PEER RELATIONSHIPS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

PEER RELATIONSHIPS - Research Paper Example Further, the negative means by which group/individual interaction occurs is whereby an individual disrupts or derails the process of discussion and three location that is taking place within the group; or, when a group is able to impact negatively upon the ethics or personal beliefs of an individual. Because group behavior is able to bring out aspects of an individual that they may not otherwise exhibit, the impact and effects of groupthink is one of the most commonly referred to negatives that can exist within this relationship (Geldenhuys 5). Ultimately, a group made up and comprised of individuals is both able to affect a great deal of good and a level of harm; all solely contingent upon how the group is led, the means by which decisions are made, and the level and extent to which individuals within the group are willing and able to voice their own opinions as a means of steering the group towards a better understanding and solution. Works Cited Geldenhuys, Dirk J. "Group-As-A-Who le As A Context For Studying Individual Behaviour: A Group Diagnostic Intervention." SAJIP: South African Journal Of Industrial Psychology 38.2 (2012): 1-12. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. Michelena, Pablo, and Jean-Louis Deneubourg. "How Group Size Affects Vigilance Dynamics And Time Allocation Patterns: The Key Role Of Imitation And Tempo." Plos ONE 6.4 (2011): 1-9. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. 2 When trying to understand why groups exist, the reader/researcher should look directly to basic human psychology as a means of understanding the fact that humans are ultimately social creatures and seek the companionship and camaraderie of one another; both as a means of problem-solving as well as a means of entertainment and socialization (Kivlighan et al, 2012). Because of this natural desire to seek out others and to share information one to another, the formation of groups within both the professional and nonprofessional environment is evidence that nearl y every level of society. These groups can exist for purposes as diverse as deciding upon the theme for the neighborhood full cookout or bringing together key subject matter experts in order to define the next best mobile phone operating platform. Although there exists a great deal of scholarship upon the topic, one of the most often neglected factors with regards to group dynamics is the fact that the individual makes up the group and the group is ultimately made up of the individual (Tingyan & Yufang, 2012). So many times, the reader/researcher is tempted to view the group as something of a faceless amalgamation of individuals. Conversely, what can ultimately be seen as a situation in which key leadership roles act in order to give the group specific personality and focus. Although this personality and focus is not always towards the best ends, it nonetheless helps to define the group and give it more character and human definition that many would otherwise seek to find. Reference s Kivlighan, D. r., Kivlighan, D., & Cole, O. (2012). The Group's Absence Norm and Commitment to the Group as Predictors of Group Member Absence in the Next Session: An Actor-Partner Analysis. Journal Of Counseling