships

Expected Perceived Enacted

Role Role Role

Role Ambiguity Role Conflict

 Pitfalls of Groups…

• Status Differentials
• Group Norms
• Risky and cautious shifts
• Polarization
• Groupthink
• Internal Power Play & Politics; Group
Undercurrents
Group Decision Making

Symptoms

• Illusion of invulnerability
• Assumption of morality
• Rationalization
• Stereotyping of out-
groups
• Self-censorship
• Illusion of unanimity
• Mind-guarding
• Pressuring of dissenters
 Groupthink
• Groupthink leads to conformity.
• It could be dangerous than group norms
or status differentials
• It could result in deliberate suppression of
judgment.
• It may involve involuntary suppression of
members’ critical faculties.
 How to Minimize Groupthink
 Assign group members the role of critical evaluator
 Bring in outsiders with differing opinions
 Create subgrouos and rotate membership among them
 Assign several devil’s advocates
 Provide clear rules to encourage disagreement and
constructive conflict
 Encourage an open climate through nondirective
leadership
 Stages of Group Development

Forming Stage: Storming Stage: Norming Stage:

• Awareness • Conflict • Cooperation
• Commitment • Clarification • Development
• Acceptance • Belonging • Support

Adjourning Stage: Performing Stage:

• Separation • Awareness
• Recognizing • Commitment
• Satisfaction • Acceptance
Stages of Group Development
Group Behavior Model
 Group Member Resources
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
– Interpersonal skills
• Conflict management and resolution
• Collaborative problem solving
• Communication
– Personality Characteristics
• Sociability
• Initiative
• Openness
• Flexibility
 Group Structure - Roles
• Formal Leadership
– Leadership that is imposed on the group by
the organization.
– Leaders who derive their power from the
positions they occupy in the organizational
structure.
– Formal leaders may or may not also be the
informal leaders of the groups in which they
function.
Group Structure - Roles (cont’d)
Group Structure - Norms

Classes
Classesof
ofNorms:
Norms:
•• Performance
Performancenorms
norms
•• Appearance
Appearancenorms
norms
•• Social
Socialarrangement
arrangementnorms
norms
•• Allocation
Allocationof
ofresources
resources
norms
norms
Group Structure - Norms (cont’d)
Group Structure - Norms (cont’d)
 Group Structure - Status

Group
GroupNorms
Norms

Group
GroupMember
Member
Status
StatusEquity
Equity Status
Status

Culture
Culture
Group Structure - Cohesiveness

Increasing
Increasinggroup
groupcohesiveness:
cohesiveness:
1.1. Make
Makethe
thegroup
groupsmaller.
smaller.
2.2. Encourage
Encourageagreement
agreementwith
withgroup
groupgoals.
goals.
3.3. Increase
Increasetime
timemembers
membersspend
spendtogether.
together.
4.4. Increase
Increasegroup
groupstatus
statusand
andadmission
admissiondifficultly.
difficultly.
5.5. Stimulate
Stimulatecompetition
competitionwith
withother
othergroups.
groups.
6.6. Give
Giverewards
rewardstotothe
thegroup,
group,not
notindividuals.
individuals.
7.7. Physically
Physicallyisolate
isolatethe
thegroup.
group.
Cohesiveness, Performance Norms, and
Productivity
Group Processes