The Top 10 Pluses and Minuses of Being Part of a Group
Category: Success, Smart Choices, Wisdom (BD256)Originally Submitted on 3/23/2000.
Most of us vacillate between wanting the feeling that we belong, and wanting to be independent. Whether the group we have in mind is our family, someone else's family, a fraternity or sorority, or a group of people sharing some specific interests, belonging has many pluses, and many minuses. Here are some of them.
1. Minus: Danger of developing 'in-group thinking' so that those who are not members of your group are denigrated, put down, or somehow thought of as 'less than.'
2. Plus: A group provides social support, people to turn to, to talk to, and is a source of help in times of emergency.
3. Minus: The danger of de-individuation.
In a large group we may allow ourselves to be swept away by group emotions, and so end up doing things that we would never consider doing if we were alone.
4. Plus: The feeling of belonging, of mutual respect and affection.
5. Minus: The pressure to conform.
In most groups there is a subtle (or not so subtle) pressure to conform. It may not be openly expressed, but there are often clear expectations of behavior or belief.
6. Plus: In some situations an effect called social facilitation can make boring tasks less boring, and we can get them done more swiftly.
Easy tasks and those that we know well are performed more efficiently in groups.
7. Minus: Conversely, new or difficult tasks have been found to be more difficult to do correctly when others are around to observe us.
8. Plus: The advice and experience of other group members can be helpful.
9. Minus: With majority focus on the group, one is less likely to do much truly authentic self-development work except of the type dictated by the group.
10. Plus: Doing self-development work entirely alone can occasionally lead to self-delusion. If one has others around, there is more likely to be healthy feedback if one is in danger of 'going off the deep end.'
About the Submitter
This piece was originally submitted by Diana Robinson, Ph.D., Personal Development & Business Coach, who can be reached at www.Choices4U@ChoiceCoach.com, or visited on the web. Diana Robinson wants you to know: My clients achieve greater success and enjoyment of life by enhancing their ability to focus on what is truly important to them. To learn more, and/or to subscribe to either/both of my two e-mail free newsletters, please visit my web site. I also offer you the gift of a half-hour of free coaching by phone, with no obligation. The original source is: Graduate study in Social Psychology.
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