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Boundary Management

 

Explanations > Groups > Boundary Management

Description | Discussion | See also

 

Description

Within groups, a particular process that is often undertaken is that of managing the boundaries of the group's territory.

Boundaries may be physical, such as when a church has a distinct parish area. It may also be conceptual or ideological, for example where a political party defines its natural socio-economic voting public.

The principle of boundary management is to defensively stop others encroaching on group territory and to manage comings and goings to ensure the group stays safe.

Boundary management is often taken on as a role by individuals who play the role of border guards. Their stern outlook and vigilance warns entrants to behave well and dissuades others nearby from invading.

Discussion

Boundaries are important for defining any 'thing'. A shape without a boundary is not a complete shape. When you have a boundary you have a thing. And when you have a thing, you can name it. It hence gains identity and meaning.

The same is true of social groups, which makes their boundaries important. With a weak boundary, others can enter at will, pollute the culture, subvert the purpose and challenge the leadership.

Paradoxically strong a boundary means the interior can be relaxed and friendly towards well-screened visitors. A strong boundary is also a useful step towards expansion, pushing back the boundaries of other groups or providing shelter for raiding parties.

In social groups all this is seldom quite as aggressive, although it can be surprising how strongly boundaries are defended and intruders punished or ejected.

If you want to enter a group, then it is often a good idea to ask rather than just push your way in. When in the group, avoid any action that appears to threaten the coherence of the group and persuade them with great care.

See also

Theories about groups

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed