Credit: This photograph is from
Corel Print Office, 1998, Corel Corporation.
Understanding How
Groups Work
Groups are an important way for young people to learn. They provide a chance for kids
to interact and fine-tune their social skills. Group members learn from each other as well
as from the leader. Research shows that kids prefer to learn in group settings.
All groups form differently. The way group members interact depends on:
- How well the kids know each other;
- The gender and age of the members;
- Whether their group has a sense of purpose,
works as a team, and cooperates.
Credit: This photograph is
from Corel Print Office, 1998, Corel Corporation.
When groups first begin, the members will test
boundaries to see what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. This is a natural and
healthy way for kids to learn about how they are expected to behave. How the leader
responds to this boundary testing in the beginning of the group cycle will influence how
the members will behave for the rest of the time the group is together. The group members
learn that "this leader cares about us and is fair," for example, or "this
leader lets us get away with anything." To learn more about leadership skills (or to
review these concepts), see Lesson 3: Kids as Resources.
 Group
members will also jockey for status and position within the group. Kids decide which kids
will be the leaders and, unfortunately, who will be left out. Every member of the group
has needs and wants, and when those needs are not being met, conflict within the group may
result.
| Credit: This photograph
is from Corel Print Office, 1998, Corel Corporation. |
 As the group continues
to develop, unity increases and decreases depending on how everything goes. Flexibility is
the key for a leader. A sensitive leader will try to adjust activities and rules,
depending on how well the group is interacting, to foster a sense of togetherness. A
leader should not expect immediate unity; unity tends to develop slowly, over time. When
group unity is high, aggression and conflict decreases. Therefore, it is important to
understand how to foster unity in your group.
| Credit: The photograph
above is from Corel Print Office, 1998, Corel Corporation. |
Click here for tips
on creating unity, including some fun "ice-breaker" activities.
Please continue to Part 2 of this lesson, "Understanding and Dealing with Conflict Between
Kids."
Halberstadt, A. G., & Ellyson, S. L. (1990). Social
Psychology Readings: A Century of Research. McGraw-Hill, Inc: New York
Leadership Skills You Never Outgrow:
Leader’s Guide. (1986). 4-H: Urbana, Illinois.
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