SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES | Class 12 Psychology Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 3 min read
SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES from Class 12 Psychology, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Group Formation
Group formation begins with contact and interaction among individuals, facilitated by three main factors: (1) Proximity — physical closeness increases chances of interaction and familiarity, leading to group formation; (2) Similarity — shared interests, attitudes, and values promote liking and bonding because people prefer consistency and validation of their opinions; (3) Common motives and goals — shared objectives bring people together to cooperate and form groups. The section explains that repeated interactions allow individuals to assess similarities and build relationships. It also introduces Tuckman's five-stage model of group development: (a) Forming — initial meeting with uncertainty and excitement; (b) Storming — conflict over goals, leadership, and roles; (c) Norming — establishment of norms and positive group identity; (d) Performing — group structure is accepted and group works towards goals; (e) Adjourning — disbanding after goal achievement (optional stage). The section notes that groups may not always follow these stages linearly and may skip or revisit stages. Group structure develops through interaction and includes roles, norms, status, and cohesiveness. Roles are expectations for behaviour, norms are shared rules, status is relative social position, and cohesiveness is the mutual attraction binding members together. Extreme cohesiveness can lead to groupthink, where desire for unanimity overrides realistic appraisal.
🧪 Activity: Form a committee of 10 members to plan an open house and observe the emergence of Tuckman's stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and possibly adjourning. Discuss which stages appeared, their order, and any skipped stages.
🔗 Connection: Prepares for understanding different types of groups and their characteristics.
Frequently asked questions
1. Compare and contrast formal and informal groups, and ingroups and outgroups.
Formal groups are structured groups with specific roles, rules, and objectives, often created by organizations to achieve defined goals. Informal groups arise naturally based on personal relationships and common interests without formal structure. Ingroups are groups to which an individual feels they belong and identify with, often leading to favoritism. Outgroups are groups to which an individual does not belong and may feel opposition or competition towards. The key differences lie in the basi
2. Are you a member of a certain group? Discuss what motivated you to join that group.
This question requires a personal response. Generally, individuals join groups based on shared interests, goals, social needs, or identity. Motivation to join a group can include seeking belongingness, support, recognition, or achieving common objectives. Reflecting on your own experience, identify the group you belong to and explain the factors that motivated your membership.
3. How does Tuckman's stage model help you to understand the formation of groups?
Tuckman's stage model describes the stages of group development: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. This model helps understand how groups form and evolve over time. Initially, members come together (Forming), then experience conflicts (Storming), establish norms and roles (Norming), work effectively towards goals (Performing), and finally disband (Adjourning). Understanding these stages helps in managing group dynamics and improving group performance.
4. How do groups influence our behaviour?
Groups influence our behavior through social norms, roles, conformity, social facilitation, and social loafing. Being part of a group can lead individuals to conform to group norms to gain acceptance, adopt roles assigned within the group, perform better in presence of others (social facilitation), or sometimes reduce effort (social loafing). Groups also affect attitudes, decision-making, and identity.
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- SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES | Class 12 Psychology Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES for Class 12 Psychology.
- SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES | Class 12 Psychology Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES for Class 12 Psychology.
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Clear NCERT-aligned notes on AT TITUDE AND SOCIAL COGNITION for Class 12 Psychology.