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Group Dynamics

Group dynamic is the scientific study of behavior in groups. This term was used for the first time by Kurt Lewis to describe the powerful processes that take place in groups. This relatively young science has roots both in sociology and psychology. We need a working knowledge of group dynamics and the small group skills to use that knowledge in school, at work, during leisure activities, at home, in our neighborhood and every other area of our life.

There are many definitions of group, some of them define a group as:
• A number of individuals who join together to achieve goal they are unable to achieve themselves;
• A collection of individuals who are interdependent to some significant degree ( event which affects one member is likely to affect all);
• A number of individuals who are interacting with one another ( group does not exist unless interaction occurs);
• A social unit consisting of two or more persons who perceive themselves as a group;
• A collection of individuals who influence each other or are trying to satisfy some personal needs through their joint association;
The above definitions are very specific. A Similar definition presents T. Martin Roger who states that “groups are small social units that develop their own ways of communicating: creating meaning and taking action and each group is situated in the complex organizational, cultural and social milieu. The study of groups becomes a study of small complex dynamic social systems where the leader is an integral part of that system”(1).
We have to remember that not every collection of individuals creates a group, as an example we can take an aggregate which is a collection of individuals who are present at the same time and the same place but do not form a unit or have a common degree of similarity (e.g. individuals standing on the street corner).
To talk about the unity of the group we have to refer to cohesiveness. This refers to all of the forces that cause individuals to remain...