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Block 4 Unit 1 Introduction to Group, Formation and Types of Group

1. Define group.

• A group is generally understood as a number of people who are together. However, more formally, a group is defined as two or more individuals who interact, share common goals, have a stable relationship, are interdependent, and recognise themselves as part of a group.
• R.M. Williams defines a social group as an aggregate of people playing interrelated roles and recognised as a unit of interaction.
• R.M. MacIver states a group is a collection of social beings who have distinctive social relationships with each other.
• David defines a social psychological group as an organised system of individuals who are interrelated and perform functions with roles and norms.
• Kretch, Crutchfield and Ballachy define a psychological group as two or more people who have interdependent relations and share an ideology.

2. What are the three main points to define the group?

The term 'group' is generally used with the following main points in mind:

• A number of persons sitting or working together in physical proximity with or without any common purpose.
• Persons classified as belonging to an association, sometimes with no relationship to each other but with common characteristics.
• Where persons have social relationships with each other.

3. Write the important features of a group. 

Important features of a group include: 

• Interaction: Members interact with each other, directly or indirectly.
• Common goals: They share common goals.
• Interdependence: Members are interdependent, meaning what affects one, affects others.
• Stable relationships: They have relatively stable relationships.
• Recognition: Members recognize they are part of a group.
• Loyalty and Participation: They have common loyalty and participate in similar activities.
• Unity: There is a feeling of unity, with members treating each other with respect.
• Control: The actions of members are controlled by the group.
• Norms: There are customs, norms and procedures that are generally accepted.
• Obligation: Members have complementary obligations to each other which strengthen their relationships.
• Expectations: Members expect love, cooperation and empathy from each other.
• Affected by group characteristics: Every group has social characteristics which affect the members of the group.

4. Define common interest and common values as characteristics of a group.

• Common interest refers to the shared pursuits or concerns that bring group members together and give them a shared purpose or objective.
• Common values are the shared beliefs and principles that guide the behaviour and interactions of group members, creating a sense of unity and mutual understanding.

5. What are the five stages of group development?

The five stages of group development are:

• Forming: Characterised by uncertainty and members getting to know each other.
• Storming: Characterised by conflict and disagreement as members voice their opinions.
• Norming: Characterised by shared expectations and the division of responsibilities.
• Performing: Characterised by maturity, cohesion and focus on tasks.
• Adjourning: Characterised by closure and members preparing to leave.

6. What are the basic characteristics of feeling of unity and control of group?

• Feeling of unity: Members treat each other with respect, and a sense of camaraderie develops. They see each other as 'their own'.
• Control of group: The actions of the members are controlled by the group. There are acceptable customs, norms and procedures, and members who deviate from these may be ostracised.

7. What are the five stages of group development?

The five stages of group development, as mentioned before, are forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning.

8. What are the rules of the group?

Here are 10 rules of group dynamics:

• Groups can arise from almost nothing
• Groups give us social identity
• Groups have the power to influence
• Groups can cause prejudice
• Group membership can have a positive influence
• Groups can make people act irrationally
• Groups can improve performance
• People will loaf in a group
• The grapevine is 80% accurate
• Groups make the best and worst of us

9. What are the important aspects of group structure?

The important aspects of group structure include:

• Role: The part played by an individual member as per the expectations of other members.
• Norms: The rules and mutual expectations that develop within the group, ensuring conformity.
• Status: The relative prestige or social position of groups or members.
• Group Cohesiveness: The degree of attraction members have towards each other and the "we feeling" within the group.

10. Enumerate the different types of groups.

Groups can be classified in different ways, such as:

• Primary groups: Characterised by intimate, face-to-face relationships, like family.
• Secondary groups: Characterised by casual relationships and common interests, like clubs.
• Formal Groups: These are created by an organisation or an institution to achieve a specific objective.
• Informal groups: These are formed naturally based on mutual interests or social needs.
• Organised groups: Groups formed with careful planning and specific goals.
• Spontaneous groups: Groups formed without planning, like an audience.
• Command groups: Specified by organisational charts with a supervisor and subordinates.
• Task groups: People working together to achieve a common task with a time limit.
• Functional groups: Created by organisations to achieve specific goals without a set time frame.
• Clique: An informal, tight-knit group, often found in schools, that shares common interests.
• Club: A group that requires application for membership and is dedicated to a specific activity.
• Team: A group of people working in a similar way as a squad.

11. Define group and discuss the importance of the group.

• A group is a collection of individuals who interact, share common goals, have stable relationships, are interdependent and recognize themselves as a part of a group.
• Groups are important because they:
  • Satisfy psychological and social needs (e.g., affection, attention, belonging).
  • Facilitate goal achievement more efficiently than individuals working alone.
  • Provide knowledge and information.
  • Provide safety and security.

12. Enumerate the characteristics of a group.

The characteristics of a group include:

• Shared objectives and values.
• Frequent and continuous interaction.
• A sense of unity and loyalty.
• Mutual obligations and expectations.
• A structure with defined roles and statuses.
• Adherence to established norms and customs.

13. Elucidate the different types of groups, their roles and functions.

• Primary groups: These have intimate face-to-face relationships, and members have strong 'we-feeling', such as family and play groups.
• Secondary groups: These have casual relationships based on common interests, such as clubs or trade unions.
• Formal Groups: These are created by an organisation or an institution to achieve a specific objective. Their roles and functions are defined by the organisation.
• Informal groups: These are formed naturally based on mutual interests or social needs, and may have no clear leader or defined objectives. These groups satisfy needs for social interaction and belonging.
• Organised groups: These are formed with careful planning and specific goals and roles, such as a business committee.
• Spontaneous groups: These are formed without planning, such as an audience, which may come together for a short time and then disperse.
• Command groups: These are structured around a hierarchy, with roles such as a supervisor and subordinates, as specified by an organisation.
• Task groups: These have people who work together to achieve a specific task with a time limit, such as a task force.
• Functional groups: These are created to achieve specific goals within an organisation without a set time frame, such as an ongoing committee.
• Clique: These are informal and tight-knit, often in educational settings, and share common interests.
• Club: These usually require application for membership and are focused on particular activities.
• Team: These have a group of members working together like a squad towards a shared objective.

14. Differentiate between formal and informal groups with examples.

• Formal groups are established by an organization or institution to achieve specific objectives. They have defined structures, roles, and goals (e.g., command groups, task groups, functional groups within a company).
• Informal groups emerge naturally from mutual interests or social needs. They have less structured roles and functions (e.g., friendship groups, cliques, spontaneous gatherings of people).

15. How do children develop and become part of a group?

Children's social development occurs gradually as they age. Initially, children react to individuals who fulfill their needs, then they begin to understand objects and individuals in their environment. As they grow, their patterns of play and activities change. They develop a sense of "I" and "mine", and then "you" and "yours". They learn to share, assert their rights, and cooperate in the early stages of socialisation.

Children initially belong to a small world of other children, usually of similar ages. They learn through direct coaching, training, imitation, and repeated experiences. Living in a group, they gradually develop sentiments, opinions, interests, habits, and desires. Interaction and communication are vital in this process. Children join groups for various reasons, including:

• Satisfaction of psychological and social needs, such as affection, attention, and belonging.
• Achievement of goals more smoothly than if they were alone.
• Acquisition of knowledge and information.
• Safety and security.

16. Elucidate group formation theory.

Group formation theories explain how groups develop and progress. There are several theories regarding group formation and development which include:

• Classic Theory: Developed by George Homans, this theory suggests that groups develop based on activities, interactions, and sentiments. When individuals share common activities, they interact more and develop attitudes towards each other. The main element is the interaction of the individuals involved.
• Social Exchange Theory: This theory explains that individuals form relationships based on the expectation of mutually beneficial exchanges based on trust and obligation. Individuals are attracted to and affiliate with a group if they believe the exchange relationships will be positive.
• Social Identity Theory: This theory suggests that individuals gain a sense of identity and self-esteem from their membership in salient groups. The group may be based on demographics, culture or organisation.

17. Define norms and status as an aspect of group structure.

• Norms: Norms are the rules and mutual expectations that develop within a group. They have a profound effect on the members' behaviour, as they ensure conformity within the group. Norms are developed through group interaction as members experience what is valued and preferred. Norms are often implicit or explicit, established by groups to regulate the behavior of their members.
• Status: Status is the relative prestige or social position given to groups or members within a group. Status can be determined by prestige, power, position, and expertise. Status hierarchies have considerable influence on social integration within groups and may change when other members join or leave.

18. What do we call the groups formed on the basis of norms and rules?

Groups formed on the basis of specific norms and rules are called formal groups. An example of a formal group is a group of students in a classroom.