This is a Summary of the Group Dynamics Book and the Lectures from 2019/2020. It's a little over 100 pages and summarises everything that is important for the exam!
All chapters, besides chapter 16 (which is not relevant for the exam)
January 16, 2020
136
2019/2020
Summary
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group dynamics
leiden
psychology
groep
2020
ibp
year 2
group dynamics summary
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Test Bank for Group dynamics 7th Edition by Forsyth All 1-17 Chapters Covered ,Latest Edition, ISBN:9781337408851
Complete Test Bank for Group dynamics 7th Edition by Forsyth, All Chapters 1 to 17 Covered, Verified Latest Edition, ISBN: 9781337408851
Test Bank For Group Dynamics - 7th - 2019 All Chapters - 9781337408851
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Group Dynamics Summary
Chapter 1: Introduction to Group Dynamics 1
Chapter 2: Studying Groups 8
Chapter 3: Inclusion and Identity 14
Chapter 4: Formation 22
Chapter 5: Cohesion and Development 32
Chapter 6: Structure 39
Chapter 7: Influence 47
Chapter 8: Power 58
Chapter 9: Leadership 66
Chapter 10: Performance 76
Chapter 11: Teams 85
Chapter 12: Decision Making 94
Chapter 13: Conflict 104
Chapter 14: Intergroup Relations 113
Chapter 15: Groups in Context 121
Chapter 17: Crowds and Collectives 129
Chapter 1: Introduction to Group Dynamics
- groups come in all shapes and sizes with different purposes
- Groups are essential to human life
- Protect themselves from dangers and disasters by joining together in groups
1.1 What are Groups?
- group = two or more individuals who are connected by and within social relationships
- John James: group to be two or more people in face-to-face interaction as evidence by the criteria
of gesticulation, laughter, smiles, talk, play or work”
- Usually created for some specific purpose
- Many different definitions of “groups”
- Emphasis on social relations
- Connected to each other in socially meaningful ways
- Different kind of relations between members in and between groups
-> eg: based on kinship, task-related or friends etc.
- not all relations are equally strong or enduring
- Interaction + goals + interdependence + structured + cohesion
- different aspects of group definitions (look on page 4):
• Categorisation
• Communication
, 2
• Influence
• Interdependence
• Interrelations
• Psychological significance
• Relations
• Shared identity
• Shared tasks and goals
• Size
• Social unit
• Structure
• Systems
1.1b Varieties of Groups
- 30 billion = conservative estimate of how many groups there are
- 4 types of groups: primary groups, social groups, collectives and categories
Primary Groups = a small, long-term group characterised by frequent interaction, solidarity, and
high levels of dependence among members that substantially influences the attitudes, values and
social outcomes of its members
- family, good friends etc.
- very important to members
- primary because they transform individuals into social beings -> protect members and care for
them etc.
- fundamental in forming the societal nature and ideals of the individual
Social (Secondary) Groups = a relatively small number of individuals who interact with one
another over an extended period of time, such as work group, clubs and congregations
- larger and more formal than primary groups
- shorter in duration and less emotionally involving
- permeable boundaries
- = associations, task groups and Gesellschaften
- sports club, religious club etc
Collectives = a relatively large aggregation or group of individuals who display similarities in
actions and outlook. A street crowd, a line of people (queue) and a panicked group escaping a fire
are examples of collectives, as are more widely dispersed groups
- group dissolves when the experience ends
- common shifts in opinion
- little allegiance to the group
- transitory
(Social) Categories = a perceptual grouping of people who are assumed to be similar in some ways
but different in one or more ways, such as all women, the elderly, college students, or all citizens of
a country
- not necessarily social implications
- category can become highly influential when categories set in motion personal or interpersonal
processes
- often share a common identity
, 3
- Social identity = an individual’s sense of self derived from relationships and memberships in
groups; also those aspects of the self that are assumed to be common to most or all of the
members of the same group or social category -> emotional significance attached to the group
- Stereotypes = a socially shared set of qualities, characteristics and behavioral expectations
ascribed to a particular group or category of people
Situation: Multi-level categorization
(Nested)
Are People Bowling Alone?
- America’s withdrawal from groups
- Overall decrease in social capital = the degree to which individuals, groups or larger aggregates
of people are linked in social relationships that yield positive, productive benefits; analogous to
economic capital, but determined by extensiveness of social connectedness
- Social capital can provide the means for a person to accomplish both personal and collective
outcomes
- People are not as interested in joining traditional community groups
- Some types of groups are increasing tho: eg online groups etc.
1.1c Characteristics of Groups
- groups are unique configuration of individuals, processes and relationships
Composition: Who Belongs to the Group?
- composition = the qualities of the individuals who constitute a group
- Groups are more than the sum of their parts but each part defines a whole
Boundaries: Who does NOT belong?
- relationships define who is in the group and who is not
- sometimes, boundaries a publicly announced, sometimes boundaries can be invisible
- Open groups = membership is fluid and members may come and go as they please
- Closed groups = memberships change slowly or not at all, more likely to monitor the actions of
others, more cohesive, more focus on collective nature
Are social networks groups?
- social networks = set of interpersonally interconnected individuals or groups
- Very group-like
- But lack clear boundaries -> more fluid in terms of membership
- More diverse members
Size: How large is the group?
- group’s size influences many other features
, 4
- Smaller groups (eg:dyads) have stronger emotional bonds, more intense
- Larger groups: members rarely connected to all other members, subgroups more likely and
maybe more than one leader
- Group size determines number of social ties = links, relationships and connections that are
needed to join members to each other
- Maximum number of ties: n(n-1)2 (n= number of people in group)
- Number of needed ties grows as the group becomes larger
- When group bigger than circa 150 members -> members usually can not connect with each and
every member of the group -> rather feel connected to group as a whole
- Larger groups are more schismatic and are more easily to break up into smaller groups
Interaction: What do Members do?
- infinite variety of interpersonal actions
- Diversity of group interactions (Robert Freed Bales) -> identified two types of group interaction:
focused on task and those that sustained interpersonal relationships within the group
Task Interaction:
- task interaction = the conjointly adjusted action of group members that pertain to the group’s
project, task and goals
- Members must coordinate their various skills, resources and motivation
Relationship Interaction:
- relationship interaction = (socio-emotional interaction) the conjointly adjusted actions of group
members that relate to or influence the nature and strength of the motional and interpersonal
bonds within the group, including both sustaining(social support, etc.) and undermining action
(criticism…)
Why do Humans have such big brains?
- sophisticated brains that provide them with the means to store and share information, solve
problems and plan for future contingencies
- Dunbar (2008): Social Brain Hypothesis = assumes that group life is more psychologically
demanding than a more isolated one, individuals must be able to recognise other members of the
group, track shifting patterns of alliances etc. -> increasing complexity led to bigger brains
- Species with bigger brain did tend to live in bigger groups
- Given the size of the human neocortex -> designed to live in groups of 150 people
Interdependence: Do the Members Depend on Each Other?
- members are obligated or responsible to other group members, for they provide each other with
support and assistance
- Interdependence = mutual dependence, as when one’s outcomes, actions and thoughts are
influences, to some degree, by other people
- Members depend on each other
- Some groups only create the potential for dependency but goals can also be achieved alone
- Other groups create higher levels of interdependency since members reliably and consistently
influence one another’s outcomes
- Symmetric groups, flat structure: equal and reciprocal influence
- Hierarchical, asymmetric groups: interdependent and not reciprocal ( directive boss)
- But hierarchical groups can also have interdependence with reciprocity (when employees can
influence boss a little)
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