8. Group Processes

Question 1

What is a group?

Answer 1

• Collection of 3 or more people who interact with each other and are interdependent
• Their needs and goals cause them to rely on one another - they work towards a common goal

Question 2

Why do people join groups?

Answer 2

• Evolutionary perspective: forming relationships with others fulfills a number of basic human needs; innate
• Humanistic perspective: groups help us define who we are as individuals
• Collective identity: group membership motivates us to become involved in social change

Question 3

Name 4 elements that determine the composition and function of groups

Answer 3

• Social norms
• Social roles
• Group cohesiveness
• Group diversity

Question 4

What are social norms?

Answer 4

• Implicit/explicit rules that specify acceptable behaviors, values and beliefs for members of a group
• Expectations for all members of the group

Question 5

What are social roles?

Answer 5

• Shared expectations by group members about how particular people in the group are supposed to behave
• Getting too caught up in roles can result in loss of identity and personality change
• Ex: Zimbardo’s experiment

Question 6

What is group cohesiveness?

Answer 6

• Qualities of a group that bind members together and promote liking among them - shared identities encourage us to bond with one anotehr
• Cohesiveness influences the extent to which members are likely to stay in the group, take part in group activities, and recruit like-minded members
• A group that is too cohesive lose aspects of objective thinking and decision making

Question 7

What is group diversity?

Answer 7

• Groups that are non-homogeneous, comprised of members who are not alike in age, sex, beliefs, and opinions
• The more diverse groups tend to make better decisions

Question 8

Explain social facilitation

Answer 8

• The presence of others increase physiological arousal. When that arousal exists, it’s easier to do something simple, and more difficult to do something complex or new