Forsyth: Group Analysis

There is not one definition which could encompass all of the different types of groups in the world today, and the definition of a group provided by Forsyth (2009) merely scratches the surface of what encompasses a group. When looking at the definition of a group, my initial thoughts focused in on part of the definition in which a group is defined as two or more individuals. In my initial thoughts about groups, it seemed to me that more than two people would be needed to create a group. Instead, I tend to think of two people of a partnership, and three or more people make up a group. The dynamics of a dyad are much more intense than a triad or quad (Forsyth, 2009). So much in fact, I had labeled dyads as entirely separate entities from groups. Upon further reflection though, the dynamic created by two people can be very similar to what is created in a triad or even in some cases a quad. This cohesion between …show more content…
These ties bind the group together and enable them to work effectively. These connections can range between a strong bond, like a family member, and a weak bond, like a quick conversation with a distant colleague at a national conference (Forsyth, 2009). Fewer ties are needed with small groups, but with larger groups, more ties between members are needed to form connections (Forsyth, 2009). Even indirect ties to other members within a large group can connect members together. Members are also connected to a group through the relationships they build with other members. Members of a particular group have a shared social identity and clearly know the boundaries and makeup of their group (Forsyth, 2009). Becoming a member of a group creates an atmosphere of us versus them for its members and outsiders of the group. When joining a group, individuals are “no longer masters of their own fate,” instead they become subject to the will of the group (Forsyth, 2009, p.