Page 561 - Understanding Psychology

Shared Goals
Group members become interdependent because they share com- mon goals. Groups are usually created to perform tasks or to organize activities that no individual could handle alone. Members of a consumer group, for example, share the common goal of working for consumer pro- tection. Members of ethnic and religious groups desire to perpetuate a common heritage or set of beliefs.
The purposes groups serve are of two general kinds: task functions, those directed toward getting some job done; and social functions, those directed toward filling the emotional needs of members. In most groups, task and social functions are combined naturally and cannot be separated easily, although one dominates in any given group.
Political parties, teams of surgeons, and crews of construction workers are all task-oriented groups. Although social interactions occur within each of these groups, their main purpose is to complete a project or achieve some change in the environment. Social functions are empha- sized in more informal, temporary groups. When people take walks together, attend parties, or participate in conversations, they have formed a group to gain social rewards such as companionship and emotional sup- port. Yet again, every group involves both task and social functions.
HOW GROUPS ARE HELD TOGETHER
The factors that work to hold a group together—that increase the group’s cohesiveness—include shared attitudes and standards and the group’s commitment to them.
task functions: activities directed toward getting a job done
social functions: responses directed toward satisfying the emotional needs of members
norms: shared standards of behavior accepted by and expected from group members
Norms
Norms are unwritten rules that govern the behavior and attitudes of group members. They include rules—shared beliefs about the correct way to behave and what to believe. For example, there are rules about how to behave at home, at school, and at an amusement park. There are rules about what to say and how to communicate with brothers, sisters, parents, and friends. Would you use the same words and expressions with both your friends and your parents? Most people would not. These rules are not necessarily like rigid laws. They may be more like tendencies or habits, but group members are expected to act in accordance with group norms and are punished in some way if they do not. If a student consis- tently sneaks to the front of the lunch line, her friends would not hesitate to say something about it. Strangers might point and grow angry—simply because she violated a norm that you wait in line
Figure 19.2 Why Do We Join Groups?
Psychologists have proposed various reasons why we join groups. For what reason would you join a task-oriented group?
They satisfy our need to belong.
We must compare ourselves to others who are similar to us.
We must compare our experiences with those of others who are similar to us.
We use group members as standards against which to evaluate ourselves.
Groups reduce our uncertainty.
Group members may offer us support in trying times. Groups provide us with companionship.
Groups provide comfort and lessen our anxiety.
Groups help us accomplish things that we could not do alone.
Chapter 19 / Group Interaction 547