1.  What is your definition of a GROUP? What specific characteristics require a group to be considered a group?  Based on your definition, think about your day yesterday, list what groups you were a part of yesterday? Why would you consider those to be a group? Journal #2

2. What is a Group? Interpersonal Communication

3.  1. Shared or common interests  2. Regular communication among members  3. Contribution of all members to group functioning (plans, decisions)  4. Small enough size for the above to occur comfortably  5. Interdependence among group members Characteristics of a Group

4.  1. Social: provide friendship for members  2. Social/Task: enjoy people’s company and to accomplish a task (academic clubs, athletic teams)  3. Task: Main purpose is to complete a task, usually little social interaction Purpose of Groups Social Social / Task Task

5. Formal Groups *Are structured in the way they run *Operate according to a constitution or rules *Have official roles and duties for members *Range in size from very large to very small *Exist for a length of time *Have an official name or title

6. Informal Groups * Are  Flexible in the way they operate  Are less concerned with official roles  Are less concerned with structure  Maintain a small size  Formed to deal with a specific need

7. Subgroups * Republicans and Democrats * Your Family * Drama Club * Soccer Club Division of Labor Healthy Competition Variety of Interests

8.  Smaller group formed within an informal or formal group  Example: Government - Republicans and Democrats – Committees within parties  Example: Student Council – Homecoming Committee  Example: Athletic Teams – Varsity, JV, Sophomore, Freshmen Sub Groups

9. Subgroups having members who tend to exclude all others and to “stick together” Cliques

10. Why do people join groups? * Belonging or affection * Security * Adventure * Service * Personal growth or development

11. Norms Norms = General patterns which have become relatively permanent and predictable parts of a group’s activities and attitudes; spoken or unspoken rules of behavior.

12. GROUP NORMS MAY REGULATE THINGS SUCH AS: dressgradesyour friends language places you go ambitionsuse of timebehavior attitudeinteraction with others

13.  Different connotation within a task or social/task group  Norms: procedures for groups to participate to be most effective Group Norms: Task Groups

14. The energy of a group is greater than the sum of the energy of each member. Synergy