Factors of Group Formation

We can identify four major factors that influence our

decision to join and remain in a wide variety of groups:

attraction to members of the group; the activities, goals,

or the task of the group; affiliating with the people in

the group; and meeting needs or goals lying outside

the group.

Attraction to members of the group grows out of proximity

and frequency of interaction. (Consider your own

experience of friendship groups that are largely

determined by who is available for interaction: your

neighbours, classmates, roommates, and so on.)

However, we must remember that proximity creates only

the potential for, attraction; other factors usually come

into play when actually establishing a relationship. The

power of similarity, especially attitudinal similarity,

appears to be as strong in group formation as in

interpersonal attraction.

The task of a group, as experienced in its activities and

goals is often an important reason for joining. You join

a photography club because you enjoy taking pictures

and discussing that activity with others. You join a

protest group against higher tuition fees because you

cannot afford to pay more. In these examples, you are

gaining rewards directly through group membership.

The application of social exchange theory to group

formation predicts that we join and remain in groups

when the rewards for doing so outweigh the costs, thus

yielding profits.

The third general factor of group formation is our desire

to affiliate with the people in that group. We satisfy our

need for affiliation through interacting with people, just

as we meet our need for achievement through the

activities and goals of the group. Whether we affiliate

for social comparison, or to reduce anxiety, or to satisfy

an innate craving, it is clear that the group is a powerful

forum for meeting our basic social needs and a strong

influence on our behaviour.

Group membership may help us meet needs that lie

outside the group – thus, group membership may be a

stepping stone to achieve an external goal, rather than

a source of direct satisfaction. A college professor may

regularly attend meetings of a professional association

to enhance the probability of promotion. A candidate for

political office may join a host of community

organisations to enhance his or her chances for

election.

When we consider attraction to a group, we must also

consider the characteristics of the group itself. Several

attributes of groups generally make them more

attractive to prospective members and thus contribute

to group formation.

_ The more prestige a group can offer a member, the

more attractive the group. Members who have

positions of higher authority and prestige are

usually most attracted to remain in the group.

_ Co-operative relationships and joint rewards

heighten the attractiveness of a group, whereas

individual striving and competition detract from it.

_ The degree of positive interaction among members

directly affects attractiveness since it increases the

range of personal and social needs being met.

_ The size of the group affects its attraction. Smaller

groups generally offer more possibility for

interaction, for sharing similarities, and for meeting

individual needs, and therefore tend to be more

attractive.

_ Positive relations with other groups may add to the

prestige of the group and make it more attractive.

_ Nothing succeeds like success. Groups that are

perceived as meeting their goals effectively usually

appear to be more attractive.

Plausible Hypothesis about Group Formation

From the various factors influencing group formation

the following hypothesis can be confidently stated.

1) People join groups in order to satisfy some individual

need.

2) Proximity, contact and interaction provide an

opportunity for individuals to discover the need

satisfactions that can be attained through affiliation

with others.

3) Interpersonal attraction is a positive function of

physical attractiveness, attitude similarity,

personality similarity, economic similarity, racial

similarity, perceived ability of the other person (his

or her success or failure) and need compatibility.

4) An individual will join a group if he or she finds the

activities of the group attractive or rewarding.

5) An individual will join a group if he or she values

the goals of the group.

6) There exists a need for affiliation which renders

group membership rewarding.

7) An individual will join a group if he or she perceives

it to be instrumental in satisfying needs outside

the group.

8) Group development follows a consistent pattern,

which may be characterized as orientationevaluation-

control.