Group DynamicsGroup Dynamics

Group Processes Group Processes

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Somaya Malkawi, PhDSomaya Malkawi, PhD

DefinitionsDefinitions

Group dynamics: the study of the Group dynamics: the study of the processes concerning the nature of processes concerning the nature of groups, how they develop and how groups, how they develop and how they workthey work

ContentContent – Explicit words, topics, – Explicit words, topics,

activitiesactivities Process Process – Understanding the nature – Understanding the nature

of relationships between individuals of relationships between individuals while interacting with each otherwhile interacting with each other

Examples of Process Examples of Process CommentsComments

Here is what your behavior is like (feedback, Here is what your behavior is like (feedback, observation)observation)

Here is how your behavior makes others feel Here is how your behavior makes others feel (impact of behavior towards others)(impact of behavior towards others)

Here is how your behavior influences opinions Here is how your behavior influences opinions others have of you (trust, respect, like/dislike)others have of you (trust, respect, like/dislike)

Here is how your behavior influences your Here is how your behavior influences your opinion of yourselfopinion of yourself

Are you happy with yourself? What changes Are you happy with yourself? What changes would you like to make?would you like to make?

Resistance to Processing Resistance to Processing

Socialization anxiety – Reminder of Socialization anxiety – Reminder of parental criticismparental criticism

Social norms – Not politeSocial norms – Not polite Fears of retaliation – Commenting Fears of retaliation – Commenting

on behaviors of others invites on behaviors of others invites inspection of one’s own flaws and inspection of one’s own flaws and imperfectionsimperfections

Power maintenance – Discussion of Power maintenance – Discussion of process tends to equalize process tends to equalize

Techniques for Uncovering Techniques for Uncovering Group ProcessGroup Process

Note non-verbal behaviors (i.e., changes Note non-verbal behaviors (i.e., changes in posture, facial expression)in posture, facial expression)

Note significant words usedNote significant words used Review patterns of behaviorReview patterns of behavior Be a group historian, note patterns Be a group historian, note patterns Remind group of original goals, connect Remind group of original goals, connect

with current interactionswith current interactions Note discrepancies/incongruitiesNote discrepancies/incongruities Review group tensionsReview group tensions Listen for what is omitted, not statedListen for what is omitted, not stated Ask clients to answer process questionsAsk clients to answer process questions

ROLES people play in groups ROLES people play in groups RELATIONSHIPS between members RELATIONSHIPS between members INTERACTION INTERACTION Non-VERBAL COMMUNICATIONNon-VERBAL COMMUNICATION DECISION MAKINGDECISION MAKING

ROLES ROLES

Roles are social positions Roles are social positions ““Behavioral enacting of the Behavioral enacting of the

patterned expectations attributed to patterned expectations attributed to a stated position”a stated position”

Can be formal (head of department, Can be formal (head of department, student, volunteer, patient) or student, volunteer, patient) or informal (leader, follower, clown, informal (leader, follower, clown, scapegoat, know-it-all, critic)scapegoat, know-it-all, critic)

ROLES ROLES

Group roles sheet*Group roles sheet* Group Task Roles: Group Task Roles:

Function is to facilitate group effortFunction is to facilitate group effort Group Building and Maintenance Roles: Group Building and Maintenance Roles:

Function is to build group centered Function is to build group centered activities and feelings activities and feelings

Individual RolesIndividual Roles Satisfy own individual need which are Satisfy own individual need which are

irrelevant to the group taskirrelevant to the group task

The Function of Group The Function of Group RolesRoles

Members take variety of roles Members take variety of roles depending on the contributions they depending on the contributions they make to the groupmake to the group

Group roles can be fixed or fluid Group roles can be fixed or fluid depending on the purpose of the depending on the purpose of the group and the events of the momentgroup and the events of the moment

People adjust to their role according People adjust to their role according to the roles others adoptto the roles others adopt

Problems with Group Problems with Group RolesRoles

Problems that can arise with group Problems that can arise with group roles: roles: Role lockRole lock: individual is stuck in a fixed : individual is stuck in a fixed

role and stereotyped behavior (Read box role and stereotyped behavior (Read box on page 24)on page 24)

Role statusRole status: adopt high status roles and : adopt high status roles and force others into subservient roles – force others into subservient roles – reduce cohesionreduce cohesion

Role conflictRole conflict: member forces to adopt a : member forces to adopt a role that is disagreeable to them role that is disagreeable to them

INTRA-GROUP INTRA-GROUP RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS

Socio metric structure or sociogram Socio metric structure or sociogram Asking group members to chose or reject Asking group members to chose or reject

other members according to a criterion other members according to a criterion (e.g most liked, working together) (e.g most liked, working together)

Sociograms are limited in understanding Sociograms are limited in understanding relationships relationships

They give good indications of alliances, They give good indications of alliances, sub-groups and the emotional positionsub-groups and the emotional position

SUB-GROUPSSUB-GROUPS

Seen in collaboration sociogramSeen in collaboration sociogram Having diverse sections of group life Having diverse sections of group life

enriches the groupenriches the group Source of strength and support for Source of strength and support for

quieter membersquieter members Stepping stone for new members who Stepping stone for new members who

need slower introduction to the groupneed slower introduction to the group Disadvantages: Disadvantages: Competing cliques and Polarized views Competing cliques and Polarized views

TRIADSTRIADS

Special type of subgroupSpecial type of subgroup Interaction and relationshop Interaction and relationshop

between three people between three people Tirad configurations (fig. 2-4)Tirad configurations (fig. 2-4)

InteractionInteraction

Task Vs social groupTask Vs social group Table 2.1Table 2.1

Verbal interactionVerbal interaction Patterns of communication Patterns of communication

The hierarchy The hierarchy The circle The circle The clique The clique

Non-Verbal interaction table 2.2Non-Verbal interaction table 2.2