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.
Type of Groups
Groups vary widely in size, duration, organisation, and function. This section classifies groups into three major types: (1) Primary and Secondary Groups, (2) Formal and Informal Groups, and (3) Ingroup and Outgroup. Primary groups are pre-existing, usually given to individuals (e.g., family, caste, religion), characterised by close, face-to-face interaction, emotional bonds, and central role in early development. Secondary groups are voluntary, impersonal, indirect, and less frequent in interaction (e.g., political parties). Formal groups have explicitly stated functions, roles, and rules (e.g., university, office organisation), while informal groups form spontaneously without formal rules and are based on close relationships. Ingroup refers to one's own group, perceived positively and as similar, while outgroup refers to other groups, often viewed negatively. These distinctions affect social perception and behaviour. The section introduces Tajfel's Minimal Group Paradigm experiments demonstrating how even arbitrary group distinctions lead to ingroup favouritism and outgroup bias.
📊 Diagram: Table on page 8 (2×2)
🧪 Activity: Discuss interinstitutional competition experiences and compare perceptions of ingroup (own school) and outgroup (other school) members, noting similarities and differences.
🔗 Connection: Prepares for understanding how groups influence individual behaviour.
Table on page 8 (2×2)
| Ingroup member | 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 |
|---|---|
| Outgroup member | 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 |
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.