Formation of Groups

• Roles are socially defined expectations that individuals in a given situation are expected to fulfil.
• Roles refer to the typical behaviour that depicts a person in a given social context.

Status refers to the relative social position given to group members by others.

• Cohesiveness refers to togetherness, binding, or mutual attraction among group members.
• Cohesiveness refers to the team spirit or ‘we feeling’ or a sense of belongingness to the group.

• Five-Stage Model of Group Formation – Groups pass through five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
• Factors for Group Formation – Proximity, similarity, common goals, and external threats influence group formation.
• Group Cohesiveness – High cohesiveness strengthens unity, but excessive cohesiveness can lead to groupthink, where critical thinking is suppressed.
• Reasons for Joining Groups – People join groups for security, status, self-esteem, goal achievement, and psychological/social needs.
• Instinct & Biological Theories – Humans have an innate need for belonging, which drives group formation.
• Role Theory – People join groups to perform specific roles and contribute to group goals through division of labour.
• Stages of Group Development – Groups develop through forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning, with group norms and cohesiveness influencing behaviour.