Group Psychology - How Does It Work And Why Does It Matter?

By Author: Mor Log
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A group is defined in many ways, but in general, a group is a gathering of individuals, who interact dynamically, and who have a shared attachment or interest, norms, values and objectives.

A group is defined in many ways, but in general, a group is a gathering of individuals, who interact dynamically, and who have a shared attachment or interest, norms, values and objectives.

Individuals act very differently when they are alone and when they interact in a group. This is because, naturally, humans let other people's attitudes and values influence them and thus act differently in different situations. The interesting part about groups is that they cannot only be defined as the sum of contributions from the individuals in the group. When individuals gather, an extra dimension appears between them, which is remarkably different from their individual characteristics.

Groups can be categorised in several different ways. According to theorist Charles Cooley, it is possible to distinguish between primary groups and secondary groups. Primary groups are characterised by a high degree of intimacy, close cooperation ...
... and face-to-face contact. These include groups such as family, friends and close work relations. Secondary groups are larger and more abstract. Examples include a political party, a religious community or even the state.

All individuals participate in several different social spheres and group contexts, both in primary and secondary groups.

Another way to categorise groups is through the concepts of in-group and out-group. When individuals enter a group, they identify themselves with the group's values. When an individual enters a group, he/she is simultaneously excluded or rejected from other groups, whose values are incompatible with the individual's new group. This creates a distinction between in-group (the individuals in the same group as you) and out-group (the individuals outside your group).

An individual attributes positive outcomes to internal factors, when the responsible person is a member of his in-group.

If two individuals belong to the same group, they are likely to thank each other's personal characteristics for a positive outcome, whereas they would tend to honour external factors when an individual outside their group achieves a positive outcome. In practice, this means that individuals view their in-group members in a more positive way than they view out-group members. Furthermore, expectations to in-group members' competences are significantly higher than they are to out-group members. An example of attribution to external factors is when one company explains the success of competing organisations with market forces or luck.

Additionally, you can distinguish formal groups from informal groups. A formal group was created intentionally and has a clear objective. Members of a formal group rarely have a personal relation to each other, and the group is based on specific rules. A staff meeting is an example of the creation of a formal group. On the other hand, an informal group was created spontaneously, because members share an interest or attachment. In the informal group, there are no specific rules, but often a series of unwritten rules. Friendship and mutual solidarity are the glue that holds this type of group together.

All individuals are part of many different group constellations, formal, informal, primary and secondary groups. An organisation can be considered to be a formal, secondary group because it has a clear objective, specific rules and simultaneously, the entire organisation can be considered a secondary group to each employee. However, a certain section or employee group may constitute a formal, primary group, because of the close contact and collaboration among the employees. Despite the generally formal structure of the organisation, it is important to stress that organisations are also made up by a web of numerous informal groups.
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