Page "Group dynamics" Paragraph 35

The minimal group paradigm is perhaps the simplest process required for group formation to occur.

Commonly used in social psychological research, an individual can be brought into a laboratory and told that she will be assigned to a ‘ group ’ based on trivial and inconsequential criteria.

For example, the result of flipping a coin, or on her preference for one of two relatively abstract paintings ( commonly, one by Klee and the other by Kandinsky ).

In this case, individuals are not actually grouped based on their painting preference, but are instead randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Individuals have no interaction with other ‘ group members ,’ and have no interaction with ‘ members of the other group ’.

However, on a decision-making task in which rewards are to be distributed either to an individual ’ s own group or to the other group, individuals will frequently show ingroup bias ; allocating rewards in a way that favors their own group ; expressing more positive attitudes towards members of their own group ; and believing that members of their group have more pleasant personalities, and produce better work than members of the other group.

These behavioral responses suggest that a group has been psychologically formed within the individual.