Importance of Groups PDF

Importance of groups – Humans are small group beings – We live in group – Improve quality of life A social group is two or more people who identify with and interact with one another. (group of families, circle of friends, clubs, businesses, neighborhoods and large organizations.) 1. P...

Importance of groups – Humans are small group beings – We live in group – Improve quality of life A social group is two or more people who identify with and interact with one another. (group of families, circle of friends, clubs, businesses, neighborhoods and large organizations.) 1. Primary Group -is a small social group whose members share personal and lasting relationships -joined by primary relationship, people spend a great deal of time together, engage in a wide range of activities and they feel they know one another pretty well. -they show real concern for one another -the family is every society's most important primary group -primary group are among the first group we experience in life (family and friends) -plays a very important role in the socialization process, shaping our attitude, behavior and social identity 2. Secondary Group - is a large and impersonal social group whose members pursue a specific goal or activity -have characteristics opposite to those of primaryy groups -secondary relationships involve weak emotional ties and little personal knowledge of one another -many secondary groups exist for only a short time, beginning and ending without particular significance -students enrolled in the same course at a large university—who may or may not see one another again after the semester ends—are one example of a secondary group. Unlike members of primary groups, who display a personal orientation, people in secondary groups have a goal orientation Social Processes are those ways of interacting which ‘are observable when individuals and groups meet and establish systems of relationship or the results that arise when change disturb the already existing modes of the life. Social Processes “are current forms that social interactions take. Derived Social Processes The following are the derived social processes which arise out of the basic social processes: - Acculturation. It is a social process where a group blends in and takes on some characteristics of another culture. It is also called cultural borrowing or cultural imitation. - Assimilation. It involves some kind of interpenetration or fusion of cultural elements whereby persons or groups accept the cultural traits, attitudes, beliefs and sentiments of another through direct, friendly and continuous contacts. - Amalgamation. It refers to some kind of biological fusion through intermarriage of persons coming from different groups. - Differentiation. It refers to the creation of interests resulting in individuals or groups needing or wanting different things or services rather than the same thing. - Accommodation. It refers to the social process whereby competing or conflicting individuals or groups thresh out difficulties in order to minimize, if not stop, the conflict. 1. Task level is concerned with the accomplishment of the concrete goals of the group. Ex. A task force must complete a grant application to begin a service to people with AIDS or who are HIV positive. 2.Process dimension is concerned primarily with the nature of the relationship among the members and their impart on the functioning of the group. Ex. This dimension includes socioemotional needs of the task force members- task force members must develop effective processes fr relating to one another and for addressing their individual feelings related to AIDS and HIV in the group context in order to effectively complete the task. Two types of goals Personal goal - a goal held by a member of a group Group goal - held by enough members of a group that the group can be said to be working towards achieving it. Cohesion refers to "the act of sticking together". Group Cohesion is the sum of all variable influencing members to stay in a group. The cohesion can be measured and deliberated by using pay offs and cost. The higher level of attraction (pay offs), the greater attractive qualities of cohesion. Membership describes the quality of the relationship between an individual and a group. Levels of group membership a. Formal and full psychological membership – those who have invested themselves significantly in the group and its goals, they feel a high degree of commitment to the group’s goals and to the other group members. b. Marginal members – those who are not willing to invest themselves fully in the group. They may do what is necessary to remain a member of the group, but only what is minimally necessary. Marginal members do make contributions to groups, but to a much lesser degree than full psychological members. c. Aspiring membership – those who is not formally a member of a group but wishes to be a member. Reference group is a social group that serves as a point of reference in making evaluations and decisions. Two distinct functions of reference groups: 1. normative, for members who seek to conform to their positions and standards for behavior 2. decision-making, for members who use group standards, or norms, as the basis for making and evaluating decisions Leadership as “an interaction between two or more members of a group that often involves a structuring or reconstructuring of the situation and the perceptions and expectations of the members… Leadership occurs when one group member modifies the motivation or competencies of others in the group Two Leadership Roles 1. Instrumental leadership refers to group leadership that focuses on the completion of tasks. Members look to instrumental leaders to make plans, give orders, and get things done 2. Expressive leadership, by contrast, is group leadership that focuses on the group’s well-being. Expressive leaders take less interest in achieving goals than in raising group morale and minimizing tension and conflict among members. Three types of leadership (Lewin) 1. Democratic leadership focuses on group decision-making, active member involvement, honest praise and criticism, and comradeship -more expressive and makes a point of including everyone in the decision-making process. Although less successful in a crisis situation, democratic leaders generally draw on the ideas of all members to develop creative solutions to problems. 2. Autocratic Leadership characterized by domineering and hierarchical leader -focuses on instrumental concerns, takes personal charge of decision making, and demands that group members obey orders. Although this leadership style may win little affection from the group, a fast-acting authoritarian leader is appreciated in a crisis. 3. Laissez-faire leadership characterized by an uninvolved, non-directive approach to leading -allows the group to function more or less on its own (laissez-faire in French means “leave it alone”). This style is typically the least effective in promoting group goals Other traditional notions of leadership Trait notion suggests that leaders are born. It implies that leadership is possible only for people who have the traits of leadership and that these people (leaders) are somehow destined for greatness or influence well above the rest of us. Situational leadership suggest that leaders emerge out of the requirements of a particular situation. If a person has the necessary expertise requires to solve a particular problem, the requirements of the situation create the leader. Positional leadership suggests that leaders are created by the position they hold. The position of chair or president will evoke from its holder the qualities necessary to lead. The authority or influence necessary for leadership comes out of the position or title.