This document discusses various aspects of group communication and dynamics. It defines what a group is, provides examples of common groups, and explores reasons why people join groups such as a sense of belonging, shared goals, and identity formation. The document also examines how groups develop over time through different stages including forming, storming, norming, and performing. It discusses important group concepts like norms, leadership styles, roles within groups, and how conflict can be managed. The overall purpose is to provide an overview of key topics related to understanding groups and group communication.

1. Group Communication

2. What is a group?
Write your definition down on a piece of
paper
Here is a suggestion:
A group is a collection of people who interact
in some way and share common goals and
interests

3. Groups you may have included on your
list:
Say-it-right group
Whatsapp group
Work group
Family group
Climbing group
Football team
Zumba group
Which groups do you belong to?
Write down a list of all the different groups you
belong to e.g family, friendship etc

4. Goals of group membership
1. Why do we join groups? What is the
purpose of belonging to them? What do
we get out of being in them?
2. Look at each of the groups you listed – jot
down next to it, why you think you belong
to it and what you get out of this
belonging e.g family – security, love

5. Functions of groups
Here are some suggestions regarding
why we join groups:
• To achieve a shared goal (Task-oriented)
• To resist a common threat
• To have a sense of belonging and security
(socio-emotional)
• To create an identity for ourselves

6. Group Activity
1. Form yourself into three equal groups.
2. Each group can take a seat at one of the
group tables set up.
3. You will find a task to perform – this is an
independent task – no interaction with the
teacher is necessary and the teacher will
not interact with you.

7. Choose ONE topic and discuss in your
group. Prepare a set of instruction to one of
the following. You are given 10 minutes to
discuss and 2-3 minutes to present.
1. How to make a pumpkin pie.
2. How to take a bus to Chow Kit road.
3. How to train a monkey to climb a coconut tree.
4. How to cast a net to catch fish.

8. How do groups form?
Groups go through stages, according to Tuckman
(1995)
1.Forming – people find out about the task, the rules and the
nature of the situation facing the group, feel anxiety, try to find a leader
– how did this work in your group activity?
2.Rebellion – conflict between individuals, rebellion against the
leader, resistance to rules or demands of task
3.Norming – stable group structure, conflicts resolved, social
norms established
4.Co-operation – Problems solved, group turns to constructive
solution to group task, energy directed at task

9. Group Norms
1. Groups have what we call ‘norms’ of
behaviour or ‘rules’. Depending on the
type of group, this can be unspoken or
laid out explicitly, perhaps in a contract.
2. Look at your list of groups – which ones
have explicit, spelt out rules of behaviour
and membership?
3. Are there any ‘unspoken’ rules or norms
for the other groups?

10. Types of group
1. Groups with set, laid out rules and norms
are called FORMAL groups – give me
some examples.
2. Groups with unspoken, underlying norms
and values are called INFORMAL groups
– give me some examples

11. Leadership styles – what qualities are
important in a leader?
Tedeschi and Lindskold (1976) say:
1.Social influence – a person who can control others behaviour,
opinions and persuade people to stick to roles and group norms
2.Behaviour – effective leaders can understand the task the
group is facing and can match the tasks to appropriate people
3.Authority – if leader is assigned to role by being nominated or
elected, this reflects other people’s ideas of their authority or ability to
achieve the group’s goals and manage the situation.

12. Leadership styles
1. Authoritarian – makes decisions for group, does not
take part in group activities, assigns people to tasks
without saying why and makes changes without
consultation
2. Democratic – makes decisions but consults group,
friendly to group members, participates in group
activities, gives reasons for praise and criticism and
offered help when required.
3. Laissez-faire – takes no decisions, does not direct or
control group activities, makes neither positive or
negative comments but others look to them.
4. Collective – no ONE person is leader, several leaders
emerge and take decisions at different points.

13. Other roles in groups
1. Everyone plays a role in a group, even if
it is what is called the ‘uncommitted’!
2. How do people get their roles in groups?
3. What sort of role did you play in the group
activity?

14. Group Think
Sometimes groups become so well established that they start to think in a
group way rather than an individual way. Janis (1972) says such groups have
these symptoms:
1. They think no-one can hurt or criticise them as individuals because they are
protected by the group
2. They rationalise, or excuse behaviour by saying it is for the good of their
group
3. They believe their group is right and others are wrong
4. They stereotype people outside their group as being bad, wrong or not as
good as them
5. They put direct pressure on members of the group who disagree, not to do
this
6. They encourage individual group members to limit their own behaviour and
thinking to fit in with the group
7. They have the illusion (not true) that everyone in the group believes in
everything the group does and thinks (link to BBC Prison Experiment and
original experiment)

15. Group Conflict
Even in well established groups there is conflict. According
to Blake, Shepard and Mouton (1964) we can manage
conflict in three ways:
1.Avoidance – we ignore or gloss over problems
2.Defusion (note spelling!)- we put off conflict to another
time or try to agree on minor points – just avoidance really
3.Confrontation = win-lose, win-win, lose-lose
Win-lose – usually when leader imposes a solution
Win-win – a solution offered where both people get
something out of it – a compromise
Lose-lose – neither person gets their way but conflict over