Small group: socio-psychological content, characterization, qualifications and the importance of leadership

Large and small social groups are a collection of individuals who interact with each other. At the heart of the relationship are the shared expectations of each of its members in relation to others. Consider in more detail the socio-psychological content, characteristics, patterns, classification of small groups, as well as the importance of the leader in them.

Characteristic

In the process of communication, each person interacts with others. The concept of a small group includes the union of people who have personal direct contact with each other and are united by joint activities, related or emotional affinity. Its main feature is the recognition of its belonging and the recognition of it by other members.

Socio-psychological content

A small group consists of a small number of individuals. Its composition can be different, which is determined by social characteristics (by sex, age, nationality, education, religion, etc.) and by numbers. The structure of the group is not always the same. It can be determined by functional duties in the joint activity between members, a set of social roles (it is about the expected actions from the person, for which specific duties are assigned), norms (prescriptions, requirements, wishes of socially approved behavior).

Classification

A small group can differ for different reasons.

• By the way of emergence, formal (arising in order to fulfill certain duties) and informal (they appear on mutual sympathies and interests);
• By the degree of development of relations between members, a small group can vary from a differential group to an entire collective;
• The reference types are singled out separately, in which each individual will correlate himself with its standards, norms, opinions, values and assessments in self-perception and behavior.

Regularities of development

Any small group operates in accordance with group processes, which include the consolidation or its dissociation, the formation of social norms, leadership, antipathies and sympathies and other phenomena. Thanks to this, the public pressure on each member is increased and intensified. The group, with the help of the introduced norms and rules, will force all individuals to follow them. This process is necessary in order for the small group to be complete and integrated.

Importance of Leadership

One of the main processes in group dynamics is the identification of the leader. As a rule, he is a member of this society, which has a significant impact on all aspects of his life. Allocation is based on authority, that is recognition of personal and social qualities of a person. Practice shows that any small group needs management, thanks to which goal-setting, decision-making, coordination of joint actions, control over observance of norms, rules of behavior and implementation of necessary decisions are carried out.