A GENERALISATION ABOUT GROUP BEHAVIOUR

A review of work on groups suggested that if demarcation or perceivable identity, temporal stability, accepted structure, freedom for diverse behaviour, importance or magnitude of success or reward, or portents of success, were increased by external means, then consequent changes would include further increases in one or more of the variables. A possible exception to the generalisation can be accommodated if one assumes that changing membership can directly affect group success by providing information resources. Each of the variables would appear to be both a cue for and an expression of what could be called 'group maintaining or enhancing behaviour', and would appear to be linked with expectation of profit for this general type of behaviour. © 1969.