group dynamics midterm

• Group dynamics


  A system of behaviors and psychological processes that take place either inside or between social groups
• Dynamic


  From the Greek dynamikós, which means to be strong, powerful, and energetic
• Group dynamics


  The influential interpersonal processes that occur in and between groups over time
• Group


  • Two or more figures forming a complete unit in a composition
  • Number of individuals assembled or having some unifying relationship
• Types of group


  • Primary (families, close friends)
  • Social (coworkers, crew)
  • Collectives (audiences, crowds)
  • Categories (men, asian)
• Characteristics of a group

  • Composition
  • Boundaries
  • Size
  • Interactions (task, relationship)
  • Interdependence
  • Structure (roles, norms, status)
  • Goals (generating, choosing, negotiating, executing)
  • Origin (planned, emergent)
• Important elements of group dynamics

  • Group membership
  • Emergent leadership
  • Formal hierarchy
  • Group has some activity or task to perform
  • Interaction
  • Group norms
  • Group cohesiveness
  • Member satisfaction
• Need to belong


  A pervasive drive to form and maintain at least a minimum quantity of lasting, positive, and impactful interpersonal relationships
• Ostracism


  Excluding one or more individuals from a group by reducing or eliminating contact with the person, usually by ignoring, shunning, or explicitly banishing them
• Dynamic processes of group

  • Formative processes
  • Influence mechanisms
  • Performance processes
• Group conflict


  Occurs both inside (intragroup conflict) and between (intergroup conflict)
• Contextual processes


  Rely on the physical environment and particular goals of the group, such as huge collectives and groups that promote change
• Characteristics of group dynamics


  • Group dynamics explains the proper structure and functioning of a group, involving a cooperative and leadership style
  • A variety of methods, including role-playing, brainstorming, group therapy, sensitivity training, etc., are used in group dynamics
  • Group dynamics examines how groups function internally, including how they form, organize, and function as well as how they impact individual members, other groups, and the organization as a whole
• Fight-or-flight response


  A physiological and psychological response to stressful events characterized by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (increased heart rate, pupil dilation) that readies the individual to counter the threat (fight) or to escape the threat (flight)
• Tend-and-befriend response


  A physiological, psychological, and interpersonal response to stressful events characterized by increased nurturing, protective and supportive behaviors (tending), and initiating and strengthening relationships with other people (befriending)
• Inclusion


  Triggers a different set of physiological events: lowered heart rate and blood pressure and an increase in levels of the neuropeptide and hormone oxytocin, which is associated with positive forms of social behavior, including trust and social support
• Sociometer theory


  A conceptual analysis of self-evaluation processes that theorizes self-esteem functions to psychologically monitor of one's degree of inclusion and exclusion in social groups
• Exchange relationship


  A reciprocal interdependency that emphasizes the trading of gratifying experiences and rewards among members
• Communal relationship


  A reciprocal interdependency that emphasizes meeting the needs and interests of others rather than maximizing one's own personal outcomes
• Norm of reciprocity


  A social standard that enjoins individuals to pay back in kind what they receive from others
• Group culture


  The distinct ways that members of a group represent their experiences, including consensually accepted knowledge, beliefs, rituals, customs, rules, language, norms, and practice
• Equity norm


  A social standard that encourages distributing rewards and resources to members in proportion to their inputs
• Equality norm


  A social standard that encourages distributing rewards and resources equally among all members
• Optimal distinctiveness theory

  A conceptual analysis that assumes individuals strive to maintain a balance between three basic needs: the need to be assimilated by the group, the need to be connected to friends and loved ones, and the need for autonomy and differentiation
• Social identity theory


  A theoretical analysis of group processes and intergroup relations that assumes groups influence their members' self-concepts and self-esteem, particularly when individuals categorize themselves as group members and identify with the group
• Minimal intergroup situation


  A research procedure used in studies of intergroup conflict that involves creating temporary groups of anonymous, unrelated people
• Social categorization


  The perceptual classification of people, including the self, into categories
• Stereotypes (or prototypes)

  A socially shared set of cognitive generalizations (e.g., beliefs and expectations) about the qualities and characteristics of the typical member of a particular group or social category
• Self-stereotyping (or autostereotyping)


  Accepting socially shared generalizations about the prototypical characteristics attributed to members of one's group as accurate descriptions of oneself
• Social identification


  Accepting the group as an extension of the self and therefore basing one's self-definition on the group's qualities and characteristics
• Basking in reflected glory


  Seeking direct or indirect association with prestigious or successful groups or individuals
• Cutting off reflected failure

  Distancing oneself from a group that performs poorly
• Ingroup–outgroup bias


  The tendency to view the ingroup, its members, and its products more positively than other groups, their members, and their products
• Social creativity


  Restricting comparisons between the ingroup and other groups to tasks and outcomes when the ingroup is more successful than other groups and avoiding areas in which other groups surpass the ingroup
• Stereotype threat


  The anxiety-provoking belief that others' perceptions and evaluations will be influenced by their negative stereotypes about one's group that can, in some cases, interfere with one's ability to perform up to one's capabilities
• Individual mobility


  Reducing one's connection to a group in order to minimize the threat to individual self-esteem
• Levels of analysis


  • Individual level
  • Group level
• Multi-level perspective


  • Group
  • Societal
  • Individual
• Measurements


  • Observations
  • Self reports
  • Sociometry
  • Sociogram
• Research methods


  • Case study
  • Correlational studies
  • Experimental studies
  • Studying group issues & implications