Group Influence

Group Influence

A group is two or more people who interact with and influence each other (Myers, 2010). However, the dimensions of a group extend further. Within a group the behaviors of members affect other members, events within the group affect all members, and behaviors affect the success of the group. Franklin Fire and Rescue Department is one such group. The group dynamics within the organization demonstrate interaction and unity. Social influence occurs when an individual interacts with another individual or group. The impacts of this interaction may be positive or negative on the individual.  

Franklin Fire and Rescue is located in Franklin, Virginia. This organization is a division of the local government’s public safety department. The organization is comprised of approximately 60 members; some are paid employees of the city and some are volunteers. The mission of the department is to “save lives, protect property, and educate the public” (City of Franklin Virginia, 2012). Meetings for the department are held on the first Wednesday of the month in the building that houses the department in a living room setting containing sofas and chairs for seating. There is one large table where the officers sit. Seating for members is not fixed; he or she is free to sit in any available seat. Franklin Fire and Rescue is diverse in age of members. The ages range from 16 to 65 years of age. Members are primarily male; a small percentage is female. Ethnicity of this group is Caucasian and African – American.

There is a hierarchy within the department. There is a chief, assistant chief, captains, and lieutenants. There are also officers consisting of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and Chaplin. The meeting is facilitated by the highest attending officer; usually the president or vice president. The meeting begins with a prayer and welcome. The conversation then moves to a  pre-set agenda. This agenda consists of the minutes of the last meeting being read, the president’s report, the treasurer report, and the chief’s report. The other members are allowed to comment and communicate about the information being stated during these reports however he or she is not allowed to mention any new information. Once these reports have been read and discussed, the other members of the group have an opportunity to discuss issues or concerns he or she has. Primary topics discussed in the meeting were the previous month’s fire and rescue calls, upcoming events, and membership issues. The members of the group exchanged information based on previous situations as related to current situations. Members exchanged advice and criticisms for the previous month’s activities. Members were open to information exchange and did not take any criticism in a negative manner. Communication was open so that all members could communicate with one another. All members had the opportunity to exchange comments or concerns about any of the topics covered.  

Psychologist Irving Janis coined the term groupthink. This term relates the group’s desire for conformity to its decision making process. Groups that have groupthink are more concerned with the conformity of the group that the members may make incorrect decisions in order to preserve the harmony. Janis believed that groupthink developed when a group met three requirements. These requirements were the group was cohesive, the group was isolated from dissenting views, and the group had a leader who signaled the decision he or she favored (Myers, 2010). Franklin Fire and Rescue did not meet any of these requirements. While the group did seem to be mainly a united group, there were times of dissension. This dissension was met in a positive way to help the members learn and grow. The group did not want to make decisions that benefited only the group as a whole but benefited the members as individuals as well. Based on the definition of groupthink, Franklin Fire and Rescue was not vulnerable to it. The group was more concerned with making informed decisions than to keep harmony within the group.

Conformity is defined as changing or adopting behaviors or attitudes to be consistent with the social norms of a group (Wood, Wood,  & Boyd, 2011). Franklin Fire and Rescue has social norms, or standards of behavior expected of its members. These norms include behavior while on fire and rescue calls as well as behavior in general while away from the department. These standards include basic behaviors such as refraining from criminal activity and moral behaviors. While most members adhere to these standards in his or her everyday life in general, all members are expected to conform to the standards. There are punishments for the members who do not conform to these standards. These punishments include suspensions and even release from the department.

The affect of a group may have a significant influence on an individual. Some studies have revealed that social interaction can intensify individual emotions (Barsade & Gibson, 2012). These social interactions can influence both individual and group outcomes. Social facilitation is an important aspect of the group experience. Social facilitation is the positive or negative effect on an individual’s performance attributed to the presence of others (Wood, Wood, & Boyd, 2011). Co – action effects is important in a group such as Franklin Fire and Rescue. Co – action effects are the impact on performance because due to the presence of others performing the same task. In an environment such as a fire department or rescue squad, the important aspect is to consider the person’s safety or property as more important than impressing others or doing better than others. In a group such as this, co – action effects can have a disastrous outcome. The members within this group understand the importance of the tasks he or she must perform. Due to this understanding, the members work together as a team rather than as individuals. The members of this group attend classes, training, and meetings together. The group is unified and appears to be as close as a family. The members are together in this group based on his or her desire to help others in the community.

Groups are a component in an individual’s life throughout the life span. Groups serve to assist an individual in various tasks within his or her life. Groups have their own standards, rules, and organization. Groups can have a negative or positive impact on an individual’s life. The Franklin Fire and Rescue Department strives to have a positive impact on all people; both members and the general public. This organization helps to save lives and property on a daily basis. The group members have learned to work together to achieve the goals of the group. The members conform to the standards set forth in order to maintain membership and have become a unified group because of the efforts of the members.

References

Barsade, S. G., & Gibson, D. E. (2012). Group affect: Its influence on individual and group outcomes. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21(2), 119-123.

City of Franklin Virginia. (2012). Fire and Rescue. Retrieved from http://www.franklinva.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=167

Myers, D. (2010). Social Psychology (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Wood, S. E., Wood, E. G., & Boyd, D. (2011). The world of psychology (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

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