Group Formation, Cohesion, and Behaviors

1996 Words8 Pages
Group formation, Cohesion, and Behaviors Matthew Gambrell Mid-Continent University Louisville 18 Group Dynamics PSY 3413 Professor Guy Nelson 04-19-2012 Abstract The purpose of this research is to identify the importance of understanding how groups come together, group cohesiveness, and why we should understand the influences of groups upon our own individual behavior. The first phase of this project involved researching different academic books, journals, and publications to find the facts needed to support my topic. Next, I watched the movie, “Die Welle (The Wave)” to get a better understanding of a story based on the true life events on the effects of group behavior upon and individual’s actions. By combining the scholarly research with what I learned from the video I will express my understanding of the subject matter and conclude what we can learn from a better understanding of group dynamics. Groups are a part of most people’s everyday lives. Whether it is a social group of friends, a working group of colleges, or a sports team brought together for a common goal, everyone participates in groups. In fact, this cohort is an example of a group, formed by an institution, and bound together by the common interest of obtaining a bachelors degree in business management. Groups give people a sense of belonging which helps justify whatever goal is wished to be achieved. The purpose of this paper is to better understand how groups come together, why they stay together, and what behavioral influences a group setting can have upon its participants. Why and how groups form has been a subject of debate since the term group dynamics was first coined by psychologist Kurt Lewin in the early part of the 20th century. (Dion, 2000) Two major theories that have arisen from these debates are: “The social cohesion approach suggests that
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