Reflective Essay: The Role Of Groups In Groups

A person’s knowledge that some people will be on their side and others will not, helps to shape their social identity (Hinsz & Nickell, 2004). Through conformity groups are able to shape group members way of thinking and thus individuals will adjust their attitudes and conduct to that of the group (Hart, 1998). Previously, I had overheard two staff members discussing the short comings of the last director and their disappointment in how things turned out, so I felt it was odd they did not feel as free discussing it at the staff meeting with the larger group. Instead, they were agreeing with the general comments made by the other staff members during the group discussion. In a group decision making process, the group may agree on issues all …show more content…
A common shortcoming associated with this is that all sides of the argument are not considered. When individuals are in groups, the groups can have a powerful impact upon them and their ways of thinking. Groups can kill individual members’ creativity; inspire them to work harder or even skew up their decision making (Myers, 2001). I felt uneasy at first casting a dissenting vote regarding disqualifying an organization’s proposal from the Grant program, especially as I was a new member. However, my supervisor and the other staff members wanted to hear my perspective on the issue (especially as I was the one who brought the issue to their attention). I stated earlier that members of a cohesive group are likely to suppress dissent in order to maintain group harmony, and I think the executive director exhibited this as, although she did not want to disqualify the organization, she felt it was best to follow the group’s decision. On the other hand, as I did not yet feel like a member of the group, I felt more at ease opposing the group’s