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The Psychology of Groups: Basic Principles

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The Psychology of Groups: Basic Principles 9781405124003_4_012.qxd 10/31/07 3:11 PM Page 244 The Psychology of Groups: Basic 12 Principles Bernard A. Nijstad and Daan van Knippenberg KEY CONCEPTS cohesion commitment entitativity expectation states theory group socialization initiation interpersonal cohesion need to belong role role transition socio-emotional behaviour speaking hierarchy staffing level status task behaviour task cohesion transactive memory 9781405124003_4_012.qxd 10/31/07 3:11 PM Page 245 CHAPTER OUTLINE Groups are pervasive in social life. In this chapter, we discuss why people form and join groups, and what types of groups can be distinguished. We further discuss three levels of analysis. At the indi- vidual level, we discuss the (changing) relations between the group and its members. At the group level, we discuss group development, group structure (status and roles) and group norms. At the intergroup level, we discuss how the (intergroup) context shapes the behaviour of group members and the structure of groups. Introduction Imagine you’re spending a weekend in Amsterdam. You enter a subway station, which is quite crowded. From the way people are dressed – many are wearing red and white Ajax shirts – you infer that they must be Ajax fans going to support their football team. These fans show remarkable behaviour: they sing and shout in ways they would not normally behave in public. Yet, most of them are adults (and not all are drunk), and they only show this behaviour when there is an Ajax match. The most striking aspect of their behaviour is that the fans behave so similarly. However, Plate 12.1 These fans share membership of a social group: they are all Ajax football supporters. 9781405124003_4_012.qxd 10/31/07 3:11 PM Page 246 246 CHAPTER 12 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF GROUPS: BASIC PRINCIPLES many of them do not even know each other, and their behaviour their behaviour. At the broader level, one could argue that these is quite out of the ordinary: normally, people would not sing and fans only show this behaviour because of the context: there is shout in a subway. going to be a football match in which Ajax will play against The only reason these fans behave so similarly is that they share another team. Indeed, if there had been no such match, the fans membership of a social group: they are all Ajax fans. In this chap- would behave quite differently. ter, we argue that in order to understand their behaviour and beha- In this chapter, we use this three-level framework to discuss viour in other groups, we need to consider three levels of analysis: some basic characteristics of groups and some basic processes the individual level, the group level and the wider context in which in groups. We first examine the issues of what a group is, why groups are situated. At the individual level, all Ajax fans in the sub- people form or join groups, and what types of groups can be dis- way are individually aware of their group membership (being an tinguished. We then move on to the individual level and discuss Ajax fan) and of the fact that the other people in the subway are how individuals join groups and how their group membership Ajax fans as well. At the group level, the fact that their behaviour develops over time. We then consider the group level, as we discuss is so similar indicates that it cannot be caused by idiosyncratic ten- group development and group structure. Finally, we discuss the dencies of individual Ajax fans, such as their individual personali- (intergroup) context in which groups exist and how this context ties. Rather, there is something ‘groupy’ going on which guides affects processes that occur in groups. that one can only talk about groups to the extent that there are THE PHENOMENOLOGY people who do not belong to the group, although they belong to OF GROUPS other groups. Why groups? What is a group? Why do people form, join and distinguish groups? Why do humans form, join and distinguish groups? Several theo- What kinds of groups can be distinguished, and what are their retical perspectives can be applied to answer that question. We characteristics? will discuss three: a sociobiological, a cognitive and a utilitarian What is group entitativity, and what contributes to perceptions of perspective (also see Baron & Kerr, 2003). These three perspect- entitativity? ives are complementary rather than mutually exclusive. Following Darwin’s evolution theory, the sociobiological perspective (e.g., Bowlby, 1958) emphasizes the adaptive value of Defining groups forming groups. Forming groups enables humans (and other social animals) to deal more effectively with enemies or predators, and Groups are everywhere: we see groups of friends in a bar, groups allows cooperation in such areas as raising children, farming of colleagues in an organization, groups of fans in a stadium. But or hunting. Especially earlier in our evolutionary history, when what exactly do we mean by the word ‘group?’ Many authors have food was often scarce and enemies and predators were dangerous, suggested different ingredients towards a definition of groups. forming groups had a significant advantage. A predisposition to Lewin (1948) suggested that common fate is critical: people are form groups increased the chances of survival of the individual a group to the extent that they experience similar outcomes. and, through the evolutionary principle of natural selection, this Sherif and Sherif (1969) proposed that some form of social struc- predisposition was selected and passed on to later generations. ture (status or role differentiation, e.g., a leadership role) is essen- This human predisposition tial, because otherwise the ‘group’ would just be a loose collection to form and maintain stable, need to belong the fundamental and of individuals. Bales (1950) stressed the importance of face-to-face strong and positive relation- innate human motivation to form positive, interaction. We suggest a broader definition of groups: following ships with others is called the strong and stable bonds with others Tajfel (1981), we argue that a group exists when two or more indi- need to belong (Baumeister & viduals define themselves as members of a group. Leary, 1995). Baumeister and A few things should be noted. First, many different groups Leary argued that this human need is innate and universal. Indeed, would fit this definition, including religious groups (Christians), evidence indicates that the tendency to form groups is found across national groups (the British), organizational groups (the psycho- all cultures and situations, suggesting that this tendency is evolu- logy department) and friendship groups (a student society). Second, tionarily ‘built in’. it is subjective and does not include any ‘objective’ characteristics According to the cognitive perspective, groups help us to under- of groups, such as common fate or face-to-face interaction. Rather, stand our world. Social comparison theory (Festinger, 1954; see it emphasizes common identity: sharing the view with others that Chapters 5 and 10, this volume) argues that people want to hold you belong to the same group. Third, it is important to recognize accurate views of the world. They can do this by validating their 9781405124003_4_012.qxd 10/31/07 3:11 PM Page 247 THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF GROUPS 247 beliefs either against ‘physical reality’ (e.g., ‘Will this glass crack Social exchange theory argues that social relations involve costs if I hit it with a hammer?’) or against ‘social reality’ (e.g., as well as benefits, and as long as the benefits exceed the costs the ‘I like this new music; I wonder what my friends think about it?’). relation will yield a ‘profit’. There is much evidence that people People turn to others especially for beliefs for which there is no are unhappy about relations if they feel that they invest more in physical reality (e.g., preferences). Building on these ideas, social them (e.g., time) than they get back (e.g., approval) (e.g., Le & identity theory (e.g., Tajfel & Turner, 1986; see Chapter 5, this Agnew, 2003; see also Chapter 10). Furthermore, satisfaction with volume) and self-categorization theory (Turner, Hogg, Oakes, an exchange relationship depends on the degree to which alter- Reicher & Wetherell, 1987; see Chapters 5 and 11, this volume) native relationships exist that yield more profit. Thus, people join argue that people define themselves and others partly in terms groups because they derive benefits from their group membership. of group membership. The theory argues that seeing oneself People may leave groups (if possible) when they are unhappy and others as members of groups helps to reduce uncertainty and about the benefits relative to the costs of group membership, or make sense of our world (e.g., Hogg & Abrams, 1993). Being a when alternative groups exist that have a better cost–benefit ratio member of a group often provides guidelines for the way we (also see Rusbult & Farrell, 1983). In general, people will leave should behave and think. If you think about the Ajax football groups when better alternatives are available, including the option fans we started this chapter with, their behaviour is clearly guided of being alone. by their group membership and the behaviours thought to be appropriate for that group (see our later discussion of group norms). Further, seeing other people as members of certain groups Types of groups and group helps to interpret their behaviour: knowing that the people in the subway are Ajax fans makes it much easier to understand what entitativity is going on. A utilitarian perspective argues that people derive benefits from As we noted earlier, our definition of groups is relatively broad groups. Social exchange theory (e.g., Thibaut & Kelley, 1959; see and many types of groups may be included.
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