Groups

  • Glynis M. Breakwell
  • Colin Rowett

Abstract

The analysis of groups is central to the social psychological approach. A broad outline of this analysis is presented below. The key issues fall under three headings:
  1. (i)

    The nature of groups

     
  2. (ii)
    Intragroup dynamics:
    1. (a)

      the nature of group membership

       
    2. (b)

      the importance of norms and conformity processes

       
    3. (c)
      group decision making:
      1. 1.

        ‘groupthink’

         
      2. 2.

        influence and dominance hierarchies

         
      3. 3.

        communication networks

         
      4. 4.

        factors influencing the quality of decisions

         
       
    4. (d)

      leadership

       
    5. (iii)
      Intergroup dynamics:
      1. (a)
        explanations of conflict and cooperation between groups:
        1. 1.

          the conflict of interests model

           
        2. 2.

          the social identity model

           
         
      2. (b)
        reducing intergroup conflict:
        1. 1.

          superordinate goals

           
        2. 2.

          the GRIT proposal

           
         

      The fourth and final part of this chapter will discuss the implications of the SPA analysis of groups for the social work process.

       
     

Keywords

External Criterion Internal Criterion Conceptual Group Naive Subject Interest Model 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Copyright information

© Van Nostrand Reinhold (UK) Co. Ltd. 1982

Authors and Affiliations

  • Glynis M. Breakwell
    • 1
  • Colin Rowett
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of PsychologyUniversity of SurreyUK
  2. 2.Social Work DepartmentBroadmoor HospitalUK

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