Lecture 1
Chapter 1
What is a group?
-2 or more people (with the same goal)
According to forsyth: two or more individuals who are connected by and within social
relationships (it’s not about the size). Some examples: romantic, kinship and task related.
Based on Forsyth’s definition of a group, which of the following is not a group: a couple, an
online group, a network or family
→ members are socially connected. It is not always a clear-cut distinction
● When people are waiting on a train, are they a group? There is no clear structure, but
there is a common interest so you could argue that they are a group. Even though they are
not interacting. If they start talking about the train they can be a group, since it's a form of
interaction.
→ Not just in the same grouping or collection (e.g., men, ethnic groups → categories)
● They are not a group, you don’t necessarily interact. If you are right-handed, you are not
necessarily a group. Unless category becomes psychologically meaningful, not per se a
social connection, if it influences your actions
→ What about playing video games?
● There is a social connection, it acts as a group (you are playing with others)
→ What about people connected through Facebook, do they form a group?
● Members are connected - linked - together; these relationships are memberships. As the
definition says by and within, a network is a more fluent group (without clear
boundaries).
● Unlike networks, groups usually have boundaries that define who is in the group and who
is not
Which are key group characteristics?
● Size: diffusion of responsibility, take different opinions into account, in a bigger group
you need to communicate more
● Composition: who is in the group?
● Interaction: What are they doing? Why are they in a group? - task vs relationship oriented
● Goals: why are we in this together?
, ● Interdependence: how are people working together? Are they depending on each other?
What type of connection is there? - symmetric (influence is reciprocal), hierarchical (for
example: at work), sequential (person a influences person b,and person b influences
person c, etc.) → to avoid interdependence you divide tasks, but you may have to wait on
each other, dependent on the previous person
● Boundaries, permeability: how permeable is the group, easy to leave, cohesion, difficult
to leave the group, more a member of the group.
● Origin: founded (planned): the group for this assignment or formed (emergent): family
● Entitativity: refers to the degree of cohesion in the group, how unified is the group
perceived (for outstanders).
● Structure: what founds the group, norms and roles
● unity/cohesion: the actual unity of the group (not perceived)
Types of groups
● Primary groups: typically small groups, the most influential, typically long term groups,
and they are very important to you. Mostly one group. - family, religious groups
● Social (or secondary) groups: second layer group, less influential, less permanent, task
oriented group. They are also relatively stable and small but not as much as primary
groups
● Collectives: loose, not influential, temporary bigger groups. - people at concerts, in a line
at the store. → gatherings, crowds, collective movements
● Social categories: not a group according to the definition, unless it is psychologically
meaningful to you.
Understanding people
Due to fundamental attribution error the influence of groups on individuals is often
underestimated (particularly by individuals raised in more individualistic, western cultures)
Why study groups
Understanding groups facilitates:
● Understanding people
● Understanding the social world
● Applications to practical problems
● Understanding yourself
, The nature of group dynamics
Kurt lewin (1890-1947) founder of the research field group dynamics
Law of interactionism
B = f(P,E)
Behavior = f(person, environment) ?
We have been studying groups for roughly a century. 4 reasons for the slow start
1. Incorrect assumption: private affair
2. Incorrect assumption: too complex to study
3. Incorrect assumption: so obvious, no need to study (if you understand the individual,
there is no need to understand the group)
4. Theoretical and methodological disagreement between researcher
Definition of group dynamic
1. The influential actions, processes, and changes that occur within and between groups
2. The scientific study of group processes
How to study groups
Three key ingredient: measurement (observation, self-report), research method (case studies,
experiments, correlational) and theoretical perspectives (motivation and emotion, behavioral,
cognitive, biological, systems)
See slides for examples
Hypotheses should be clear and testable: state the direction of expected group differences or
associations between variables; can be directly translates into statistical analysis
Measurement: e.g. observation, self-report, implicit, behavioral
Research method: e.g. case-study, experiment, correlational
Lecture 2
Chapter 2: how to study groups
There are different levels of study:
1. Micro level - individual; psychology
2. Meso level - group and social context; sociology
3. Macro level - organization, community, culture
4. Multi-level - multiple perspectives
Studying groups: three key ingredients
Chapter 1
What is a group?
-2 or more people (with the same goal)
According to forsyth: two or more individuals who are connected by and within social
relationships (it’s not about the size). Some examples: romantic, kinship and task related.
Based on Forsyth’s definition of a group, which of the following is not a group: a couple, an
online group, a network or family
→ members are socially connected. It is not always a clear-cut distinction
● When people are waiting on a train, are they a group? There is no clear structure, but
there is a common interest so you could argue that they are a group. Even though they are
not interacting. If they start talking about the train they can be a group, since it's a form of
interaction.
→ Not just in the same grouping or collection (e.g., men, ethnic groups → categories)
● They are not a group, you don’t necessarily interact. If you are right-handed, you are not
necessarily a group. Unless category becomes psychologically meaningful, not per se a
social connection, if it influences your actions
→ What about playing video games?
● There is a social connection, it acts as a group (you are playing with others)
→ What about people connected through Facebook, do they form a group?
● Members are connected - linked - together; these relationships are memberships. As the
definition says by and within, a network is a more fluent group (without clear
boundaries).
● Unlike networks, groups usually have boundaries that define who is in the group and who
is not
Which are key group characteristics?
● Size: diffusion of responsibility, take different opinions into account, in a bigger group
you need to communicate more
● Composition: who is in the group?
● Interaction: What are they doing? Why are they in a group? - task vs relationship oriented
● Goals: why are we in this together?
, ● Interdependence: how are people working together? Are they depending on each other?
What type of connection is there? - symmetric (influence is reciprocal), hierarchical (for
example: at work), sequential (person a influences person b,and person b influences
person c, etc.) → to avoid interdependence you divide tasks, but you may have to wait on
each other, dependent on the previous person
● Boundaries, permeability: how permeable is the group, easy to leave, cohesion, difficult
to leave the group, more a member of the group.
● Origin: founded (planned): the group for this assignment or formed (emergent): family
● Entitativity: refers to the degree of cohesion in the group, how unified is the group
perceived (for outstanders).
● Structure: what founds the group, norms and roles
● unity/cohesion: the actual unity of the group (not perceived)
Types of groups
● Primary groups: typically small groups, the most influential, typically long term groups,
and they are very important to you. Mostly one group. - family, religious groups
● Social (or secondary) groups: second layer group, less influential, less permanent, task
oriented group. They are also relatively stable and small but not as much as primary
groups
● Collectives: loose, not influential, temporary bigger groups. - people at concerts, in a line
at the store. → gatherings, crowds, collective movements
● Social categories: not a group according to the definition, unless it is psychologically
meaningful to you.
Understanding people
Due to fundamental attribution error the influence of groups on individuals is often
underestimated (particularly by individuals raised in more individualistic, western cultures)
Why study groups
Understanding groups facilitates:
● Understanding people
● Understanding the social world
● Applications to practical problems
● Understanding yourself
, The nature of group dynamics
Kurt lewin (1890-1947) founder of the research field group dynamics
Law of interactionism
B = f(P,E)
Behavior = f(person, environment) ?
We have been studying groups for roughly a century. 4 reasons for the slow start
1. Incorrect assumption: private affair
2. Incorrect assumption: too complex to study
3. Incorrect assumption: so obvious, no need to study (if you understand the individual,
there is no need to understand the group)
4. Theoretical and methodological disagreement between researcher
Definition of group dynamic
1. The influential actions, processes, and changes that occur within and between groups
2. The scientific study of group processes
How to study groups
Three key ingredient: measurement (observation, self-report), research method (case studies,
experiments, correlational) and theoretical perspectives (motivation and emotion, behavioral,
cognitive, biological, systems)
See slides for examples
Hypotheses should be clear and testable: state the direction of expected group differences or
associations between variables; can be directly translates into statistical analysis
Measurement: e.g. observation, self-report, implicit, behavioral
Research method: e.g. case-study, experiment, correlational
Lecture 2
Chapter 2: how to study groups
There are different levels of study:
1. Micro level - individual; psychology
2. Meso level - group and social context; sociology
3. Macro level - organization, community, culture
4. Multi-level - multiple perspectives
Studying groups: three key ingredients
