8.2 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS - roles individuals adopt within groups

Question 1

Norms

Answer 1

Standards of behaviour expected of group members; prescribed modes of conduct.

Question 2

Conformity

Answer 2

Modification of individual behaviour resulting from group influences.

Question 3

Cohesiveness

Answer 3

Unity; state of sticking together or having consistency.

Question 4

Impact of norms

Answer 4

• Norms dictate the action of group members.
• Groups benefit from having mutually acceptable norms as they bring regularity and control to relationships. They are expected rules.

Question 5

Impact of conformity

Answer 5

• Conformity has negative meaning.
• Following demands, often at the expense of an individual’s own beliefs and opinions.
• However, studies show that conforming to group norms frequently improves the group’s functioning as well as having a positive impact on individual well-being.

Question 6

Impacts of cohesiveness

Answer 6

• The more conformity there is in a group, the greater the cohesiveness of the group.
• Motivates groups.
• The group usually performs better and achieves its goals, which in turn leads to great cohesion.

Question 7

Norm examples

Answer 7

• A group of students who party together often will have shared ideas about acceptable behaviour.
• In a classroom there will be norms that govern both the teacher’s and the students’
  behaviour, while other norms will be relevant to the teacher or only to the students

Question 8

Conformity impacts

Answer 8

• When student conform to a class norm that they should provide assistance to other students, both the group and the individual student’s benefit.