Aantekeningen Group Dynamics
Lecture 1
Group: two or more individuals who are connected by and within social relationships
Examples: romantic relationship, family, task related group (at work)
o Alle vrouwen, is niet perse een groep, omdat je je niet geconnected voelt met alle
vrouwen in de wereld. Maar als je je psychologisch verbonden voelt, wordt het wel een
groep
o Sometimes things that didn’t seen as a group, can become a group
Memberships: members are connected – linked – together. Unlike networks, groups usually have
boundaries that define who is in the group and who is not
Group characteristics:
1. Size
2. Composition: individuals who belong to the group e.g. talents, traits, demographics
3. Interaction: task vs relationship-oriented, what do members do?
4. Goals
5. Interdependence: how dependent are people of each other?
o Hierarchical
o Symmetric (group of friends – influence each other)
o Sequential (one group member influences another group member, that group member
influences another group member)
6. Boundaries: permeable, who does and does not belong?
7. Origin: founded or formed
8. Entitativity: does it look like a group?
9. Structure: structure; roles, norms, relationships
10. Unity/cohesion
Types of groups:
Primary groups: deze groepen kies je niet, hebben grote invloed op je
Bijvoorbeeld: familie
Social/secondary groups: also very influential
Bijvoorbeeld: vriendengroepen van de universiteit, groepen door gedeelde hobby’s.
Collectives: is formed very temporarily – not very influential
Social categories: mensen behoren niet tot een groep, maar voelen zich zo connected met de groep,
dat als de groep bijvoorbeeld verliest, zij zich ook slecht voelen.
Bijvoorbeeld: Ajax
Why is studying groups important:
Fundamental attribution error: the influence of groups on individuals is often underestimated,
particularly by individuals raised in more individualistic, western cultures.
o Wij kijken vaak alleen naar individuen, maar je moet de context ook begrijpen. Is meer
dan individuen.
Understanding groups facilitates:
o Understanding people
, o Understanding the world
o Applications to practical problems
o Understanding yourself
Law of interactionism (Kurt Lewin): B = f(P, E)
B = Behavioral, cognitive, and emotional reactions
F = function of
P = Personal characteristics
E = Environmental factors
Slow start of studying groups, why?
1. Incorrect assumption: private affair
2. Incorrect assumption: too complex to study
3. Incorrect assumption: so obvious, no need to study. If you understand the individual, it’s
enough. You don’t have to study groups
4. Theoretical and methodological disagreement between researchers
Group dynamics:
Twofold coverage:
1. The scientific study of group processes
2. The influential actions, processes, and changes
Lecture 2
How should we study the individual or the group?
1. Micro level: focus on the individual
o psychology
2. Meso level: focus on the group and social context
o sociology
3. Macro level: focus on organizational/community levels
Best: multi-level: adopts multiple perspectives on groups
Group processes involve different levels.
,Why we need to be with others:
1. The need to belong
2. Loneliness
3. The herd instinct
4. Ostracism
5. Individualism vs collectivism
The need to belong – is a fundamental need
o People in social isolation – extreme distress: insomnia, general confusion, memory
lapses, fatigue, depression.
Loneliness
o Perceived loneliness, perceived lack of personal relationships (je kan je niet alleen voelen
als je weinig vrienden hebt en wel als je veel vrienden hebt bijvoorbeeld).
Two sorts:
1. Emotional: long-term, meaningful, intimate relationships (for example after a break-up)
2. Social: cut-off from social groups
The herd instinct:
Costs of being in a group: more attention predators, share food, diseases, conflict, violence
Benefits of being in a group: higher success rate to hunt, better surveillance to predators, protections
from other human being and predators
Advantages outweigh the costs
Ostracism: buitengesloten worden
o Als we worden afgewezen door anderen, worden dezelfde hersendelen actief als
wanneer we fysieke pijn hebben
, Reactions to exclusion:
1. Fight or flight:
o Aggressive, combative orientation
o Withdrawal and freezing
2. Tend-and-Befriend: human will rely on others for connection and support
o Attention to social cues
o Increased motivation
o Prosocial orientation
Gender difference: men are more intended to fight or flight, while women are more likely to tend-
and-be-friend, and women are also more likely to blame themselves.
Social identity theory:
Lecture 1
Group: two or more individuals who are connected by and within social relationships
Examples: romantic relationship, family, task related group (at work)
o Alle vrouwen, is niet perse een groep, omdat je je niet geconnected voelt met alle
vrouwen in de wereld. Maar als je je psychologisch verbonden voelt, wordt het wel een
groep
o Sometimes things that didn’t seen as a group, can become a group
Memberships: members are connected – linked – together. Unlike networks, groups usually have
boundaries that define who is in the group and who is not
Group characteristics:
1. Size
2. Composition: individuals who belong to the group e.g. talents, traits, demographics
3. Interaction: task vs relationship-oriented, what do members do?
4. Goals
5. Interdependence: how dependent are people of each other?
o Hierarchical
o Symmetric (group of friends – influence each other)
o Sequential (one group member influences another group member, that group member
influences another group member)
6. Boundaries: permeable, who does and does not belong?
7. Origin: founded or formed
8. Entitativity: does it look like a group?
9. Structure: structure; roles, norms, relationships
10. Unity/cohesion
Types of groups:
Primary groups: deze groepen kies je niet, hebben grote invloed op je
Bijvoorbeeld: familie
Social/secondary groups: also very influential
Bijvoorbeeld: vriendengroepen van de universiteit, groepen door gedeelde hobby’s.
Collectives: is formed very temporarily – not very influential
Social categories: mensen behoren niet tot een groep, maar voelen zich zo connected met de groep,
dat als de groep bijvoorbeeld verliest, zij zich ook slecht voelen.
Bijvoorbeeld: Ajax
Why is studying groups important:
Fundamental attribution error: the influence of groups on individuals is often underestimated,
particularly by individuals raised in more individualistic, western cultures.
o Wij kijken vaak alleen naar individuen, maar je moet de context ook begrijpen. Is meer
dan individuen.
Understanding groups facilitates:
o Understanding people
, o Understanding the world
o Applications to practical problems
o Understanding yourself
Law of interactionism (Kurt Lewin): B = f(P, E)
B = Behavioral, cognitive, and emotional reactions
F = function of
P = Personal characteristics
E = Environmental factors
Slow start of studying groups, why?
1. Incorrect assumption: private affair
2. Incorrect assumption: too complex to study
3. Incorrect assumption: so obvious, no need to study. If you understand the individual, it’s
enough. You don’t have to study groups
4. Theoretical and methodological disagreement between researchers
Group dynamics:
Twofold coverage:
1. The scientific study of group processes
2. The influential actions, processes, and changes
Lecture 2
How should we study the individual or the group?
1. Micro level: focus on the individual
o psychology
2. Meso level: focus on the group and social context
o sociology
3. Macro level: focus on organizational/community levels
Best: multi-level: adopts multiple perspectives on groups
Group processes involve different levels.
,Why we need to be with others:
1. The need to belong
2. Loneliness
3. The herd instinct
4. Ostracism
5. Individualism vs collectivism
The need to belong – is a fundamental need
o People in social isolation – extreme distress: insomnia, general confusion, memory
lapses, fatigue, depression.
Loneliness
o Perceived loneliness, perceived lack of personal relationships (je kan je niet alleen voelen
als je weinig vrienden hebt en wel als je veel vrienden hebt bijvoorbeeld).
Two sorts:
1. Emotional: long-term, meaningful, intimate relationships (for example after a break-up)
2. Social: cut-off from social groups
The herd instinct:
Costs of being in a group: more attention predators, share food, diseases, conflict, violence
Benefits of being in a group: higher success rate to hunt, better surveillance to predators, protections
from other human being and predators
Advantages outweigh the costs
Ostracism: buitengesloten worden
o Als we worden afgewezen door anderen, worden dezelfde hersendelen actief als
wanneer we fysieke pijn hebben
, Reactions to exclusion:
1. Fight or flight:
o Aggressive, combative orientation
o Withdrawal and freezing
2. Tend-and-Befriend: human will rely on others for connection and support
o Attention to social cues
o Increased motivation
o Prosocial orientation
Gender difference: men are more intended to fight or flight, while women are more likely to tend-
and-be-friend, and women are also more likely to blame themselves.
Social identity theory:
