Group Psychology Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Group Psychology?

Group psychology is the branch of psychology that studies how people behave in social groups. It investigates why people form relationships with one another, how they interact and influence each other, and how group dynamics shape individual behavior. Group psychologists are interested in understanding a range of dynamics including: leadership styles, decision-making processes, conformity, communication patterns, cooperation and competition among individuals within a group.One key element of group psychology involves examining the impact that individual emotions have on the behavior of others in the group. For example, researchers have found that when an individual feels positive emotions such as joy or excitement within a group setting, those feelings can spread to other members of the group who then in turn share similar positive feelings. This phenomenon is known as emotional contagion and it can be used to explain why individuals often reflect similar behaviors even when they are not consciously aware of it. Group psychology also looks at the different roles individuals play within groups such as leader or follower roles. Research has found that certain traits such as charisma or confidence may make some individuals more likely to take on leadership roles than others. Additionally, research has shown that people often conform to expectations placed on them by peers or authority figures which can lead to decreased creativity and innovation among members of a team. Finally, one important concept explored by group psychologists is social loafing which describes an individual’s tendency to reduce effort when working in groups compared to when working independently due to feeling less accountable for their contribution overall. This phenomenon can have serious consequences for teams who rely on collective effort from all members in order achieve their desired outcomes so it’s important for leaders to be aware of this dynamic and take steps towards preventing it whenever possible through setting clear expectations around individual accountability within teams and providing recognition for each person’s contribution. Overall, studying group psychology provides us with valuable insights into how people interact with each other in social settings which helps us better understand our own behavior as well as others’. Knowing more about these concepts can help us build stronger relationships with our colleagues at work or even just among friends while allowing us to reach our desired goals more efficiently through using effective interpersonal skills.