Group structure refers to the roles, norms, and networks of relationships that define and organize a group. Norms are unwritten rules that regulate members' behaviors and develop gradually over interactions. Roles are sets of expected behaviors for people in certain positions within a group. Role differentiation occurs as roles become more specialized. Status differentiation is when some members gain more authority, with certain individuals acquiring status through their accepted claims and authority. Communication and attraction networks describe who interacts most frequently within the group, influencing outcomes like performance and satisfaction.
6. Consensual They develop gradually during the course of interaction among members—in some cases through deliberation and choice but often only gradually as members’ actions align. Norms are shared rules of action Norms are social standards that are accepted by a substantial portion of the group
22. Attraction Networks Patterns of liking/disliking, acceptance/rejection, and inclusion/exclusion among members of a group Also known as sociometric structure Develops through a sociometric differentiation process that orders group members from least liked to most liked. Attraction relations tend to be reciprocal and transitive, and clusters or coalitions often exist within the group that are higher in homophily than the group as a whole.
23. Attraction Networks As Heider’s balance theory suggests, sociometric structures also tend to reach a state of equilibrium in which likes and dislikes are balanced within the group. Sociometric differentiation generally favors individuals who possess socially attractive qualities, such as cooperativeness of physical appeal But social standing also depends on the degree to which the individual’s attributes match the qualities valued by the group (person-group fit)
24. Communication Networks Patterns of informal transmission and exchange that describe who communicates most frequently and to what extent with whom
26. Communication Networks A group’s communication network may parallel formally established paths, but most groups also have an informal network that defines who speaks to whom most frequently. Centralized networks are more efficient if tasks are too complex and require high levels of information exchange A group’s network influences a variety of group and individual outcomes, including performance, effectiveness, and levels of satisfaction. Individuals who occupy more central positions in communication networks are more ifluencial