Group Behavior

Group Behavior

Group Behavior in sociology refers to the situations where people interact in large or small groups. The field of group dynamics deals with small groups that may reach consensus and act in a coordinated way. Groups of a large number of people in a given area may act simultaneously to achieve a goal that differs from what individuals would do acting alone (herd behaviour). A large group (a crowd or mob) is likely to show examples of group behaviour when people gathered in a given place and time act in a similar way—for example, joining a march,

Defining Characteristics of Groups -:

Currently there is not a universal definition of what constitutes a group. Groups can have varying numbers of members, communication styles, and structures. Research has identified a few common requirements contributing to the recognition of individuals working in a collaborative environment to be considered a “group”:

Interdependence: In order for an individual of the collective to accomplish their part in the assigned task they depend, to some degree, on the outputs of other members of the collective.

Social Interaction: In order to accomplish the goal some form of verbal or nonverbal communication is required to take place amongst the members of the collective.

Perception of a Group: All members of the collective must agree they are, in fact, part of a group.

Commonality of Purpose: All the members of the collective come together to serve or attain a common goal.

Some researchers suggest additional characteristics need to be identified in order for a collective of individuals to be categorized as a group such as: working the same shifts, shared physical work locations, and reporting to the same manager. However the commonalities of the multiple definitions reviewed suggest that the definition of a group is based on the interdependence of people who come together to accomplish a common goal.

Stages of Group Development

Group development focuses on the somewhat unique way groups are formed and the manner in which they may change over time. There are a variety of development theories and some suggest that groups develop through a series of phases culminating in effective performance.The most common of these models is Tuckman’s (1965) Stage Model. It breaks group development into the following five stages:

Forming: As the group convenes, conflict is usually low to non-existent as everyone tries to determine their individual role and the personalities of fellow team members. This stage is often marked by agreeable neutrality while the group takes form and begins to navigate the unknown.

Storming: Storming occurs after the group overcomes the sense of uncertainty and begins to actively explore roles and boundaries. Chaos, pronounced efforts to influence others, and instances of conflict and/or enthusiasm are common.

Norming: Norming in groups indicate that norms and role ownership are emerging. Generally this means that conflict and chaos is decreasing or has ended.

Performing: Originally noted as the final stage, performing occurs when the team completes their primary task(s). Adjourning: Tuckman (1977) refined the model to include a fifth stage to address how the group begins to disengage and move on to new tasks potentially beyond the team.