Sociology Chapter on Groups

What is a Group

• A group is made up of at least two individuals connected via social relationships.

Group Types

• Primary Groups: Small, long-term groups with frequent interaction, strong solidarity, and high interdependence. They significantly influence members' values, attitudes, and social outcomes.
• Social Groups: Groups with a smaller number of individuals who interact frequently for extended periods (e.g., work groups, clubs).
• Collectives: Large gatherings of people with similar actions and outlooks (e.g., crowds, queues).
• Categories: Perceived groupings of people based on assumed similarities (e.g., women, elderly, college students).

Characteristics of Groups

• Composition: Individuals within a group contribute to its nature.
• Boundaries: Group boundaries classify who is a member and who isn't.
• Size: The number of relationships exponentially increases with greater group size.
• Interaction: Interaction involves task-related communication and relationship-building.
• Interdependence: Groups create dependencies among members, either one-sided or mutual.
• Structure: Group interaction is patterned by norms, roles, and interpersonal relationships.
• Goals: Groups have varying goals (e.g., generating ideas, making decisions, executing tasks).
• Origin: Groups can be "planned" (deliberately formed) or "emergent" (forming gradually over time).
• Unity: Group cohesion or cohesiveness refers to the group's unity.
• Entitativity: Entitativity refers to the perceived "groupness" of an aggregation.

Group Dynamics

• "Dynamic" comes from "dynamikos," meaning powerful and energetic.
• Formative Processes: Include the human need to belong, factors promoting group formation, and development of group cohesion.
• Influence Processes: Involve aspects of group structure (norms, roles, relationships), conformity, power dynamics, and leadership.
• Performance Processes: Include group productivity, motivation, teamwork, and collaborative decision-making.
• Conflict Processes: Cover intragroup conflict (within a group) and intergroup conflict (between groups).
• Contextual Processes: Depend on group settings and specific purpose.

Stages of Group Development (Tuckman's Theory)

• Orientation (Forming): Exchange of personal information, uncertainty, tentative communication.
• Conflict (Storming): Disagreements, challenges to leadership and procedures, clique formation.
• Structure (Norming): Cohesiveness, agreement on procedures, standards, and roles, improved communication.
• Performance (Performing): Focus on task completion, cooperation, and decision-making.
• Dissolution (Adjourning): Departures, reduced dependence, potential regret.

Understanding the Social World

• The study of groups and their dynamics is vital to comprehending individuals, organizations, communities, and society as a whole.
• Groups are the building blocks connecting individuals to society.
• Societies, regardless of their type, are shaped by the groups within them.