WHAT IS GROUP BEHAVIOUR

. The factors that affect group behavior: Group behavior refers to the situations where people interact in large or small groups. There are many factors that either directly or passively affect group behavior in addition to the group process. It can be explained as follows:

1.      Norms: Norms are acceptable standards of behaviour which are shared by the group members. They are guidelines for members detailing what they should and should not do under certain circumstances. Accordingly the people are guided on how hard they have to work, how to get the job done, their level of output etc.

2.      Conformity: It is the process of adhering to group norms. Conformity is type of social influence involving a change in belief or behaviour in order to fit in with a group. Conformity is also known as majority influence. Norms are enforced by the groups by:

(i)                 Increasing communication with non-conforming member.

(ii)               Ignoring the non-conforming member.

(iii)             Excluding him from activities and physical coercion or expulsion.

3.      Status: It is a socially defined position or rank given to groups or group members by others. Those who enjoy higher status are able to break group norms.

4.      Groupthink: It is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. According to Irving Janis, groupthink is “a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment resulting from in-group pressures”.

5.      Groupshift: It is a special case of groupthink. During a discussion, those who are more conservative, tend to shift to greater risk because;

(i)                 onece they become familiar, they become bolder.

(ii)                (ii) the society values more risk, hence people want to be seen as more risk taking.

(iii)             (iii) group decision is not attributable to a single person.

6.      Social loafing: It is a phenomenon of people exerting less effort to achieve a goal when they work in a group than when they work alone. Social loafing occurs when one or more group members depend on the efforts of other group members and fail to contribute their own time, effort, thoughts or other resources to a group, for it is harder  to attribute the group’s output to individual contributions.

7.      Production blocking: It is limiting another person’s output by getting in his or her way. It occurs when too many employees work in a given space or when the organization has poorly planned the use of its facilities.