Group dynamics - Definition and Overview

The term group dynamics implies that individual behaviours may differ depending on individuals' current or prospective connections to a sociological group. Urges to belong or to identify may make for distinctly different attitudes (recognised or unrecognised), and the influence of a group may rapidly become strong, influencing or overwhelming individual proclivities and actions. The group dynamics may also include changes in behaviour of a person when he is represented before a group, the behavioural pattern of a person vis-a-vis group.

Group dynamics form a basis for much group therapy. Politicians and salesmen may make practical exploitations of principles of group dynamics for their own ends.

Compare: crowd psychology.

A group goes through four main phases: forming (pretending to get on); storming (knowing they don't get on and being angry); norming (getting used to each other); and performing (working in a group to a common goal). It should be noted that this refers to the majority of the group, but of course individuals within a group work in different ways.

Wilfred Bion studied group dynamics from a psychoanalytic perspective. Many of his findings were reported in his published books, especially Experiences in Groups, London, Tavistock, 1961. Tavistock Institute has further developed and applied the theory and practices developed by Bion.

Further reading

• W. R. Bion, Experiences in Groups: And Other Papers, Routledge, 1991, trade paperback, 148 pages, ISBN 0415040205

See also

• Group-dynamic game
• groupthink
• interpersonal relationships
• group process
• facilitation
• Talking circle