Introduction: An Overview on Group Behavior

Group Behavior refers to when and how people behave in different situations in different groups whether large or small. As participating in group discussions improves innovation, leads to achievement, moreover it provides companionship, survival and security. There are few common requirements:

1. Interdependence
2. Social Interaction
3. Perception of a Group
4. Commonality of Purpose
5. Favoritism

How Groups Influence Individual Behavior

Individual behavior is affected by both positive and negative implications. There are three key phenomena by which group behavior is influenced: Group Think, Group Shift and deindividuation. Group Think is when people are more focused on smooth and quick decisions, moreover people overlook for more options to achieve. Group Shift is in which initial position of people are shifted towards a more extreme position. Deindividuation is when people does what other group members does, and let go off all self-consciousness and control.

Group Behavior and Conflicts

Achieving organisational goals is the common goal of all members of group. Group effectiveness is affected by various factors:

• Group Cohesiveness - This means how all the members get along and share their views.
• Interdependence - This means when members depends on each other to reach their goals.
• Composition - The type of people in the group.
• Size - This means how many people are there in a group.
• Context and Resources - The resources group is having to reach their specific goals.
• Members Ability - This means how much members have ability to perform in a group and provide their innovative ideas.
• Norms - How group members behave with each other and their attitude towards each other.

Potential Problems

There are many problems that can arise from group structure:

• Polarization: This happens when attitude of people change towards risky and conservative positions.
• Social Loafing: This means when individuals do not participate in any group efforts, and are  not contributing their share in the group efforts, thinking others will do their part.
• Group Think: To have agreement on agreement, critical thinking is sacrificed by the group members.

Conflicts

Conflicts occurs in every group unless or until group think occurs. People deal differently with conflicts.

Conflicts can occur, in order to complete their tasks there is competition for resources, when people depends on others. Moreover when there are misunderstandings and ambiguity regarding something. 

Conflicts can be of two types:

• Functional Conflicts - It supports and improves the group performance.
• Dysfunctional Conflicts - It blocks bunch execution.