Introduction to Group Dynamics

1. Introduction to Group Dynamics

2. Groups, groups, groups The Impressionists: a group of painters The 1980 Olympic Hockey team: a team The Andes Rugby Team: a group of survivors Jobs vs. Sculley: Two executives The Apollo 13 crew: 3 astronauts Questions to consider 

3. Overview What is a group? What are some common characteristics of groups? What assumptions guide researchers in their studies of groups and the processes within groups? What fields and what topics are included in the scientific study of group dynamics?

4. What is a Group? Definition of a group: Two or more individuals who are connected to one another by social relationships.

5. Two or more individualswho are connected to one another by social relationships. • Size: dyads and triads to large collectives (this class, mobs, audiences)

6. Two or more individualswho are connected to one anotherby social relationships. • Connected: members are linked, networked

7. Two or more individuals who are connected to one anotherby social relationships. Social, interpersonal connection: not categorical only

8. Types of groups Billions of groups in the world, but they can be classified into basic categories, or clusters Cooley (1907) drew a distinction between primary and secondary groups

9. 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 Families, close friends, tight-knit peer groups, gangs, elite military squads Secondary groups Larger, less intimate, more goal-focused groups typical of more complex societies Congregations, work groups, unions, professional associations (Cooley, 1907)

10. Types of groups Cooley (1907) primary secondary Arrow and her colleagues offer a more fine-grained analysis planned vs. emergent Concocted Founded Circumstantial Self-organizing

11. Type of Group Characteristics Examples Planned groups Deliberately formed by the members themselves or by an external authority, usually for some specific purpose or purposes Concocted Planned by individuals or authorities outside the group. Production lines, military units, task forces, crews, professional sports teams Founded Planned by one or more individuals who remain within the group Study groups, small businesses, expeditions, clubs, associations Emergent groups Groups that form spontaneously as individuals find themselves repeatedly interacting with the same subset of individuals over time and settings Circumstantial Emergent, unplanned groups that arise when external, situational forces set the stage for people to join together, often only temporarily, in a unified group Waiting lines (queues), crowds, mobs, audiences, bystanders Self-organizing Emerge when interacting individuals gradually align their activities in a cooperative system of interdependence. Study groups, friendship cliques in a workplace, regular patrons at a bar

12. Perceiving groups: people intuitively draw distinctions between groups—some look groupier than others Lickel, Hamilton, Sherman, and their colleagues asked people to rate many kinds of aggregations on a scale from 1 (not at all a group) to 9 (very much a group).

13. Type of Group Characteristics Examples Intimacy groups Small groups of moderate duration and permeability characterized by substantial levels of interaction among the members, who value membership in the group Families, romantic couples, close friends, street gangs Task groups Work groups in employment settings and goal-focused groups in a variety of nonemployment situations Teams, neighborhood associations Weak associations Aggregations of individuals that form spontaneously, last only a brief period of time, and have very permeable boundaries Crowds, audiences, clusters of bystanders Social categories Aggregations of individuals who are similar to one another in terms of gender, ethnicity, religion, or nationality. Women, Asian Americans, physicians, U.S. citizens, New Yorkers

14. What are some common characteristics of groups? Interaction: task and relationship Interdependence: sequential, reciprocal, mutual

16. Structure: roles, norms, relations Goals: generating, choosing, negotiating, executing Common characteristics of groups (continued) McGrath’s Taxonomy of Group Tasks is based on 2 key dimensions: Choosing vs. Executing (Doing) and Generating vs. Negotiating

18. Cohesion: unity and entitativity Entitativity is perceived groupness Campbell’s theory of entitativity common fate similarity proximity Common characteristics of groups (continued)

19. What assumptions guide researchers in their studies of groups and the processes within groups? Group dynamics describes both: • Interpersonal processes in groups • The scientific study of groups and group processes (Kurt Lewin)

20. Level of Analysis Individual level: focus on the individual (psychological) Group level: focus on the group and social context (sociological) Multilevel: adopts multiple perspectives on groups

22. The Paradigm: assumptions and orientations Groups are real Group processes are real • groupmind, collective conscious • Sherif's (1936) study of norm formation

23. Person A Convergence Person B Person C Average distance estimates Alone Group Session 1 Group Session 2 Group Session 3

24. Assumptions (continued) • Groups are more than the sum of their parts • Lewin's (1951) field theory: behavior is a function of the person and the environment • B = f(P, E).

25. Groups are living systems: Tuckman's (1965) theory of group development forming storming norming performing adjourning Assumptions (continued)

26. Performing Task Norming Storming Adjourning Forming

27. Assumptions (continued) • Groups are influential • Groups shape society

28. What fields and what topics are included in the scientific study of group dynamics? Interdisciplinary: psychology, sociology, political science, anthropology, business, etc.

29. Discipline Topics Anthropology Groups in cross-cultural contexts; societal change; social and collective identities Business and Industry Work motivation; productivity; team building; goal setting; focus groups Clinical/Counseling Psychology Therapeutic change through groups; sensitivity training; training groups; self-help groups; group psychotherapy Communication Information transmission in groups; discussion; decision making; problems in communication; networks Criminal Justice Organization of law enforcement agencies; gangs; jury deliberations Education Classroom groups; team teaching; class composition and educational outcomes Political Science Leadership; intergroup and international relations; political influence; power Psychology Personality and group behavior; problem solving; perceptions of other people; motivation; conflict Social Work Team approaches to treatment; family counseling; groups and adjustment Sociology Self and society; influence of norms on behavior; role relations; deviance Sports and Recreation Team performance; effects of victory and failure; cohesion and performance

30. Action research: integrates basic and applied research. Topics: group formation, cohesion, structure, influence, performance, conflict, etc.

31. Introduction to Group Dynamics Research Methods Individual and the Group Group Formation Power Cohesion and Development Structure Influence Performance Decision Making Leadership Conflict Collective Behavior Intergroup Relations Groups in Context Groups and Change

32. Group Dynamics! … the "field of inquiry dedicated to advancing knowledge about the nature of groups" (Cartwright & Zander, 1968, p. 7).

33. For more information visit http://psychology.wadsworth.com/forsyth4e