Social Influence and Group Processes

About this unit

People rarely act alone; they belong to families, classes, teams and communities. This unit explains what a group is, why people join groups, how groups form and develop, and the different types of groups. It then looks at how groups influence individual behaviour through social loafing and group polarisation. These ideas are directly useful for teachers managing group work and classroom dynamics.

Key ideas

• A group is an organised system of two or more interacting, interdependent individuals with common motives and norms.
• Groups differ from crowds, teams and audiences.
• Reasons for joining groups: security, status, self-esteem, need satisfaction, goal achievement and knowledge.
• Group formation through proximity, similarity and common motives; Tuckman's stages of group development.
• Group structure: roles, norms, status and cohesiveness.
• Types of groups: primary and secondary, formal and informal, ingroup and outgroup.
• Social loafing and group polarisation.

How to prepare

• Memorise the five stages of group development in order.
• Learn the causes and remedies of social loafing.
• Practise case questions on types of groups and group influence.