How does the person in the group manifest themselves? Communication of a person in a group

The group is one of the fundamental forms of social interaction. People, like many of the representatives of our smaller brothers, are grouped together to meet a variety of needs. This process takes place through the interaction of the members of the association among themselves.

Differences in behavior

How a person manifests in a group can be represented by the simplest example. Imagine that there is an ordinary person in the room. He can rest, he can go to lunch, and if he pleases, he will collect the bag and go for a walk. But a completely different picture can be seen in the case when the individual is a member of the group. Free behavior is possible only if he is in the company of close friends or relatives. In other cases, the person alone and the one that is part of the group are practically different people. Psychologists say: only after assessing how a person manifests himself in a group, you can judge about his character and personal qualities. It is impossible to form an opinion about an individual, not knowing how he behaves in a society of his own kind.

Types of groups

There is a huge number of groups. These are various social associations, a family circle, a school class, a student group. In some associations, a person can get by accident, some of them become his own volition. Some can be easily left, others are almost impossible. The way a person manifests himself in a group, in short, in large part depends on its type. Among all their diversity distinguish between large and small associations. Associations based on professional interests, ethnic groups, social entities related to geographical location belong to large ones. The lifetime of such associations is longer than a single person, it depends on historical events.

Crowds

Also in the category of groups refer spontaneously crowds. They appear in the form of political rallies, spontaneous actions. The existence of the crowd is short-lived. It disappears as suddenly as it appears. Crowds often are uncontrollable, one of their main properties is a high emotional charge. How does a person in a group of this kind manifest themselves?

The first property that determines his behavior is anonymity. A person is lost in a "faceless crowd" and practically ceases to be responsible for their actions. It is from here that the mob rushes, its aggressiveness. In such a group, the individual creates a false impression that he is free from other types of social connections - for example, he forgets that he is part of the work collective, the family.

Dissolution in the crowd

The way a person manifests himself in a group of this type is largely determined by the said anonymity and irresponsibility. The individual is completely given power to such instincts, which in his right mind he would never give up. He is unable to process information rationally. If an isolated individual retains the ability to criticize, observe, then the person in the crowd completely disappears.

In the crowd, the individual is subject to association with other members. Such a group directly affects a person with his presence, he feels its power. This impact can be expressed in two ways: either by strengthening the behavior of an individual or by suppressing it. The person feels the irresistible force of the crowd, which is due to its huge numbers. There is no such thing as impossibility. That is why the individual gives himself to the power of instincts.

Man as part of the collective

As indicated, the behavior of a person changes when he becomes part of a group. Communication of a person in a group significantly affects his motivation, scope of assessments and other characteristics. His interests become wider, because he is now not only busy with himself, but also focuses on the problems of other members of the association.

In addition, in the team a person is endowed with a certain "weight". People can be on exactly the same positions, perform the same work. However, they will have absolutely different "weight" within the collective. For many, this characteristic is of particular value, because outside the group, a person would never be able to gain significance.

The group also influences the self-esteem of the individual, his self-perception. A member of the group gradually identifies with it, which leads to changes in this area. He begins to treat his place differently under the sun in a different way, he has a new type of worldview.

Role and status

The way a person manifests in a group (social studies or psychology are usually those subjects, in the study of which schoolchildren analyze this issue), depends on the individual position of a member of a particular association, its status. Each group gives its member a certain status. He, in turn, assumes this or that role. The status of a person in a group is a position in relation to other members of the association. A role is a specific set of functions that are assigned to a group member by its other members. It also depends on the specific activities that are characteristic of this group. There are a large number of typologies of roles in the social association. However, most of them are built according to the criteria of power and subordination or preference and rejection.

Types of social statuses

The best group for understanding different social statuses and roles is a group with a rigid social hierarchy. Typically, it is characterized by a lack of resources, and within such associations problems with their fair distribution are observed. Not the least role in groups of this kind is the low social maturity of its leader (or leader). He may lack the notion of morality and values. The place of a person in a group with a rigid social hierarchy is usually indicated by the letter of the Greek alphabet. It has the following roles:

1. Alpha is the "pack leader". The leader takes priority in the distribution of benefits, he has the greatest authority.
2. Beta is the second person after the leader in the group. Quite often the beta is smarter than the alpha. However, he is not so energetic. He takes the second place in the hierarchy and therefore has the corresponding right to distribute benefits. Quite often beta is a kind of custodian of the norms and rules accepted in the group.
3. Gamma-1. These are the approximate leader of the group, his associates.
4. Gamma-2. Members of a group with this status are usually the most. They, as a rule, are inert and often become objects of manipulation by more "high-ranking" members of the association.
5. Gamma-3. This subgroup also has to obey, but its representatives are often dissatisfied with the status assigned to them. To them, members with a higher rank apply the policy of "carrot and stick". In the role of "stick" is usually the opportunity to become close to the upper strata of the group, and "whip" - this deprivation of rights, reducing the amount of compensation received, sometimes - expulsion from the group, as well as physical punishment.
6. Gamma-4. This is a kind of "fool", which is allowed to make critical and caustic remarks about the other members of the group. Naturally, such permission is given to him by representatives of higher ranks. Gamma-4 has a special role: it supports the appearance of "freedom of speech" and "democracy" in the group.
7. Omega is an individual who takes upon himself all the aggression of association. The role of omega is needed in order for the group to be cohesive. With the help of a person with this status, other members of the association acquire a sense of "we". In the event that a person does not agree with this role and leaves the group, another candidate will soon be in this position.

Objectives of the members of the group

Usually the behavior of a member of a group is aimed at achieving one of two goals - solving practical problems or building relationships. It is difficult for one person to perform both functions at the same time, that's why each member of the association either solves practical problems or promotes the development of harmonious relations in the team.