ROLES INDIVIDUALS ADOPT WITHIN GROUPS Flashcards
What are roles within a group?
When a group forms various roles are adopted by individual members. Various roles are needed for a group to be successful in complementing tasks or goals that the group has set for itself. They may be task orientated, socioemotional or destructive. These roles refer to the level of expectation, commitment and behaviour associated with each individual role within a group may change over time depending on the groups requirements.
What is a ROLE?
The part played by someone in a given social context, with any characteristics or expected pattern of behaviour that it entails.
What is a LEADER?
An individual who guides or directs others by showing them the way, or by telling them how to behave.
What are the three categories of roles?
- Task orientated
- Socioemotional
- Destructive
What are TASK ORIENTATED roles? Give two examples.
Members are largely concerned with completing the task within a specified amount of time, they are goal oriented.
- Expert
- Judge
- Brainstormer
What are SOCIOEMOTIONAL roles? Give two examples.
Members are concerned with the wellbeing of the group and it’s members. They work at knowing each member so that they can best cater to their needs. Their primary focus is on group cohesion.
- Peace maker
- Social organiser
- Encourager
What are DESTRUCTIVE roles? Give two examples.
Members work at a diverting attention from the task so that the goal either is not achieved or are achieved at a substandard level. They may push the group to make hasty decisions and ill informed on group harmony.
- Victim
- Husher
- Interrupter
What are NORMS within a group?
- Norms are the rules or standards groups adapt to regulate group members behaviours.
- Roles + norms (rules) = groups.
- Ideally norms facilitate group survival, clarify what is acceptable behaviour within a group and express the central values of the group.
- Early in a groups formation, norms may be set based on what is accepted behaviour by the group.
What is CONFORMITY within a group?
- Refers to a group members willingness to follow norms established by a group, then in turn contributes, this is the glue that unites groups.
- Conformity to norms can affect the quality of decision making in groups.
- Social psychologist living Janis believes that one negative effect of a highly cohesive group is that they might suffer from a syndrome known as “groupthink”.
What is COHESIVENESS within a group?
- The extent to which the group members are attracted to each other’s ideas, goals and the groups identity.
- A group who successfully completes their goals, can increase the cohesiveness of the group.
- Also if a person feels their social and emotional needs are being met by a group, they will also feel more connected to such a group.
- This partially explains the intense attraction most people feel towards their families and closest friends.
What are the PERSONAL FACTORS that contribute to the role a individual may adopt within a group?
- Self-esteem
- Self confidence
- Sense of belonging
- Education
- Heredity
- Previous experience
- Culture
Define SELF-ESTEEM.
An individuals perception of the self and their self value.
What are some pro’s and con’s of SELF-ESTEEM?
PROS - Self belief in being able to complete task. - Better at communication. - Can better get the job done. CONS - Feel as if they have nothing to offer. - Likely to be withdrawn. - Hesitant and often do not contribute.
Define SELF CONFIDENCE.
If confident in own abilities most likely to take on challenges.
What are the pro’s and con’s of SELF CONFIDENCE?
PROS
- Achieving a goal/task experience success. High self confidence, they motivate and lead others.
CONS
- Experience of failure, low self confidence will impact group cohesion.
