CBSE CLASS 12 PSYCHOLOGY NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CHAPTER 7 SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES | BOARD EXAM 2025

NCERT SOLUTIONS CLASS 12 SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES | BOARD EXAM 2025

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This article provides comprehensive NCERT Solutions for Class XII Psychology, Chapter 7 SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES This document will have both in-text and review questions for one subject, together with all exercise questions for another subject. Completing all NCERT questions is essential for all school and board examinations.

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CLASS 12 PSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER 7 SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES | BOARD EXAM 2025

NCERT Solutions for  Chapter Chapter 7  SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND GROUP PROCESSES

1. Compare and contrast formal and informal groups, and ingroups and outgroups.

Answer:

Formal Groups

These groups differ in the degree to which the functions of the group are stated explicitly and formally.

• The functions of a formal group are explicitly stated as in the case of an office organization.
• The roles to be performed by group members are stated in an explicit manner.
• The formation of formal groups is based on some specific rules or laws, and members have definite roles.
• There are a set of norms that help in establishing order. A university is an example of a formal group.

Informal Groups

• On the other hand, the formation of informal groups is not based on rules or laws, and there is a close relationship among members.

Ingroup and Outgroup

Just as individuals compare themselves with others in terms of similarities and differences with respect to what they have and what others have, individuals also compare the group they belong to with groups of which they are not a member.

• The term ‘ingroup’ refers to one’s own group, and ‘outgroup’ refers to another group.
• For ingroup members, we use the word ‘we’ while for outgroup members, the word ‘they’ is used.
• By using the words "they" and "we," one is categorizing people as similar or different.
• It has been found that persons in the ingroup are generally supposed to be similar, are viewed favorably, and have desirable traits. Members of the outgroup are viewed differently.

2. Are you a member of a certain group? Discuss what motivated you to join that group.

Answer:

People join groups because these groups satisfy a range of needs.

Advantages (4SPG)

• Security:
  • When we are alone, we feel insecure; the group reduces this insecurity.
  • Being with people gives a sense of comfort and protection.
  • As a result, people feel stronger and are less vulnerable to threats.
• Status:
  • When we are members of a group that is perceived to be important by others, we feel recognized and experience a sense of power.
  • For example, suppose your school wins an inter-institutional debate competition. You feel proud and think that you are better than others.
• Self-esteem:
  • Groups provide feelings of self-worth and establish a positive social identity.
  • Being a member of prestigious groups enhances one’s self-concept.
• Satisfaction of one’s psychological and social needs:
  • Groups satisfy one’s social and psychological needs, such as a sense of belongingness, giving and receiving attention, love, and power through a group.
• Goal achievement:
  • Groups help in achieving goals that cannot be attained individually.
  • There is power in the majority.
• Provide knowledge and information:
  • Group membership provides knowledge and information, thus broadening our view.
  • As individuals, we may not have all the required information.
  • Groups supplement this information and knowledge.

3. How does Tuckman’s stage model help you to understand the formation of groups?

Answer:

Stages of Group Formation

Tuckman suggested that groups pass through five developmental sequences. These are:

1. Forming
   • When group members first meet, there is a great deal of uncertainty about the group, the goal, and how it is to be achieved.
   • People try to know each other and assess whether they will fit in it.
   • There is excitement as well as apprehension.
2. Storming
   • There is conflict among members about how the target of the group is to be achieved, who is to control the group and its resources, and who is to perform what task.
   • When this stage is complete, some sort of hierarchy of leadership in the group develops, and there is a clear vision as to how to achieve the group goal.
3. Norming
   • Group members develop norms related to group behavior.
   • This leads to the development of a positive group identity.
4. Performing
   • By this time, the structure of the group has evolved and is accepted by group members.
   • The group moves towards achieving the group goal. For some groups, this may be the last stage of group development.
5. Adjourning
   • For some groups, such as an organizing committee for a school function, there may be another stage known as Adjourning.
   • In this stage, once the function is over, the group may be disbanded.

However, it must be stated that all groups do not always proceed from one stage to the next in such a systematic manner. Sometimes several stages go on simultaneously, while in other instances, groups may go back and forth through the various stages or they may just skip some of the stages.

4. How do groups influence our behavior?

Answer:

Groups influence our behavior in the following three forms:

Social Facilitation

• ‘Social facilitation’ refers to a concept that performance on specific tasks is influenced by the mere presence of others.

Social Loafing

• It refers to a reduction in motivation when people are functioning collectively.

Group Polarization

• It refers to the strengthening of a group’s initial position as a result of interaction and discussion.

5. How can you reduce social loafing in groups? Think of any two incidents of social loafing in school. How did you overcome it?

Answer:

Social loafing is a reduction in individual efforts when working on a collective task, i.e., one in which outputs are pooled with those of another group member.

For example, in a game of tug-of-war, it is not possible to identify how much force each member of the team has been exerting. Such situations give opportunities to group members to relax and become free riders.

Ways to Reduce Social Loafing

• Making the efforts of each person identifiable.
• Increasing the pressure to work hard (making group members committed to successful task performance).
• Increasing the apparent importance or value of a task.
• Making people feel that their individual contribution is important.
• Strengthening group cohesiveness, which increases the motivation for a successful group outcome.

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NCERT Questions & Answers not only reinforce your comprehension of ideas and augment your learning but also serve as the foundation for all varieties of examination questions. The majority of the examination questions resemble those present in the NCERT. In certain instances, NCERT questions have appeared in examinations verbatim, without alterations.

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