How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Groups

Explanations > Groups

When people get together into groups, they start to behave in very different ways to when they are alone. There is much more information about groups on this site (see the see also) below.

Types of group

• The Basic Assumption Group: When work groups become anxious.
• Work Group: The stable, functioning group.
• Granfalloons: Meaningless and arrogant groups.
• Cohesion and Coupling: And four types of groups.
• Hate Groups: Based in narrow attack of others.

Group development

• Form, Storm, Norm, Perform: Stages of team development.
• Mass-movement Stages: The stages through which mass-movement groups develop.
• Punctuated Equilibrium: Quick plan, revise later.
• Dunbar's number: Maximum people in group.
• Minimum Group Bonding: It doesn't take much.
• Minimum Group Size: It only takes three.
• Synchrony and Cooperation: Doing things together creates bonds.
• Common Fate and Cooperation: Same fate creates bonds.
• The Development of Group Norms: How groups become one.

Group processes

• Types of Entry: Ways people reach the group.
• Induction: of entrants into members
• Boundary Management: Guarding the borders.
• Conformance: Ensuring members agree.
• Defending: Sustaining culture, territory.
• Demonizing Outsiders: Contrastive boosting.

Group decision-making

• The Power of Minorities: How a few have disproportionate power.

Group performance

• Risky shift: High or low risk preference.
• Groupthink: Group coherence over task.
• Group Polarization: Taking extreme positions.
• The Power of Minorities: How a few have disproportionate power.

Personality types and roles

• Belbin's Team Roles: Roles people take.
• Margerison-McCann Team Performance Wheel: Jungian-based types.

And...

• Individual vs. Group: The evolutionary tension between.
• Group Interests: Shared purpose.
• Them and Us: The seeds of failure in any organization.
• The Social Value of Being Different: Being all the same can be problematic.

So what?

When you are trying to persuade people in groups, consider how complex they are and persuade accordingly.

See also

Communication, Conversion techniques, Leadership, Sociology

Theories about groups

Blogs by subject: Groups