(Part - 1) - Social Influence & Group Processes Class 12 Psychology

Nature and Formation of Groups

• Groups can be defined as two or more individuals who interact with each other, share a common identity, and have a common goal or purpose. These groups can range from small, informal groups like a group of friends to larger, more formal groups like a corporation or government.
• The formation of groups can occur for a variety of reasons, including a shared interest, a common goal or objective, or even a sense of social identity. The process of group formation typically involves several stages, including the forming stage, where members are getting to know each other, the storming stage, where conflicts and disagreements may arise, the norming stage, where the group begins to establish its own norms and expectations, and the performing stage, where the group works together to achieve its goals.
• Groups can have both positive and negative impacts on individuals, depending on the characteristics of the group and the goals it pursues. For example, belonging to a supportive and cohesive group can provide individuals with a sense of social identity and support, whereas belonging to a group with negative goals or values can lead to harmful behaviors and attitudes.

Why do people join group?

People join groups for a variety of reasons, including:

• Social support and companionship: People may join groups to feel a sense of belonging and to build relationships with others who share similar interests and experiences.
• Shared interests and goals: Groups can provide a space for people who share common interests or goals to come together and pursue their interests or work towards achieving common goals.
• Information and knowledge sharing: Groups can provide a platform for people to exchange ideas, knowledge, and information on a particular topic or subject.
• Identity formation and validation: Joining a group can provide individuals with a sense of identity and validation, as they feel a sense of belonging to a particular group that shares their values, beliefs, or identity.
• Power and influence: Groups can also provide individuals with a sense of power and influence, as being part of a group can give them a stronger voice in decision-making and help them achieve their goals more effectively.

Group Formation

Group formation is the process by which a group of individuals come together to form a cohesive unit. The process of group formation typically involves several stages, which are:

• Forming: In this stage, individuals come together and start to get to know each other. They are generally polite and friendly with each other, and they try to establish their place in the group.
• Storming: In this stage, conflicts and disagreements may arise between individuals as they start to assert their opinions and ideas. This stage can be challenging for group members, but it is necessary for the group to progress.
• Norming: In this stage, the group begins to establish its own norms and expectations. Members start to understand each other's roles and responsibilities and work together to achieve the group's goals.
• Performing: In this final stage, the group works together to achieve its goals. Members are committed to the group's objectives and work collaboratively to achieve them.

Four important elements of group structure are:

• Roles: Roles are expectations defining how individuals should behave in a given situation. They represent typical behaviors in a social context, like being a son or daughter with specific expectations such as respecting elders and being responsible with studies.
• Norms: Norms are standards of behavior and beliefs agreed upon by a group. They act as the unwritten rules guiding the behavior of members, reflecting shared perspectives within a family or group.
• Status: Status is the social position accorded to group members by others, either ascribed or achieved. Group membership confers a particular status, which individuals seek based on prestige or favorability within and outside the group.
• Cohesiveness: Cohesiveness refers to the unity and mutual attraction among group members. As cohesion increases, members identify more as a collective entity rather than individuals, fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness within the group.
  Highly cohesive groups exhibit strong team spirit and reluctance to leave the group, although excessive cohesion can lead to issues like groupthink, an outcome of extreme unity.

Types of Groups

There are various types of groups, including:

1. Primary groups and Secondary Groups:  Primary groups are small, intimate social groups composed of family members or close friends. These groups are characterized by emotional intimacy, trust, and support, and they play a critical role in an individual's social and emotional development. Members of primary groups share a deep sense of connection and commitment, and they typically interact on a regular basis, often face-to-face. Members of primary groups often engage in activities and rituals together, and they rely on each other for support during times of crisis or hardship. One of the key features of primary groups is the sense of identity and belonging they provide. Members of primary groups often identify with the group and feel a sense of loyalty and obligation towards other members. 

Secondary groups are larger, more formal groups that assemble for a particular purpose or objective, like a work team, a school class, or a political party. These groups are generally less personal and intimate than primary groups and often focus more on tasks. Unlike primary groups, secondary groups are usually temporary and formed around specific goals or interests. Members of secondary groups may not engage with each other regularly, and their interactions may be more formal and distant.

2. Formal and Informal Groups: These groups vary in how clearly and officially their functions are defined. 

• Formal Group: These groups are formed based on explicit rules or laws, with each member having designated roles. There exist established norms that contribute to maintaining order. An example of a formal group would be a university.
• Informal Group: In contrast, informal groups are not bound by rules or laws. Members share close relationships with one another.

3. In-Groups and Out-Groups: In-groups and out-groups are social groups that individuals use to categorize and evaluate themselves and others. In-groups are groups that individuals belong to and identify with, while out-groups are groups that individuals do not belong to and may view negatively. In-groups often provide a sense of identity and belonging for their members, who may share common characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, or hobbies. Members of in-groups may have a sense of loyalty and obligation towards other members, and they may work to protect the interests of the group. Out-groups, on the other hand, are often viewed as "other" or "different" and may be subject to negative stereotypes or prejudices. Members of out-groups may be viewed as less trustworthy or competent than members of in-groups, and they may be excluded or discriminated against. In-group and out-group distinctions can lead to ingroup bias, which is the tendency for individuals to favor members of their own group over members of other groups. This bias can lead to discrimination and prejudice, and it can reinforce social inequality.

The Minimal Group Paradigm

• Definition: The minimal group paradigm is a research technique used to study the psychological processes involved in group formation and intergroup relations.
• Key Points:
  Groups are created based on arbitrary or trivial criteria, like the color of a participant's shirt.
  Participants exhibit ingroup favoritism, preferring members of their own group over others, even without direct interaction.
  Studies show that resources are often allocated more to in-group members, indicating the influence of group membership on behavior.
  Research using this paradigm explores social identity theory, intergroup conflict, and prejudice.
• Significance: The minimal group paradigm aids in understanding group behavior basics, group formation influences, and factors contributing to intergroup conflict and prejudice.

Influence of Group on Individual Behaviour

• The influence of groups on individual behavior is a key topic in social psychology. Groups can have a powerful impact on the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of their members, and understanding these processes is important for understanding a wide range of social phenomena.
• Groups can influence individual behavior in a number of ways. One of the most basic ways is through social norms, which are the unwritten rules and expectations that guide behavior in a group. By conforming to these norms, individuals can gain acceptance and approval from other group members, and avoid social disapproval or rejection.
• Groups can also influence individual behavior through social influence processes, such as conformity, obedience, and persuasion. Conformity refers to the tendency of individuals to adopt the beliefs or behaviors of the group, even if they conflict with their own personal beliefs or values. Obedience refers to the tendency to comply with the demands of authority figures or those in positions of power. Persuasion involves the use of communication and information to influence the attitudes and beliefs of individuals.
• In addition to these processes, groups can also influence individual behavior through social identity processes, such as social comparison and social categorization. Social comparison involves comparing oneself to others in the group, while social categorization involves dividing the world into "us" (the ingroup) and "them" (the outgroup), and attributing positive qualities to the ingroup and negative qualities to the outgroup.
• The influence of groups on individual behavior is a complex and multifaceted topic, and researchers continue to explore the various processes and mechanisms involved. By understanding how groups influence individual behavior, we can gain insights into a wide range of social phenomena, from conformity and obedience to social change and social conflict.

Social Loafing 

• Social facilitation research suggests that the presence of others can lead to arousal and motivate individuals to improve their performance, especially if they are already proficient in a task. This improvement is most noticeable when a person's efforts are individually assessed.
• When an individual's efforts are combined with a group's performance, a phenomenon known as social loafing emerges. Social loafing refers to a decrease in an individual's effort when working on a collective task where outcomes are pooled together with others.
• An illustrative example of social loafing can be seen in activities like tug-of-war, where it's challenging to determine each member's contribution. This ambiguity often leads to some members exerting less effort, taking advantage of the group's collective output.
• Research by Latane and his colleagues demonstrated social loafing by conducting experiments involving group tasks like clapping or cheering. They observed that as group size increased, the total output increased, but individual effort decreased. This pattern indicates that as the group gets larger, participants tend to exert less effort.
•  Several explanations have been proposed for social loafing, including a diminished sense of responsibility towards the task, decreased motivation due to the lack of individual evaluation, absence of inter-group comparisons, lack of coordination among members, and a weak sense of belonging to the group. 
•  Strategies to mitigate social loafing include making each person's efforts identifiable, increasing the pressure to perform well, emphasizing the task's importance, highlighting the significance of individual contributions, and fostering group cohesion to enhance motivation for achieving collective goals.

Group Polarisation 

• We have observed that in group decision-making, there is a concern about groupthink, a phenomenon where unanimity in a group leads to flawed decisions.
• Another tendency in group dynamics is known as group polarization. This suggests that groups tend to make more extreme decisions compared to individuals acting alone.
• For instance, when a group is tasked with determining the appropriate punishment for an employee caught in unethical behavior like accepting bribes, the group may lean towards extreme decisions like letting the individual off without consequences or opting for severe actions like termination.
• During group discussions, initial stances often solidify and intensify, a process known as group polarization. This can result in groups adopting very strong positions, moving from initially weak inclinations to extreme decisions.
• The occurrence of group polarization can be explained by considering scenarios such as debates on the existence of capital punishment. If an individual supports capital punishment for severe crimes and engages in discussions with like-minded individuals, their views may become more resolute.
• There are three main reasons behind the strengthening of views due to group interaction:
  • Exposure to reinforcing arguments: Being around individuals who share similar opinions can expose one to additional arguments in favor of their viewpoint, leading to increased support for their stance.
  • Validation through agreement: Agreement from others can make one believe that their perspective is widely accepted, creating a sense of validation akin to a bandwagon effect.
  • Formation of group identity: Identifying with a group of like-minded individuals can foster conformity and solidarity, reinforcing one's own beliefs in the process.