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6.11: Outcome: Group Dynamics

  • Page ID
    83677
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    Define types of groups and describe how group dynamics are impacted by leadership, size, and conformity

    “Would you jump off a cliff just because your friends are doing it?” You may think about this age-old question differently after reading this section about groups and conformity. You’ll see that the pressure to conform with a group sometimes leads people to do uncharacteristic and sometimes obviously stupid things. You’ll also learn that the size and leadership styles of a group greatly affects how members act. Even weak connections with others form an important network that provide us with benefits and opportunities, as explained in the following video:

    What you’ll learn to do:

    • Understand primary and secondary groups, in-groups and out-groups, and reference groups
    • Describe how size influences group dynamics
    • Compare different styles of leadership
    • Explain how conformity is impacted by groups

    LEARNING ACTIVITIES

    The learning activities for this section include:

    • Reading: Types of Groups
    • Reading: Group Size and Structure
    • Reading: Leadership Styles
    • Reading: Conformity
    • Self-Check: Group Dynamics

    Supplemental Material

    Even weak connections with others form an important network that provide us with benefits and opportunities, as explained in this video from Norton Sociology.

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    6.11: Outcome: Group Dynamics is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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