Group Work: The Psychology Edition
Article written by Damini Aggarwal & Angel Martis, Intern at Heart It Out, Bangalore
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”- Helen Keller
As the saying goes, it is often seen that when people with some mutual interest come together to work towards attaining the same goal, it may actually happen quicker! These goals can be accomplished with less effort and increased efficiency when in comparison to working alone. It is thus a natural assumption that groups are more effective in many environments.
Let’s look at the effectiveness of group work as portrayed in popular media. The only way the Loser’s Club in the horror franchise “It” were able to defeat Pennywise (not once, but twice!) was because of their team effort. They alone felt incompetent ( hence the name loser’s club, but their group work is what made all their efforts a success. The Harry Potter series is another great instance of the wonders of group work done right! There is no way Harry could have alone defeated “him who shall not be named” had Ron and Hermoine not had his back through the entire way. News flash- The chosen one alone would have been defeated brutally otherwise. From the iconic chess moves of Ron in Chamber of secrets to Hermoine’s polyjuice potion and time turning sequence in Prisoner of Azkaban, they came together at crucial moments, being each other’s support system and brainstormed solutions together better than alone.
Despite having a team separated literally by space, Apollo 13 demonstrates the miracles that can occur when everyone collaborates and works toward a shared goal. Well, the Avengers already do have a special place in all of our hearts and guess what made them successful in combating crimes? Feel free to use the G-word.
Okay, so just maybe, group work can be super beneficial. The next question: how can we form an effective group? Well, when forming groups at any level, there are two points to keep in mind:
- It should serve the purpose: the group formed should serve a definite purpose and goal for it to efficiently function
- The size of the group should be ascertained at the start: the size should be according to how the group can sustain it should be within a reachable limit.
Research has often shown that the smaller the group, the more effective it is (Morgan, 2015). Usually, when a small number of people accumulate in groups, there are fewer chances of clashes/conflict between opinions and when given a task, it is easy to keep a check upon the work done. Another important aspect of small groups is the increased individual attention given to each member in the group.
However, no matter how big or small the group is, there is always a group dynamic that exists — how people within the group interact and the attitudes and behaviour patterns of the group. Understanding the group dynamics can be crucial in making the group function smoothly and efficiently.
Some of the characteristics of having good group dynamics are that:
- They care and trust each other
- They are ready to work on feedback and correct themselves if required
- They can depend on each other and also have a sense of belonging in the group.
- The sense of belonging makes them feel that they have a shared goal and that they are all working towards that goal.
But why does every Harry need his Ron and Hermoine?
Now that we have understood how groups are usually formed, let’s take a closer look at how one can benefit from these groups. According to Mello (1993). the main benefits of group work are:
- Working in a group allows for more comprehensive and detailed assignments
- Facilitates collaboration and teamwork
- Members start understanding group dynamics and processes behind it, as well as exchange ideas and perspectives which creates an opportunity to develop interpersonal skills
- It helps you realise that you are not alone and ensures that you have an in-built support network
- working with others may lead to significant cognitive gains (Piaget, 1932 and Vygotsky, 1978). This has been more evident in cases where there is a disparity between the partners’ viewpoints usually forces them “to make explicit the basis of their ideas, so that their respective qualities to be assessed” (Tolmie and Boyle, 2000, p.120). On the flip side, too much disparity can result in unproductive dialogue and decreased levels of learning as well. (Kruger, 1992, Mugny and Doise 1978).
- It can help individuals tackle more complex problems than they could have on their own (Johnson, 2019).
- Groups allow for the exchange of ideas and create a network of collaboration and mutual support, especially when members are tackling a similar challenge.
- Groups also allow for the delegation of roles and responsibilities and can also bring out and highlight capabilities and talents people were previously unaware of.
- They enable the pooling of diverse perspectives, allowing individual members to become more competent in imparting and extracting knowledge and skills from/to various other people in the group. This can help members find their individuality and strengths and identify where they need support and who can provide it.
- A sense of responsibility and accountability is developed within the group. This creates a sense of belonging as members begin identifying themselves as part of a larger collective, trying to establish a shared identity and find effective peers to emulate as well as develop their voice and perspectives in relation to peers.
- Group work not only does increase the critical thinking capacity of the individual but also helps in identifying abstract concepts of structures.
Let’s discuss group work in Psychology!
In psychology, group work involves a relatively small number of participants for controlled effectiveness, as research suggests that smaller/these groups are more efficient and effective when compared to larger groups. It is an ethical practice that aims to bring out a collective, positive, behavioural and well-being change in an individual’s life. Not only does it generate a broad array of possible alternative points of view or solutions to a concern or problem, but also gives the group member a chance to work toward a goal that might appear too large or complex for him/her.
Working in groups also allows members from diverse backgrounds to bring in special knowledge, experience, or skills to a project, and to explain their orientation to other members in the group. It not only does allow them to teach and contribute to each other but also to get a structured experience of their problem-solving ideas, which are encouraged with a set of new skills applicable to their immediate environmental situation (Psychology Discussions, 2018)
The purpose of forming groups in psychology is aimed at helping each individual in the group, by speaking out and discussing their concerns, which often allows other members to relate to the same problems and share experiences and exchange ideas (Stroebe, W., & Diehl, M,1994). The member can try to identify and recognize whether the issues that the other member in the group is facing is somewhat similar to what that individual has faced and gone through and thereby provide a listening ear and support to that member to come out through it. This process not only does help but also brings in a sense of belongingness to the individual towards the group. Group work helps generate ideas and thoughts which we hardly believe could be possible. It brings in a sense of self-identification and building up of courage to speak for oneself.
Working in groups does not just pertain to psychology but also various other fields. For example, it has been researched how effective group work can be in understanding mathematical concepts like ratios and basic algebra. Sociology is another field that deals with understanding and applying the principles of group work effectively. Group work is an effective tool in academic settings in schools and colleges, where students can build upon each one’s idea and makes the synthesis process of ideation easier. Group work in industrial settings and clinical settings can serve the purpose of encouragement and healthy competition.
How to successfully conduct a group session
Group therapy is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time. This type of therapy is widely available at a variety of locations including private therapeutic practices, hospitals, mental health clinics, and community centres. (Kendra Cherry, 2020) An effective group session can be conducted by following some simple steps and keeping these few things in mind:
- Identify the purpose of the group and what kind of people will be most effective in it or gain the most from it. Often, people with similar mindsets who aim to achieve a certain goal or are undergoing a similar situation in life tend to gel and work well together.
- Set expectations upfront. It allows for the group to run smoothly, following certain guidelines which can help ensure healthy environments and avoids any kind of deviation from the goals.
- Work on building cohesion quickly. Some groups more naturally lend themselves to being cohesive from the get-go, while others need more time and interaction. It’s important to find ways to build that sense of belonging as once cohesion is built, it becomes easier to pass on ideas and support each other.
- Be open to asking for feedback. Research shows that therapists cannot easily predict how well a group member is doing or understand whether the group is functioning effectively if the right kind of suggestions is not provided.
- Identify and address ruptures. Disagreements are almost inevitable in group therapy, but group leaders must spot and work through concerns as soon as they arise among members
So, what’s the takeaway?
In conclusion, group work in the field of psychology has several benefits depending on how they are formed and successfully conducted! Through this article, we’ve identified some key features of working in a group and how this concept works in the field of psychology. As mentioned earlier this is a broad topic and usually works for many other fields as well. Individuals come together to reach a common goal and combine their ideas and efforts to reach them faster. Group work leads to the synthesis of a broad array of thoughts at a go, which in turn can be the key to better brainstorming. In a world that often aims to achieve larger but similar goals, working in a group can help you learn and grow while feeling a sense of belonging — and who doesn’t want that?
References:
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