10  Group Dynamics: The patterns of behavior and interactions that occur within groups.

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10.1 Conformity

📖 This occurs when individuals align their thoughts or actions with those of a group, even if they differ from their own beliefs or preferences.

10.1.1 People conform to maintain the group’s harmony and avoid social isolation.

• Belief:
  • Humans are social creatures who value acceptance and belonging.
• Rationale:
  • Individuals may suppress their own opinions or behaviors to fit in with the group, fearing that dissenting could lead to rejection or conflict.

10.1.2 Conformity is influenced by the size and unanimity of the group.

• Belief:
  • Group pressure can be overwhelming, especially when the group is large or appears united.
• Rationale:
  • The larger the group and the more unanimous its members appear to be, the more likely individuals are to conform to its norms.

10.1.3 Individuals with high self-esteem are less likely to conform.

• Belief:
  • Self-confidence allows individuals to resist external pressure and assert their own beliefs.
• Rationale:
  • People with a strong sense of self-worth are more likely to trust their own judgment and resist conforming to the opinions of others.

10.1.4 Cultural norms and values shape conformity.

• Belief:
  • Conformity is influenced by the society or culture in which individuals live.
• Rationale:
  • Societies that emphasize collectivism and group harmony tend to have higher levels of conformity, while individualistic cultures may encourage greater self-expression.

10.1.5 Conformity can have positive and negative consequences for individuals and groups.

• Belief:
  • Conformity can have both benefits and drawbacks, depending on the context.
• Rationale:
  • While conformity can promote group cohesion and decision-making efficiency, it can also stifle creativity, individuality, and critical thinking.

10.2 Groupthink

📖 This is a phenomenon where group members strive for consensus, resulting in suppression of dissenting opinions and critical thinking.

10.2.1 Groupthink can be caused by a desire for conformity, a fear of negative evaluation, or a belief that the group is infallible.

• Belief:
  • Groupthink is a result of group members’ desire to maintain harmony and avoid conflict.
• Rationale:
  • When group members are focused on maintaining harmony, they may be less likely to express dissenting opinions or challenge the group’s consensus.

10.2.2 Groupthink can lead to poor decision-making, as it prevents the group from considering all of the available information and perspectives.

• Belief:
  • Groupthink can lead to negative consequences for the group and its members.
• Rationale:
  • When group members are not able to express their dissenting opinions, the group may make decisions that are not in the best interests of all members.

10.2.3 To avoid groupthink, it is important to encourage critical thinking, dissent, and the expression of diverse perspectives.

• Belief:
  • It is important to take steps to prevent groupthink from occurring.
• Rationale:
  • By encouraging critical thinking and dissent, groups can make better decisions and avoid the negative consequences of groupthink.

10.2.4 Groupthink can be prevented by having a strong leader who encourages critical thinking and dissent.

• Belief:
  • A strong leader can help to prevent groupthink.
• Rationale:
  • A strong leader can help to create an environment where group members feel comfortable expressing their dissenting opinions and challenging the group’s consensus.

10.2.5 Groupthink can be prevented by having a devil’s advocate.

• Belief:
  • A devil’s advocate can help to prevent groupthink.
• Rationale:
  • A devil’s advocate is someone who is assigned the role of challenging the group’s consensus and expressing dissenting opinions.

10.3 Social Facilitation

📖 This refers to the boost in performance when individuals work on a task in the presence of others, especially for simple or well-learned tasks.

10.3.1 The presence of others can lead to increased motivation and arousal, which can improve performance on simple or well-learned tasks.

• Belief:
  • Social facilitation occurs when the presence of others improves performance.
• Rationale:
  • The presence of others can create a sense of competition or evaluation, which can motivate individuals to perform better.

10.3.2 Social facilitation can be particularly strong when individuals are working on tasks that they are confident in.

• Belief:
  • Social facilitation is stronger for tasks that individuals are confident in.
• Rationale:
  • When individuals are confident in their abilities, they are more likely to be influenced by the presence of others.

10.3.3 Social facilitation can also occur when individuals are working on tasks that are relatively easy.

• Belief:
  • Social facilitation is stronger for easy tasks.
• Rationale:
  • Easy tasks require less cognitive effort, so individuals are more likely to be influenced by the presence of others.

10.3.4 Social facilitation can be reduced or eliminated when individuals are working on tasks that are difficult or complex.

• Belief:
  • Social facilitation is weaker for difficult tasks.
• Rationale:
  • Difficult tasks require more cognitive effort, so individuals are less likely to be influenced by the presence of others.

10.3.5 Social facilitation can also be reduced or eliminated when individuals are working in groups that are too large.

• Belief:
  • Social facilitation is weaker for large groups.
• Rationale:
  • Large groups can create a sense of anonymity, which can reduce the motivation to perform well.

10.4 Social Loafing

📖 This occurs when individuals exert less effort when working in a group, as they may assume others will compensate for their reduced effort.

10.4.1 Individuals may feel less accountable for their effort due to the diffused nature of responsibility in a group.

• Belief:
  • Social loafing may occur when individuals feel less personally responsible for the group’s outcome.
• Rationale:
  • In a group setting, the presence of other members may lead to a sense of anonymity and reduced individual accountability, resulting in decreased effort.

10.4.2 Larger groups can create a sense of anonymity, making it easier for individuals to ‘hide’ their lack of effort.

• Belief:
  • Social loafing is more likely to occur in larger groups.
• Rationale:
  • As group size increases, the sense of individual responsibility and accountability decreases, making it more likely that individuals will exert less effort.

10.4.3 Certain group dynamics, such as lack of clarity about individual roles or low group cohesion, can contribute to social loafing.

• Belief:
  • Social loafing can be influenced by group dynamics and interpersonal factors.
• Rationale:
  • When group members are uncertain about their roles or the group lacks a strong sense of unity, it can hinder individual motivation and lead to less effort being exerted.

10.4.4 Individuals may engage in social loafing when they see others exerting less effort, as it becomes a self-fulfilling cycle.

• Belief:
  • Social loafing can be contagious.
• Rationale:
  • Observing others engaging in low effort can set a negative social norm within the group, encouraging others to follow suit and reduce their own effort.

10.4.5 Addressing social loafing may involve creating clear roles, fostering group cohesion, and setting individual goals to enhance accountability.

• Belief:
  • Social loafing can be mitigated through effective group management.
• Rationale:
  • By implementing strategies that increase individual accountability, promoting collaboration, and establishing a sense of shared responsibility, group dynamics can be optimized to reduce the likelihood of social loafing.

10.5 Group Polarization

📖 This is the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial opinions of individual members, due to discussion and reinforcement of shared views.

10.5.1 Group polarization is a phenomenon where both the majority and minority opinions become more extreme due to group discussion and reinforcement.

• Belief:
  • This is because people tend to conform to the group’s opinion and avoid expressing dissenting views.
• Rationale:
  • This is because they want to be seen as part of the group and avoid social rejection.

10.5.2 People in groups tend to be more cautious and less likely to take risks than they would be if they were alone.

• Belief:
  • This is because they are influenced by the opinions of others and don’t want to stand out.
• Rationale:
  • This can lead to groupthink, where people make bad decisions because they are too afraid to challenge the consensus.

10.5.3 People in groups are more likely to be influenced by the opinions of others than they would be if they were alone.

• Belief:
  • This is because they want to be seen as part of the group and avoid social rejection.
• Rationale:
  • This can be a good thing if the group is made up of smart and informed people, but it can also be a bad thing if the group is made up of people who are biased or uninformed.

10.5.4 Groups tend to be more polarized than individuals, meaning that the majority opinion becomes more extreme and the minority opinion becomes more dissenting.

• Belief:
  • This is due to a process called normative influence.
• Rationale:
  • Members of a group want to conform to the group’s norms and expectations, and this can lead them to adopt more extreme positions.

10.5.5 Groups can be more creative than individuals, especially when the group is diverse.

• Belief:
  • This is because different people bring different perspectives and ideas to the group.
• Rationale:
  • However, groups can also be more likely to make mistakes, as they are more likely to be influenced by groupthink.