GROUP DYNAMICS

GROUP

A group is a set of two or more individuals

who are jointly characterized by a network of
relevant communication, a shared set of
collective identity and one or more shared
dispositions with associated normative
strength.
 TYPES OF GROUPS

Formal group
• Task group
• Command group

Informal group
• Interest group
• Friendship group
WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN GROUP?
Companionship
Interest and diversity
Identification with the group
Belongingness
Guidance
Power
Status
Dependence
Self-protection
And many other reasons
Tuckman’s stages of Group Development
Group Processes
GROUP NORMS
An unwritten, often implicit rule that
defines what attitudes and behaviours
characterize a “good” group member versus
a “bad” group member.

Established Norms – Formal level

Practised Norms - Informal level
 Group Roles
Roles are a set of behaviours that a person
expects of the occupants of a position.
Three Components
Expected role
Perceived role
Enacted role
Types of Roles
•Task Roles
•Maintenance Roles
 GROUP COHESIVENESS

Group cohesiveness is the resultant of all the forces

acting on the members to remain in the group.

What makes a Group cohesive?

 Number of members in the group

 Location
 Outside Pressure
 Status of the group
 Compatible goals
 Attractive leaders
 Threats to Group Effectiveness

GROUP THINK

An unfortunate situation in which the desire

to agree becomes so dominant in a cohesive
group that it tends to override the realistic
appraisal of alternative course of actions.
 
 Symptoms of Group Think

 Over optimism
 Rationalisation
 Unflinching faith in group’s morality
 Person with difference is labeled as weak, stupid
and evil
 Conformity pressures applied
 Absence of real critics
 Illusion of unanimity
 Remedial Measures

 Encourage doubts or criticism

 Have initial impartial stand
 Divide group into subgroups
 Periodically invite qualified experts
 Appoint devil’s advocate
 Have a second chance meeting after a
tentative decision.