Group Communication

In life, it is inevitable that we have to work in groups, be it in school or at work. What exactly is a group? According to Trenholm(2004), a group is a collection of individuals who, as a result of interacting with one another over time, become interdependent, developing shared patterns of behaviour and a collective identity. Have you ever wondered why do we have to communicate in groups? One of the reasons is because groups can provide support and commitment to one and it meets member’s interpersonal needs such as inclusion, control and affection. Also, it establishes group synergy as we have more help compared to when working alone.

To manage group communication, we must first understand that problems can be solved through effective group interactions. Group socialisation is where individuals interact with members of the group to influence each other and best meet their needs. Individuals will then measure how much they can benefit from the group and this process is known as evaluation and this determines their allegiance to the group. According to Moreland and Levine, there are five stages in this process. Take for example my project group in school, we had to be grouped into groups of 4 and everyone in class was a prospective member of my group as my teacher randomly arranged us. When the group was formed, I am a new member. The responsibility of a full member kicks in when I was assigned my first task. Once I finished that project, I would then be a marginal member. When I already graduated from school, I then am an ex-member.

As we work as a group, there will be group pressure that is, to balance between individual and group needs. We also need to gain support from other members. In order to maintain the group, members must be able to assume both roles – as an individual as well as a group member. Conflicts amongst group members are also unavoidable. There was once when my group member actually left our group discussion just because we could not agree on the same thing. She felt that we did not support any of her ideas at all. It took us a long time to sort out the problem eventually and finish the project.

There are also models of group development such as Bruce Tuckman’s five stage model (1965) and Aubrey Fisher’s four-phase model(1970s). These models mostly show us what happens when one forms a group. Here is a link for you to understand more on each model:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_development#Tuckman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_development#Fisher

On the other hand, while working as a group, we may encounter complex decisions, resources, and may face conflicts. It is dangerous to have the ‘groupthink’ mindset - “a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.” – Irving Jarvis. We tend to ignore positive interpretation and assume that we are always right. Therefore, we should keep a lookout for symptoms such as illusion of invulnerability and shared stereotypes to prevent our group from having the groupthink mindset. To combat groupthink, we should appoint someone that is receptive to different responses and views and looks for alternatives to solutions. We should also monitor group behaviour and be aware of these symptoms.

Below are links to websites that might help you understand more about group communication:
http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/groups/group.html

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small-group_communication

Was your experience with your group an enjoyable one? Or have you experienced bad relationship with your group? Feel free to express your views on group communication!