How Groups Work

Social Group Two or more people who identify and interact with one another. Made up of people with shared experiences, loyalties and interests Examples: Families, circles of friends, churches, clubs, businesses

Primary Group Small social group whose members share personal and lasting relationships. Spend a great deal of time together, engage in wide range of activities The family is every society’s primary group

Secondary Group Large and impersonal social group whose members pursue a specific goal or activity Involve weak emotional ties and little personal knowledge of one another Usually have a beginning an end such as a group working on a school project

My Very Own Sociogram Sociograms are diagrams which show the patterns of relationships that we all encounter in our lives. In this activity you will be asked to create your very own sociogram. ▫Please think of a group you belong to (family, close friends, job, team, etc.) You will draw circles on a piece of paper and put the people’s names and roles in the center of each. ***Minimum of 5 people in this group!!! ▫Next consider the relationships in the group. Particularly strong relationships should be represented with a solid line, average relationships with a dotted line, while weaker, almost nonexistent relationships should be represented with no line at all.

Example…

This is your sociogram. It represents one particular social group you belong to, and its ties. Please answer the following questions and hand them in with your drawing:  By definition, is this a primary or secondary group? Why?  What are the characteristics of this group? Meaning: Why does it exist as it does?  What people have the strongest bonds in the group? Why do you feel this way?

Leadership generally occurs in three distinct ways… Autocratic: Rule by one leader. Democratic: Rule in which many “have a say.” Laissez-Faire: Rule in which the leader takes a “hands-off” approach. Leadership: Leadership is extremely important to any and all groups.

Group Dynamics Recurring patterns of social interaction among members of a group. There are four factors which make up group dynamics.

Factor One: Group Size Group size effects group function. From “dyads” (groups of 2) and “triads” (groups of 3) and beyond, the size of a group does become a factor.

Factor Two: Conformity and Control All groups make of some form of norms (no matter how small they may be). These may include things like ways to figure out a problem, a division of labor, etc.

Factor Three: Leadership Instrumental Leadership: One who directs tasks. Expressive Leadership: One who maintains good spirits. There are two forms of leadership found and needed in groups.

Factor Four: Group Decision-Making There are four steps in the group decision-making process… 1.A process of orientation where members analyze the task and information before them, suggesting solutions. 2.Evaluating the possibilities. 3.Eliminating the less desirable options and choosing the ones which seems best. 4.Restoring group relations and easing the tensions of the group decision.