Group Behaviour Flashcards
Though definitions are contested, what is a group?
Two or more people experiencing some common fate or coexisting within some social structure or interacting on a face-to-face basis.
What are examples of different group forms?
- Large or small
- Short-lived or long-lasting
- Concentrated or dispersed
- Informal or structured
What exist between groups?
Similarities and differences.
What are groups essentially?
Categories
Why do groups matter?
- They help us to resolve ambiguity in the social world.
- They help us define who we are.
- They help us feel distinct from other groups.
- They help us to know which social norms to adopt and follow.
- They help us to achieve complex tasks together.
What are the five steps involved in the development of a group?
Forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
What happens in the first step involved in the development of a group (forming)?
Group members try to get to know each other and establish a common understanding.
What happens in the second step involved in the development of a group (storming)?
The group is in conflict, the members resist being controlled by the group, and disagreements arise concerning leadership in the group.
What happens in the third step involved in the development of a group (norming)?
Group members develop close ties, feelings of friendship and camaraderie abound, and group members share a common purpose.
What happens in the fourth step involved in the development of a group (performing)?
Group members work toward achieving their goals.
What happens in the fifth step involved in the development of a group (adjourning)?
The group disbands once its goals have been achieved.
How will a group perform if the average cognitive abilities and expertise of the group’s members is high?
The group will perform well.
What both exist in relation to working in a group?
Gains and losses.
Which equation can reflect a group’s actual performance?
Potential performance - process losses
To what does the term actual group performance refer?
To the performance level attained by a group.