1. (a.k.a. Brooke, Jessica, Suzie, Jess, & Kayla)
Welcome to a
Presentation on
Group Dynamics
Courtesy of:
The CURTAIN CLOSERS
(a.k.a. Brooke, Jessica, Suzie, Jess, & Kayla)

2. What is group dynamics?

3. Group dynamics Group dynamics refers to what is HAPPENING IN GROUPS
Refers to complex forces that are acting upon every thought
DYNAMICS ARE ALWAYS MOVING, DOING SOMETHING, CHANGING

4. The History of Group
Dynamics

5. The History of Group Dynamics
The study of small group behavior is a relatively modern development.
It’s a sub-discipline of social psychology
Group research was a popular topic within social psychology in North America during the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s.
Many of the studies during this time were done in controlled, artificial laboratory settings with short-term groups.

6. The History of Group Dynamics Continued…
The Schools of Research
The Michigan School
The Harvard School
The Illinois School

7. The History of Group Dynamics Continued…
The Michigan School
Was called this because many of the it’s early researchers came from the University of Michigan.
Treated groups as social systems that influence members.
The bulk of the work that from the Michigan School perspective was laboratory experimental, involving groups of strangers, working under artificial conditions, and for short time periods.

8. The History of Group Dynamics Continued…
The Harvard School
Treated groups as social systems for patterning human interaction.
Was called this because much of it was inspired by and built around R. F. Bales and his colleagues at Harvard University.

9. The History of Group Dynamics Continued…
The Illinois School
Was called this because a lot of its contributors had a connection with the University of Illinois.
Treated groups as systems for getting tasks performed.
A relatively small portion of work from this perspective tried to explore systematically the differential effects of various input conditions of group performance of tasks of different types.

10. The History of Group Dynamics Continued…
Weaknesses of the Different Schools
By the late ’60s and early ‘70s group research suffered.
Because each school had distinct objectives, none of the schools really paid attention to each other.
As a result, Each school eventually reached the limits of what could be learned within that closely bound paradigm

11. The History of Group Dynamics Continued…
However…
Research flourished simultaneously in a number of other disciplines like organizational behavior, speech communication, and political science.
The study of small groups in other fields blended work from more than just one of the schools.

12. Important Figures

13. Kurt Lewin

14. The Basics
Considered to be the founder of this whole movement to study groups scientifically
Coined the term “group dynamics”
Definition: the way groups react to changing circumstances

15. And More Lewin
Roots: Gestalt psychology- theory and practice, laboratory techniques applies to social behavior (evident in T-Groups TBD)
Interested in how group interactions can be uniform, like identifying patterns of behavior

16. More Lewin 2 Ideas Within Group Dynamics:
- interdependence of fate (individual’s fate depends on the group’s fate)
- and task interdependence (group becomes a group because they share a common objective)

17. T-Groups
National Training Laboratories: A training program for groups, now used for team building
Was partly used for research- it is a laboratory method with observation by trainers and researchers
It is individual learning for participants, you can learn about yourself, how you interact with others
Totally focused on the process
Feedback is key

18. (a lot like what we’re learning in core)
T-Group Objectives
(a lot like what we’re learning in core)
Increase your understanding of group development and dynamics.
Gaining a better understanding of the underlying social processes at work within a group (looking under the tip of the iceberg)
Increase interpersonal skills
Experiment with changes in your behavior
Increase your skill in facilitating group effectiveness.
Increase your awareness of your own feelings in the moment; and offer you the opportunity to accept responsibility for your feelings.
Increase your ability to manage and utilize conflict.
Increase your understanding of the impact of your behavior on others.
Increase your sensitivity to others' feelings.
Increase your ability to give and receive feedback.
Increase your ability to learn from your own and a group's experience.

19. Robert F. Bales

20. Basics Professor at Harvard, where he received his PhD
His research focused on interpersonal interaction in small groups and searched for reoccurring patterns- influenced by Kurt Lewin

21. Bale’s Coding systems
First coding system was IPA (Interactive Process Analysis), which was used to classify group behavior into task- and relationship-oriented behaviors
This then developed into SYMLOG (Systematic Multiple Level Observation of Groups) in 1970

22. SYMLOG
A method of rating or scoring group interaction by an observer or by the participants themselves
The multiple levels are: non-verbal and verbal behaviors with sublevels within those, also the identification of judgments
Simplified rating form: Reading was an example of a SYMLOG questionnaire

23. Adjective Ratings
“Dominance/submission. Is this member active, outgoing, and talkative - or passive, quiet and introverted?
Friendliness/unfriendliness. Is this member warm, open and positive – or negative and irritable?
Acceptance of authority/non-acceptance of authority. Is this member analytical, and task-oriented – or emotional, untraditional and (possibly) resentful?” (

24. Additional information on group dynamics

25. Topics in Group dynamics
Group development:
1. Forming: comes together and gets to know one another
2. Storming: a chaotic vying for leadership
3. Norming: eventually agreement on group operation
4. Performing: the group practices is crafted and becomes effective in its meaning objectives
5. Adjourning: in forming the group
Group Size: optimal is between 6-16
Risky Shift: the risks people take individually versus what they will do in groups
Social Support
Group Mix
Group Norms

26. Group culture Small groups form their own culture
“Small groups evolve ideals and traditional ways of doing things, and those ideals and traditions also become normative.“ (Wilson & Hanna, p.39)
For successful group a collectivist culture needs to take precedence over the individual needs
Collectivist Culture: a culture that values group needs and goals more than individual needs and goals

27. Group culture A shared culture allows for group goals to be formed
Knowing each goal
Halfway measure enforcing emerging norms that each member had on an assignment
Encouraging each other
This aids in building a NORM of quality within the group

28. Group Dynamics: Important Terms
Group Form
Norm
Statuses
Role
Network

29. Group Dynamics: Group Form
Group form is also known as composition. Within group form are the concepts of:
Norms
Status
Roles
Network

30. Group Norms
GROUP NORMS: standards behavior of groups impose on their members
Group rules are created
The do’s and the don’ts that result from the interactions of group members over time
Standard model/pattern of behavior form
Norms evolve!

31. Evolution of Group Norms
1. Collective evaluation: shared beliefs about what should be doing
2. Collective expectation: predictions of what people will do rather than what they ought to
This creates a group truth
3. Reaction to behavior/adaptation to behavior
**EVOLUTION of norms is important to group and can help with success and cohesiveness
If there are damaging norms groups can
Identify the concern
Ask group members to discuss their perceptions
Finally find an agreement to grow from

32. Group Structure This is the how and what of group communication
Communication networks are complex in the organization but can establish hierarchy for its members
Groups can without any trail and notion can work on communication patterns – TRIAL AND ERROR
In five person networks
Wheel and chain type of communication pattern is more efficient since it centralizes on the network
Centralized networks are useful for solving complex problems

33. Group Dynamics: Status
Status: A positive or negative position based off of one’s power, prestige, access to resources, and other means.
Types of Status:
Ascribed (Given)
Achieved (Earned)
Social Stratification: A categorization of individuals based off of their power and wealth in a given society.
Major-Race, Ethnicity, gender, etc.
Hidden- Age, weight, disability, etc.

34. Group Dynamics: Development
There are many new ways of how to form groups, which then in turn creates different ways of having group dynamics.
Reasons why ascribed and achieved

35. Group Dynamics: Network
Network: Patterns of connection among a set group of points.
Wheel-Centralized
Chain- Serial/Compare parallel
Circle- Closed
Completely Connected-Distributed
Redundantly Connected-Districted

36. Group Roles Your role is the part you play in a group.
Formal roles: are assigned on the basis of a member's formal position or title and are sometimes called positional roles.
Informal roles: sometimes called behavioral roles, are the parts people play that reflect their personality traits, habits, and behaviors in the group.

37. Role Functions in a small Group
Task Roles: Encompass behaviors that contribute to the accomplishment of the group’s task.
Initiating and orienting
Information giving
Information seeking
Opinion giving
Clarifying
Elaborating
Summarizing
Consensus testing
Recording
Suggesting Procedure

38. Role Functions in a small Group
Maintenance Roles: Incorporate those behaviors that help the group maintain harmonious relationships and a cohesive interpersonal climate.
Establishing norms
Supporting
Harmonizing
Tension relieving
Dramatizing
Showing solidarity

39. Role Functions in a small Group
Individual Roles: Consist of self-centered behaviors.
With drawing
Blocking
Status seeking and recognition seeking
Playing
Acting helpless

40. Bibliography
Galanes, A. (2009). Communication in groups: Application and skills. New Yory: Frank Mortimer
Heiss, D. (2000). SYMLOG Questionnaires. Indiana University. Retrieved from:
Forsyth, D. (1997). The scientific study of groups: An editorial. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(1), 3-6.
Knowles M. & Knowles H. (1959) Introduction to group dynamics. Broadway, NY. Association Pres.
Light Bryan Consulting. (n. d.). The history of group dynamics. Retrieved from
Kagan, J., Kelman, H. C., Stone, P. J., & Mahler, B. A. (2005). Robert Freed Bales. Retrieved from
McGrath, J. (1997). Small group research, that once and future field: An interpretation of the past with an eye to the future. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(1), 7-27.
 Neill, J. (2007, April 3). Group dynamics, processes & development. Retrieved from
Payne, K. J. (2005, March 30). Group Dynamics. Retrieved July 11, 2010, from :
Scanzoni, J. (1983). Review: Untitled. The American Journal of Sociology, 88(4), pp
Smith, M. K. (2001). Kurt Lewin, groups, experiential learning and action research. The encyclopedia of informal education. Retrieved from:
Smith, M. K. (2008). Robert Freed Bales, Group observation and interaction processes. The encyclopedia of informal education. Retrieved from: