Stages of Group Development PreAffiliationForming Stage When a

Stages of Group Development

Pre-Affiliation/Forming Stage When a group assembles for the first time, their beginning stage might better be called the “pre-group”. In it the group may seem to behave more like an assemblage of individuals, rather than the group. Because there is lack of belongingness among members and they feel insecure, reluctant and nervous about other members. They have not yet formed close ties and relationships are usually non-intimate. As a result, there may be lack of participation and enthusiasm on the part of the members. That is why, at this stage, the focus of group worker is on eliminating the unseen barriers among members so that their potentials can be used as a group effort in future.

Storming Stage can be compared to adolescence. As the group members begin to get to know each other, they may find that they don’t always agree on everything. In the storming stage, members may attempt to make their own views known, expressing their independence and attempting to persuade the group to accept their ideas. In some cases, the conflict may be so strong that the group members decide that the group is not working at all and they disband. Groups that experience no conflict at all may be unproductive because the members are bored, uninvolved, and unmotivated, and because they do not think creatively or openly about the topics of relevance to them. In order to progress, the group needs to develop new ideas and approaches, and this requires that the members discuss their different opinions about the decisions that the group needs to make.

Developing Stage/Norming Stage When the individuals have been together for several meetings, the sign of group development becomes more pronounced. The usual signs of group development include constant attendance of members, consensus of opinion, formal organization and a willingness to take responsibility of the betterment of the group. The individuals understand the objectives of group agency and worker. Anxiety declines and the members feel more relaxed and comfortable during group interaction. Certain individuals take leadership responsibility of the group while others follow them. At this stage, the group defines specific rules and plans bigger and long term plans. For this purpose, members seek the help of the worker when it is needed.

Mature Stage/Performing Stage This developmental stage arrives when the group gives evidence of stability and maturity. The group expresses optimum participation potential according to the capacities of its members. The group members maintain a high average of attendance and set their own goals and development programmes. This stage is characterized by an intensive case of personal involvement, more willingness to bring into the open feeling regarding group members and worker and striving for dependency needs. The group may desire to differentiate it from some other groups or to test itself in cooperative events with other groups. The group members become more conscious to correct the inadequacies and improve their work.

Decline Stage/Adjourning Stage Despite of highly satisfactory experiences, group reaches at a point in its natural life, when interest diminishes and decline is noticeable. The group seems to be completing its work. Attendance falls off; members withdraw and join other groups. The group experience has been completed and members may begin to move apart and find new resources for meeting social, recreational and vocational needs. The group may also comprise few individuals who strongly desire to continue the group. They work hard to preserve the group and try to retain members in the group. At this stage, the worker has to play a very important and careful role so that the separation process of members can be completed smoothly and group can cover the decline stage without hampering the relations of its members.

Source: http: //www. opentextbooks. org. hk/ditatopic/17341