PSY 331 Chapter Notes - Chapter 21: Transformational Leadership, Robert Zajonc, Moorhead, Minnesota
Group Behavior!
Main Idea and Objectives:!
ā¢Main Idea:!
ā¢A groupāa collection of people who interact, share common goals, and inļ¬uence how
members think and actāis uniļ¬ed by the attitudes and standards members share and by
their commitment to them.!
ā¢Objectives:!
ā¢Deļ¬ne and explain diļ¬erent types of groups.!
ā¢Describe the interactive patterns within groups.!
I. What Are Groups?!
A. A group is a collection of people who interact, share common goals, and Inļ¬uence how
members think and act.!
B. In general, the features that distinguish a group from a social aggregate (a nongroup) are
interdependence, shared goals, and communication.!
C. People who congregate but do not interact are not considered a group but rather a social
aggregate.!
Interaction is the key factor in forming a group; several people who interact form a group.!
D. Example of a social aggregate ā standing in line at a checkout lane without meaningful
interaction.!
E. To be classiļ¬ed as a group, a collection of people must demonstrate interdependence.
Interdependence occurs when any action by one member will aļ¬ect or inļ¬uence the other
members. !
Example of interdependence ā a football player who blocks a player eļ¬ectively may allow
another runner to score. The eļ¬ectiveness of the runner is dependent on the blocker.!
F. In small groups, members usually have a direct inļ¬uence on one another: one member
communicates directly with another. Examples: teacher communicating with students or a
band director leading a band.!
G. In larger groups, the inļ¬uence maybe indirect. Example: the president leads all Americans
even though direct communication may not be possible.!
H. Communication is crucial to the functions of a group.!
ā¢In some cases, the communication is directed outward, or external, as a declaration of
group membership. (Example: clothing or uniform)!
ā¢In other instances, the communication is internal, intended primarily for group members
to announce group activities.!
ā¢Direct communication aids membersā feelings of belonging.!
I. Group members become interdependent because they share common goals. Groups are
usually created to perform tasks or to organize activities that no individual could handle alone.!
Purposes of Groups:!
task functions ā activities directed toward getting a task done!
social functions ā interactions intended to meet the emotional needs of the!
group members (example: parties, walking partners, etc.)!
J. In most groups, task and social functions are combined naturally and cannot be separated
easily, although one dominates in any given group.!
!
II. How Groups Are Held Together!
A. The factors that work to hold groups togetherāthat increase the groupās cohesivenessā
include:!
ā¢the attitudes and standards they share!
ā¢their commitment to them including sacriļ¬ce and participation!
B. Unwritten rules that govern the behavior and attitudes of group members are called norms.
They include rulesāshared beliefs about the correct way to behave and what to believe.!
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Document Summary
Interdependence occurs when any action by one member will a ect or in uence the other members. Example of interdependence a football player who blocks a player e ectively may allow another runner to score. The e ectiveness of the runner is dependent on the blocker: in small groups, members usually have a direct in uence on one another: one member communicates directly with another. Examples: teacher communicating with students or a band director leading a band: in larger groups, the in uence maybe indirect. Groups are usually created to perform tasks or to organize activities that no individual could handle alone. They include rules shared beliefs about the correct way to behave and what to believe. These rules may be more like tendencies or habits. Group members are expected to act in accordance with group norms and are punished in some way if they do not.
