Transcript What is a Group?

Journal #2
 What is your definition of a GROUP? What
specific characteristics require a group to
be considered a group?
 Based on your definition, think about your
day yesterday, list what groups you were a
part of yesterday? Why would you
consider those to be a group?
What is a Group?
Interpersonal Communication
Characteristics of a Group
 1. Shared or common interests
 2. Regular communication among members
 3. Contribution of all members to group
functioning (plans, decisions)
 4. Small enough size for the above to occur
comfortably
 5. Interdependence among group members
Purpose of Groups
 1. Social: provide friendship for members
 2. Social/Task: enjoy people’s company and to accomplish a
task (academic clubs, athletic teams)
 3. Task: Main purpose is to complete a task, usually little
social interaction
Social
Social / Task
Task
Formal Groups
* Are structured in the way they run
* Operate according to a constitution or rules
Formal Groups
* Have official roles and duties for members
* Range in size from very large to very small
* Exist for a length of time
* Have an official name or title
Informal Groups
Flexible in the way they operate
Are less concerned with official roles
* Are
Are less concerned with structure
Maintain a small size
Formed to deal with a specific need
Subgroups
* Republicans and Democrats
* Your Family
* Drama Club
* Soccer Club
Division of Labor Healthy Competition Variety of Interests
Sub Groups
 Smaller group formed within an informal or formal
group
 Example: Government - Republicans and Democrats –
Committees within parties
 Example: Student Council – Homecoming Committee
 Example: Athletic Teams – Varsity, JV, Sophomore,
Freshmen
Cliques
Subgroups having members who tend to
exclude all others and to “stick together”
Why do people join groups?
* Belonging or affection
* Security
* Adventure
* Service
* Personal growth or development
Norms
Norms = General patterns which have become
relatively permanent and predictable parts of
a group’s activities and attitudes; spoken or
unspoken rules of behavior.
GROUP NORMS MAY REGULATE
THINGS SUCH AS:
dress
grades
language
ambitions
attitude
your friends
places you go
use of time
behavior
interaction with others
Group Norms: Task Groups
 Different connotation within a task or
social/task group
 Norms: procedures for groups to
participate to be most effective
Synergy
The energy of a group is greater than
the sum of the energy of each
member.