Groups, Cliques and Social Behaviour

Truth.

Types of Groups

Social Groups: Two or more people who interact with each other and are aware of having something in commonMeet needsHelp us achieve goalsProvide safety/security

Types of Groups

Crowds: A collection of people who come together for a specific purposeMay have little or nothing to do with

each other A crowd can turn into a group if the

people begin to relate to each other

Crowds

Conventional crowd: large group of people gathered for a clear purpose who display expected behaviourExample: ??

Casual crowd: group of people who have no common goal other than being in the same location at the same timeExample: ??

Crowds

Expressive crowd: a large number of people at an event who display emotion and excitementExample: ??

Acting crowd: a group of people fuelled by a single purpose or goalExample: ??

Mobs

A disorderly crowd of people

Can lead to a riot: disorder stemming from a social grievance, often exhibit aggression, and may result in violence, vandalism and destruction of property

Mobs

Smart mob: a large group of strangers who use electronic media to organize and stage surprise public gatherings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5PyIVVKoWU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbGGjnoqfFs&feature=related

Primary Groups

First and most important groups in our livesPersonal relationshipsLong-term relationshipsInterested in the person as a wholeUsually face-to-face communication

Ex: family, group of friends

Secondary Groups

Impersonal, more formal Temporary/short-term relationships Interested in a narrow aspect of the

person More formal/written communication Ex: School, business, team

ACTIVITY TIME

ROLES

How Groups Shape Behaviour

Roles: Groups assign members a set of behaviours they expect them to performDo you adopt different roles in

different groups?Have you ever experienced role

conflict?

How Groups Shape Behaviour

Norms: Rules within a groupcan be formal or informal

Sanctions: Used to encourage or discourage certain behavioursPositive: acceptance, good marks,

payNegative: rejection, failure,

reprimands

Conformity

The process by which an individual's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are influenced by others

Occurs in both small groups and society as a whole

Influences the formation and maintenance of social norms and allows society to function smoothly and predictably

Conformity

Why do people conform?A desire to achieve a sense of

security within a groupFailure to conform may result in social

rejection Peer pressure is a way to force

conformity Can be positive or negative

http://www.cca-kids.ca/english/psas/self_esteem.html

Activity Make a chart titled “Personal Involvement in

Groups” Divide a page into 4 sections, and in each,

write the name of a group to which you belong For each, write:

How long have you been a part of this group? What needs does the group meet? (why are you

still a member?) What is your role in the group? What are the groups norms? What sanctions does the group use to ensure

conformity?

CARTOON ASSIGNMENT

Let’s go through it together

Questions

Is conformity essential to make society function properly?

What are the dangers and advantages of a society that conforms?

Can people be manipulated to conform to ideas and behaviours without being aware they are being manipulated?