ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the variety of intergroup processes of interest to social psychologists today. Group processes researchers often study groups of students—or other community members—in the laboratory to control as much of the situation as possible. Most groups are not homogenous. The diversity in groups affects within-group processes, with those who are higher in status being afforded more influence in groups. In some groups, role and status differences—measured by members' rate of participation, their influence over group decisions, and the types of acts they contributed—emerged rather slowly. There are two types of status characteristics that guide performance expectations: diffuse and specific. Groupthink refers to a faulty mode of thinking by group members in which pressures for unanimity within the group overwhelm their desire to realistically evaluate alternative courses of action. Two roles that influence group dynamics are the task specialist and social-emotional specialist.
