GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Hundreds of fish swimming together are called a ----------------.
A pack of foraging baboons is a -----------------A half dozen crows on a telephone wire is a ------------.
A -------------- is a group of whales.
And
5. what is a collection of human beings called? --------------!
What is a group?
 No two groups are identical to one another, but a group, by definition, is two
or more individuals who are connected to one another by social relationships.
 Groups vary in size from dyads and triads to very large aggregations, such as
mobs and audiences.
 Unlike the members of a category, group members are linked together by such
interpersonal processes as communication, influence, and identification.
 Groups come in many varieties.
 Primary groups are smaller and more psychologically influential than are
secondary groups.
 Planned groups (e.g., concocted groups and founded groups) are deliberately
formed,
 but emergent groups (e.g., circumstantial groups and self-organizing groups)
come into existence gradually over time.
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
 Research suggests that people spontaneously draw distinctions among
intimate groups,
task-focused groups,
loose associations, and
more general social categories.
What are some common characteristics of groups?
1. People in groups interact with one another. This interaction includes activities that focus
on the task at hand (task interaction) and activities that concern the interpersonal relations
linking group members (relationship interaction).
2. Groups create interdependence among the group members (unilateral, reciprocal, etc.).
3. Interaction is patterned by group structure, including roles, norms, and interpersonal
relations.
4. Groups seek goals, such as those specified in the circumplex model of group tasks
(generating, choosing, negotiating, and executing).
5. Group cohesion, or cohesiveness, determines the unity of the group. Entitativity is the
extent to which individuals perceive an aggregation to be a unified group. Entitativity,
according to Campbell, is substantially influenced by common fate, similarity, and proximity
cues.
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
What assumptions guide researchers in their studies of groups and the processes within
groups?
Lewin first used the phrase group dynamics to describe the powerful processes that take
place in groups, but group dynamics also refers to the scientific study of groups.
The field’s conceptual paradigm includes a number of assumptions:
• Groups are real. Early psychologists tended to focus on the psychological processes; they
used an individual level of analysis in their studies of groups by rejecting such group-level
concepts as the groupmind and collective conscious. In time, researchers recognized that
groups are as real as individuals, adopting a multilevel orientation to groups.
• Group processes are real. Research studies, such as Sherif ’s (1936) study of norm
formation, suggested that group-level processes were influential determinants of behavior
and so supported a multilevel approach to studying individuals and groups.
• Groups are more than the sum of their parts. Groups often possess characteristics that
cannot be deduced from the individual members’ characteristics.
• Groups are living systems. Tuckman’s (1965) theory of group development, for example,
assumes that most groups move through the five stages of forming, storming, norming,
performing, and adjourning over time.
• Groups are influential. Groups alter their members’ attitudes, values, and perceptions
and in some cases cause radical alterations in personality and actions.
• Groups shape society. Groups, although sometimes characterized in negative rather than
positive ways, influence many aspects of human society.
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
GROUP DYNAMICS
When Kurt Lewin (1951) described the way groups and individuals act and react
to changing circumstances, he named these processes group dynamics.
In other words, “Group-dynamics is concerned with the formation and structure of groups
and the way they affect individual members, other groups and the organisation.”
Group Dynamics – Concept
The team “Group Dynamics” is concerned with the interactions and forces among group
members in an organisation.
More specifically, it refers to the following issues:
i. How a group has come into being?
ii. Why the group has emerged?
iii. What is its size and composition?
iv. What are the activities of the group?
v. How members interact and resolve things?
vi. What are the processes used by members to share information, work related issues?
vii. How members behave and influence each other?
viii. What informal networks are put to use to spread rumours?
ix. How members are reacting to formal leaders, work rules, challenges, etc.?
x. How the informal groups function and affect individual members, other groups and the
organisation?
Group Dynamics – 4 Important Characteristics
(i) Group dynamics describes how a group should be organised and operated. This includes
pattern of leadership and coop­eration.
(ii) Group dynamics consists of a set of techniques such as role playing, brainstorming,
group therapy, sensitivity train­ing etc.
(iii) Group dynamics deals with internal nature of groups, their formation, structure and
process, and the way they affect individual members, other groups and the organisation as
a whole.
(iv) Group dynamics refers to changes which take place within groups and is concerned with
the interaction and forces ob­tained between group members in a social setting.
Group Dynamics – Importance
The importances of group dynamics are given below:
i) It is essential for effective practice with any type of task.
ii) It promotes out the unproductive meetings.
iii) Individual members or group as a whole benefit in a number of ways.
iv) Underlying group dynamic is the multicultural diversification of the society.
v) The future functioning of the group is influence by group dynamic.
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
vi) Facilitates the participation of the members.
vii) Helps to achieve the goals of the group in connection with the participation and
satisfaction of the group.
viii) It increases the interpersonal attraction.
ix) It increases the communication processes and interaction patterns.
x) It increases the power and control of the group.
xi) It creates impact on racial, ethnic and cultural background.
There are many problems of human behaviour which have disturbed the man from the very
beginning. There are certain questions which may be asked about the human relations and
the group behaviour that are very difficult to answer.
Some of the questions are as follows:
(1) How should we consider the relationship between individuals and the group?
(2) What are the needs of the group, the individual needs? And if so then what are the
properties of the group?
(3) Do groups learn? Have they any goals? Do they feel frustrated? Do they develop?
Are they formed or deformed? Are these all properties found in individuals?
(4) Are the groups good or bad? How do individuals behave with the group?
Role of Communication in Group Dynamics
Communication involves the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver.
According to Toseland and Rivas (2001) communication includes:
i) encoding of perception, thoughts and feelings into language and other symbols
by a sender;
ii) transmission of language and symbols verbally, non-verbally or virtually; and
iii) decoding of the message by the receiver.
Face-to-face group members experience both verbal and non-verbal
communication, whereas members of telephone groups experience only verbal
communication and members of computer groups experience only virtual
communication. Interaction patterns are also fundamental to group dynamics.
According to David (1980) some of the significant points in this regard include:
i) Leader is the central figure, and communication occurs from member to leader
and leader to member.
ii) Group members take turns talking.
iii) Indication of extension between leader and the member.
iv) All members freely communicate.
v) Interaction pattern focuses on the degree of centralisation of communication.
vi) Group-centred interaction pattern is more valued than leader-centred
interaction pattern.
vii) Indication of full participation among the members.
viii) The status and power relationship within the group affect the interaction pattern.
ix) Interpersonal attraction and the emotional bonds that form between members
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
influence the interaction pattern.
x) Size of the group affect the interaction pattern. In general, there is more chance
to communicate if the group size is small.
xi) Selective attention, clues and reinforcement may take important role to change
the interaction patterns.
xii) If members do not interact with equal valence, there seems to be indication of
sub-group formation.
xiii) Interpersonal attraction, emotional bonds and interest may create impact on the
group members.
ix) Physical arrangement in some situation may affect interaction patterns.
Thus, we can say the communication processes and interaction patterns are
important factors for group dynamics.
Attraction and Cohesion in Group Dynamics
We can say that sub-group formation depends on interpersonal attraction among
the group members and the level of cohesion depends on this. There are some
important features that can be mentioned here:
i) Proximity increases interaction among people and ultimately it increases attraction.
ii) Similarity tends to make people attract toward each other.
iii) The important contributing factors are acceptance and approval.
iv) Members are attracted to those who engage in group interactions that meet
their expectations.
v) Interpersonal attraction is just one of the building blocks of group cohesion.
vi) Compatibility tends to promote interpersonal attraction.
vii) Group cohesion is the sum of all the forces that are exerted on members to
remain in a group.
viii) Cohesion means satisfaction of group members’ need for affiliation, recognition
and security.
ix) Participation of the group members increases the prestige and resources.
x) Cohesion reveals the positive relationship among the group members.
xi) Cohesion can lead to a level of conformity that detracts from the work of the
group.
Group Dynamics and Social Integration
Social integration means how group members fit together and are accepted in the
group. In each and every group there are norms, roles and status. These are the
group dynamics that promote social integration by influencing how members behave.
The norm, status and roles help the groups to avoid conflict and unpredictability
which may create chaos. It is true that group can not function effectively without
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
a fairly high level of social integration among group members. Social integration
helps to build unanimity about the purposes and goals of the group.
Deutsch and Gerard (1955) postulated two forms of social influence: normative
influence and informational influence. Normative influence is the desire to meet
other people’s expectations and to be accepted by others. Informational influence
is accepting and being persuaded by information provided by others. It is
undoubtedly true that certain amount of predictability, conformity and compliance
is necessary for the group members to work together to achieve the goals of the
group. Actually, norms develop slowly in the group, as members experience what
is valued and what is preferred behaviour through group interaction.
On the other hand, roles are shared expectations about the functioning of individual
members of the group. Members may take different roles. Besides this, status
refers to the ranking of importance of members of the group relative to each
other. Status is determined by the prestige, power, position and expertise. Because
a group member’s status is measured in relationship to other members, it may
change when other members join or leave the group. Status is also determined
by the situation. Status hierarchies have a good deal of influence on social integration
within groups. Thus, norms, roles and status are important components of the
social influence that groups have on members.
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
GROUP DEVELOPMENT
As groups develop over time, group dynamic processes evolve. In this context,
we can mention a well-known model by Tuckman (1963), which is known as
stage model.The stages are:
 forming,
 storming,
 norming
 performing
 adjourning.
There is also the widely used model by Garland, Jones and Kolody (1976).
Here the five significant stages are:
i) Pre-affiliation: Should be affected to the group.
ii) Power and control: Should be able to have some influences over the other
members.
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
iii) Intimacy: There must be certain closeness and intimacy.
iv) Differentiation: The group members should be able to differentiate their personal
goals from group goals
vi) Separation: This refers to each influence having a separate identity despite being
part of the group.
Beginning stages of group development are characterised by the formation of
group dynamics. Members interact tentatively, establishing norms, roles and status
hierarchies and ultimately a group culture slowly emerges through interaction. At
first, interaction is tentative and cautious and there exists little conflict. After that
members become more comfortable resistance can develop. After that members
want to become a part of the group but at the same time group members maintain
their own identity and independence. Many factors affect group development.
Structural characteristics have an important impact on group development.
Measurement in Group Dynamics
•Observation
Types of Obervation
•Overt Observation
•Covert Observation
•Participant Observation
•Structuring Observations
•Self-Report Measures
Factors Affecting Group Behaviour:
The success or failure of a group depends upon so many factors. Group member resources,
structure (group size, group roles, group norms, and group cohesiveness), group processes
(the communication, group decision making processes, power dynamics, conflicting
interactions, etc.) and group tasks (complexity and interdependence).
❖ What fields and what topics are included in the scientific study of group dynamics?
1. The field of group dynamics is an interdisciplinary one, including many researchers
outside of sociology and psychology.
2. Many researchers carry out action research by using scientific methods to identify
solutions to practical problems.
3. Researchers have examined a wide variety of group processes, including group
development, structure, influence, power, performance, and conflict.
4. Group dynamics is itself dynamic, for it is the “field of inquiry dedicated to advancing
knowledge about the nature of groups” (Cartwright & Zander, 1968, p. 7).
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GROUP DYNAMICS _ PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION -2_M. Ed IV_2021
UNIT END QUESTIONS
1) What do you mean by the term “group dynamics”?
2) Write in brief about the importance of group dynamics.
3) What is group development?
4) Is there any relationship between interpersonal attraction and cohesion with
group dynamics? – Discuss.
5) Write in brief about role of communication in group.
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