1. Group
Dynamics
Dr Bhavin Chauhan

2. Group Dynamics: Concept
• It was founded by KURT LEWIN to study group decision,
group productivity, group interaction, group cohesiveness
and group communication. The underlying assumption was
that the laws of the group behavior can be established
independently of the goals or specific activities of group
irrespective of the structure of the group.

3. Group Dynamics: Concept
• Group dynamics contains two terms: GROUP and
DYNAMICS.
• Group is basically a collectivity of two or more persons.
Dynamics comes from Greek word meaning FORCE.
• Thus, “Group dynamics is concerned with the interactions of
forces among group members in a social situation.”

4. Group?
• Two or more people
• Share goals
• People see themselves as
members
• There is integration among
members

5. Types
of
Group
Formal
1. Command
2. Task
Informal
- Interest
- Friendship

6. Why People Join Group/s?
• The people often join groups since the groups give the members
a stability and enhances their achievement capacity.
• The main reasons to join a group are:
✓Have a sense of security
✓Have a status
✓Develop Self-esteem
✓Power
✓Goal achievement

7. Group Structure
• Norms
• Roles
• Status
• Cohesiveness

8. Group Norms
• Set of beliefs, feelings, and attitudes commonly shared by
group members. These are also referred to as rules or
standards of behaviour that apply to group members.
• Norms serve three functions namely
• Predictive- basis for understanding the behaviour of
others
• Relational- some norms define relationships
• Control- regulate the behaviour of others

9. Role
• Various parts played by group members.
• There are two elements that define this role identity-
• Role Perception-An individual is expected to behave
according to his own perception in the group.
• Role Expectation-It is defined as how others believe
one should behave in each situation.

10. Status
• Status is “a socially defined position or rank given to groups or
group members by others.”
• Group members get high status or low status in the Group based
on their authority and performance.
• High status members of the group have more freedom to deviate
from the norms. This facility enables them to have the
discriminatory powers in decision making. Low status members
of the group should not have freedom to deviate from the norms
as it leads to status inequality.

11. Cohesiveness
• Social – the bonds of interpersonal attraction that link
group members.
• Task – the way in which skills and ability of the group
members mesh to allow optimal performance.

12. Importance of Group
Dynamism
1. Firstly, a group can influence the way the members think.
The members are always influenced by the interactions of
other members in the group. A group with a good leader
performs better as compared to a group with a weak leader.
2. The group can give the effect of synergy, that is, if the
group consists of positive thinkers, then its output is more
than double every time.
3. Group dynamism can furthermore give job satisfaction to
the members.

13. Importance of Group
Dynamism
4. The group can also infuse the team spirit among the members.
5. Even the attitude, insights & ideas of members depend on group
dynamism. For example, negative thinkers convert to positive
thinkers with the help of the facilitator.
6. Also, if the group works as a cohesive group, the cooperation and
convergence can result in maximization of productivity
7. Furthermore, group dynamism can reduce labor unrest. Lastly, it
reduces labor turnover due to emotional attachment among the
group members.

14. Stages of Group
Development
• Forming- Members get to know each other and set ground rules. (Icebreaking and
orientation)
• Storming- Members come to resist control by group leaders and show hostility
(addressing conflicts & disagreements)
• Norming- Members work together developing close relationships and feelings of
cohesiveness. (Conflict resolution and agreement on how the group will function)
• Performing – Group members work towards getting their job done
• Adjourning –Group may disband either after meeting their goals or because members
leave. (wrap up and then dissolve.)

15. Principles of Group
Dynamics
1. The members of the group must have a strong sense of belonging to the group .The
barrier between the leaders and to be led must be broken down.
2. The more attraction a group is to its members, the greater influence it would
exercise on its members.
3. The grater the prestige of the group member in the eyes of the member, the greater
influence he would exercise on the theme.
4. The successful efforts to change individuals sub parts of the group would result in
making them confirm to the norms of the group.
5. The pressures for change when strong can be established in the group by creating a
shared perception by the members for the need for the change.