This document discusses groups and group dynamics. It defines what a group is and lists attributes of groups according to Benson. It describes two types of groups - formal and informal - and provides examples. It outlines some benefits of belonging to groups, including security, status, self-esteem, and power. It then defines group dynamics as behaviors within and between groups and discusses some key concepts in group dynamics, including cohesion, conformity, social loafing, and groupthink.

1. Presented by :Jyoti Pali, PhD Scholar, Social Work

2.  Two or more people who interact with one another, share
similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of
unity.
 In the last decade of the nineteenth century, Émile
Durkheim established just how wrapped up individual
identity was with group membership.
 Gustave Le Bon argued that people changed as they
joined groupings such as crowds.

3. Jarlath F. Benson has identified a
list of attributes of any group :
• A set of people engage in frequent
interactions
• They identify with one another.
• They are defined by others as a
group.
• They share beliefs, values, and
norms about areas of common
interest.
• They define themselves as a group.
• They come together to work on
common tasks and for agreed
purposes (Benson 2009: 4)

6. There are two types of groups individuals form. They are 1. formal
groups
2. Informal groups.
 Formal Groups
These are the type of work groups created by the organization and
have designated work assignments and rooted tasks. The behavior
of such groups is directed toward achieving organizational goals.
Formal groups can be further classified into two sub-groups −
Command Group − It is a group consisting of individuals who
report directly to the manager.
Interest Group − It is a group formed by individuals working
together to achieve a specific objective.

7. These groups are formed with friendships and common interests.
These can be further classified into two sub-groups −
Task group − Those working together to finish a job or task is known
as a task group.
Friendship group − Those brought together because of their shared
interests or common characteristics is known as friendship group.
For example − A group of workers working on a project and reporting
to the same manager is considered as command group, while a group
of friends chilling out together is considered as an interest group or
say members of a club.

8.  Sense of Security come in numbers.
 Status and prestige that comes from belonging to a specific group.
 it provides recognition
 Increase self-esteem and feeling of self-worth.
 Affiliation with groups can meet one's social needs.
 groups represent power , provide options for individuals to practice
power.
 What mostly cannot be achieved individually becomes possible
with group effort.
 To accomplish a particular task.

9. Group dynamics is a system of behaviors
and psychological processes occurring
within a social group (intragroup
dynamics), or between social groups
(intergroup dynamics).
The study of group dynamics can be
useful in understanding decision-making
behavior, tracking the spread of diseases
in society, creating effective therapy
techniques, and following the emergence
and popularity of new ideas and
technologies.
Group dynamics are at the core of
understanding racism, sexism, and other
forms of social prejudice and
discrimination.

10.  Kurt Lewin (1943, 1948, 1951) coined
the term group dynamics to describe
the way groups and individuals act
and react to changing circumstances.
 Group dynamics concern
how groups form, their structure and
process, and how they function.
 Kurt Lewin proposed 3 stages :
1. Unfreezing
2. Change
3. Freezing

11. Individual behaves differently when work as a member of a
group, few processes take place when a group is formed, these
are given as:
 Group Cohesion
 Group Conformity
 Social loafing
 Social facilitation
 Deindividuality
 Group conflict
 Group think

12.  It means working together.
 The extent to which members of a group exhibit a
desire to achieve a common goal or identity.
 Factors of cohesion:
1. Collective identity
2. A sense of shared purpose
3. Structured patterns of communication

13. Group Conformity is a process of giving in to real or
imagined pressure from a group .
Example: Fashion trends among Teenagers.
Social loafing:
Social loafing is the phenomenon of a person exerting
less effort to achieve a goal when he or she works in a
group than when working alone.

14. Social facilitation
It can be defined as a
tendency for individuals to
perform differently when in
the mere presence of others.
Example: Riding bike faster in
presence of friends.

15. Conflict arise between the members of a group or
between the groups.
Intragroup – this refers to
the conflict between one or
more people in the
same group or team.
Intergroup – these involve
several different teams and are
often difficult to handle
without external support or
preventative/corrective action.

16. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within
a group of people in which the desire for harmony or
conformity in the group results in an irrational or
dysfunctional decision-making outcome.
Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a
consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative
viewpoints by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and
by isolating themselves from outside influences.
Groupthink requires individuals to avoid
raising controversial issues or alternative solutions, and there is
loss of individual creativity, uniqueness and independent
thinking.