GROUP

DYNAMICS
Christine Mae M. San Juan, RPm
18 December 2024
Group dynamics, then, are the influential interpersonal
processes that occur in and between
groups over time. These processes not only determine
how members relate to and engage with one
another, but they also determine the group’s inherent
nature and pathway: the actions the group takes,
how it responds to its environment, and what it
achieves.
 History of Group Dynamics
➢ Group Dynamics as the field of study within the social sciences that
focuses on the nature of groups.
➢ It may also include changes in behavior of a person when he is
represented before a group and the behavioral pattern of a person.
➢ A social psychologist named Kurt Lewin coined the term group
dynamics in the 1940s. He noticed that individuals take on distinct
roles and behaviors when working in a group. Group dynamics
involves the influence of personality, power, and behavior on the
group process and to describe the way groups and individuals act and
react to changing circumstances.
 History of Group Dynamics
➢ Dynamic Group Processes
The word dynamic comes from the Greek dynamikós, which means to be
strong, powerful, and energetic. Dynamic implies the influence of forces
that combine, sometimes smoothly but sometimes in opposition, to
create continual motion and change.
➢ Group dynamics, then, are the influential interpersonal processes that occur in
and between groups over time. These processes not only determine how
members relate to and engage with one another, but they also determine the
group’s inherent nature and trajectory: the actions the group takes, how it
responds to its environment, and what it achieves..
No two groups are identical to each other but a group by definition, is two or more individuals
who are connected by and within social groups

Definition of groups vary, with some focusing on suc

qualities as communication, influence, interdependen
and shared identity.
Types of Groups
Types of Groups
Types of Groups
Types of Groups
 What distinguishes one group from another?
1. Composition: Each person who belongs to a group defines, in part, the
nature of the group.
2. Boundaries: Groups’ boundaries define who is a member and who is not,
although open groups and social networks are more permeable than closed
groups.
3. Size: The number of possible relations in a group increases exponentially
as groups increase in size. The social brain hypothesis suggests humans’
advanced cognitive capacity evolved to meet the informational demands of
living in large groups (Dunbar, 2008)
4. Interaction: Bales’ (1950) Interaction Process Analysis (IPA) system
distinguishes between task interaction and relationship interaction.
 What distinguishes one group from another?
5. Interdependence: Groups create various types of dependencies among members
(e.g., unilateral, reciprocal).
6. Structure: Group interaction is patterned by group structure, including roles,
norms, and interpersonal relations.
7. Goals: Groups seek a variety of goals, such as those specified by McGrath (1984):
generating, choosing, negotiating, and executing.
8. Origin: Planned groups (concocted and founded) are deliberately formed, but
emergent groups (circumstantial and self-organizing) come into existence gradually
over time (Arrow, McGrath, & Berdahl, 2000).
9. Unity: Group cohesion, or cohesiveness, is the unity of a group.
10. Entitativity: The perception of entitativity (groupness), according to Campbell
(1958a), is substantially influenced by common fate, similarity, and proximity cues
within an accumulation.
Group Structure: Roles and Norms
 The Psychology of Groups
➢ The function of the group s can either be: Individual Satisfaction from
group membership and fulfillment of personal and group goals.
➢ Individual satisfaction – needs being met by group membership are ; 1.
Affiliation needs – the need to have close contact and acceptance with
others;
2. Social needs - the confirmation through the presence of others;
3. Self- esteem needs – to have a positive opinion of our selves
4. Control needs and need for achievement – means a persons’ desire
for accomplishment and the need to perform and reach our objectives;
5. Safety needs – of which reduces the feeling of powerless and anxiety
 GROUP STRUCTURE
AND SIZE
Effective group performance depends to a large extent, on the size and
composition of the group. A group may consist of as few as two people ,
or as many. In order to be effective, group size should be kept to a
minimum without threatening workload and goal achievement.

Larger group increase the possibility of conflict due to the variety of

viewpoints, few opportunities for the development of social relationships,
a decrease in participation levels, and lack of opportunity for individual
recognition
 GROUP STRUCTURE
AND SIZE
Individual skills and performance must be a consideration
in forming a group.

• How many people will be required to ensure that all the skill
sets necessary for the performance of the task are
included?
• Will the task be slowed by a poor performer as may happen
with assembly line production?
• Does the group contain the combination of leaders and
followers that will lessen the potential for member rivalries
and conflicts?
• Diversification is a factor in both group development and skill
requirement. A group of predominately white males may develop
more quickly than an ethnically and racially diverse group of men
and women.

• But while the former group may be better able to communicate, set
standards and grow as a cohesive unit, it may not be diverse
enough to meet all the community or organizational needs.

• A more diverse group may take longer to reach peak

performance due to the number of cultures, language differences,
and interpretation of the task to be completed, but once they do
develop, diverse groups are equally productive and may even be
more creative in problem-solving because members have access
to a broader base of ideas for solutions.
 Group Development

The appointment of individuals to a group based on their

compatibility, diversity, or expertise does not assure
effectiveness in achieving group goals. A group is initially
a collection of personalities with different
characteristics, needs, and influences. To be effective,
these individuals must spend time adjusting themselves
to their environment, the task, and to each other.
Organizational experts and practitioners have observed
that new groups go through a number of stages before
they achieve
Client Satisfaction Rate:
maximum performance. Each stage
presents
92%. the members with different challenges that
must be overcome before they can move on to the next
stage. These stages have been identified as forming,
storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
Client Satisfaction Rate:
92%.
 Group Norms
Set of beliefs, feelings, and attitudes commonly shared by group
members. These are also referred to as rules or standards of
behaviour that apply to group members.
Norms serve three functions namely:

Predictive- basis for Relational- some Control- regulate the

understanding the norms behavior of others
behavior of others define relationships

These group norms and can be both formal and informal. Norms are not
individual behaviors', but are collectively held expectations of how a group
will function.
 Roles

• Assigned Roles
• Emergent Roles
 Roles
There are two elements that define this role identity-

➢Role Perception - An individual is expected to behave

according to his own perception in the group.
➢Role Expectation - It is defined as how others believe
one should behave in a given situation.
Status
Cohesiveness
Support
 Processes of Group Dynamics
Group processes refer to the cognitive and social aspects of
human aggregation, including the formation of groups, group
performance, and group decision making.

What is the purpose of a process group?

The essence of a process group lies in exploring the interactions
among members - how they relate, react, and connect with each
other. Unlike social gatherings or even structured educational
groups, process groups explore into the realm of relationships,
emotions, and personal growth.
 Processes of Group Dynamics

➢Formative Processes - Formation, explores the personal and situational forces that
prompt people to join groups or remain apart from them, as well as the part
interpersonal attraction plays in creating stable relationships among group
members.
➢Influence Processes - No group would exist for very long if the members refuse to
coordinate their actions with the actions of others in group.
➢Performance Processes - Groups get things done. Across the scope of human
experience, we find example after example of interdependent individuals pooling
their personal efforts to reach specifiable goals .
 Processes of Group Dynamics

➢Contextual Processes - All groups are embedded in a social and

environmental context , Context, considers how the physical environment
affects a group’s dynamics .
➢Conflict Processes - Conflict is ever-present in and between groups. When
conflict occurs in a group, the actions or beliefs of one or more members of
the group are unacceptable to and resisted by one or more of the other
members. These tensions tend to undermine the cohesiveness of the group
and cause specific relationships within the group to weaken or break
altogether .
 Why study groups?
➢Understanding People - when people encounter a group of some type, tend to
see only the individuals in these groups and not the groups themselves, they resist
explanations that highlight group-level influences. Even though people speak of
such concepts as teamwork, leadership, and cohesion, they tend to translate these
group-level processes into individualistic ones.
➢Understanding the Social World - Societies of all types, from the tribes of
hunter/gatherers to postindustrial societies, are defined by the small groups that
create them.
➢These days, anyone who wants to get something accomplished should probably
understand groups and their dynamics. Groups are now the makers, the builders,
and producers of nearly everything the world needs and consumes. Groups, too,
are the world’s deciders.
 The Value of Groups
➢Groups are essential to human life, providing opportunities for cooperation,
shared goals, and mutual support. However, they also present challenges,
such as competition, conflict, and poor decision-making, which can lead to
negative outcomes.
➢The complexities of group dynamics are evident in instances where groups
fail to influence their collective expertise, leading to disastrous results.
Despite these difficulties, groups are crucial for survival, helping individuals
define their values, beliefs, and social identities, and achieve goals that
would be impossible alone.
➢Although conflict is often present, resolving these challenges allows
individuals to improve their social relationships. Understanding group
development and functioning is key to maximizing their positive impact and
ensuring their success.
 What is Group Process ?
Group Dynamics /Process deals with the attitude and behavior
patterns of a group. It is concerned of how it is formed, structure
and the interactions and forces operating between groups. It is
important in the organizational setting as an important area of
study.
➢ It is relevant to all groups of all kinds, both formal and informal.
➢ Group process can be helpful in the role of a facilitator,
because it occurs not only for task accomplishment but for
personal growth groups.
 What is Group Process ?
➢ As a facilitator, it is important to gain knowledge and
understanding of the different factors that contributes to
group process. .
➢ The facilitator should also understand , and should bear the
influence on the group due to his or her role of shaping the
group outcomes.
➢ This influence would include appearance, personality, age ,
etc.
Some dimensions of Group Process
1. Patterns of communication and coordination
2. Patterns of influence
3. Patterns of dominance ( who leads, who defers)
4. Balance of task focus vs. social focus
5. Level of Group Effectiveness
6. How conflict is handled.

Group Process is quite wide and useful in different

industries. It is the basis for group therapy, family therapy ,
and other expressive therapies.
What is group process role?
The GROUP PROCESS is a series of changes that take place between
participants groups (including the lecturer) in three areas: Behavioral -
the group regulates our manner through its norms behavior.
What is a group process activity?
Overview. This collection of activities provides a selection of vetted
exercises that will assist. instructors and students in developing group
cohesion, thoughtful engagement, and reflective responses to
challenging material.
How do you describe a process group?
In process groups, 5-10 individuals meet face to face to share their
struggles and concerns with 1-2 trained group therapists. The power
of process groups lies in the unique opportunity to receive multiple
perspectives, support, encouragement and feedback from other
individuals in safe and confidential environment.
What are group process skills?
Group process skills, therefore, are the skills that one demonstrates to
successfully collaborate with other team members. These skills include
active listening, conflict resolution, decision-making, and direct
communication.
What are the benefits of process skills?
process skills are the terminal skills for solving problems or doing
science experiments. skills such as logical thinking, or with
achievement. good results for the school, forgetting teaching to learn
but teaching to pass the exam. region attach a great importance to
close guidance of their students' activities.