CMST 2061 Chapter : Group Roles
Document Summary
The concept of roles is a very basic one in the study of group communication. Certain communicative behaviors in groups (such as using humor to get members to relax) are intended to accomplish certain goals (releasing group tension. for example). Someone enacting those behaviors can be described as playing or taking a given role. In 1948 benne and sheats provided an analysis of roles, which has remained influential over the years. They said there are three main categories of roles enacted by group members. Group task roles pertain to group discussions aimed at selecting, defining, and solving problems. More than one person in a group often performs these roles. One person might perform several of the twelve task roles during the course of a discussion. In fact, a single incident of communication might involve several roles: a member offers an opinion, follows that with a question, and then tries to energize the group so it will not "drag its heels. "
