Editing Group dynamics (section)

=== Joining groups ===
Joining a group is determined by a number of different factors, including an individual's personal traits;<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lucas |first1= Richard E.|last2=Diener|first2=Ed|title=Understanding extraverts' enjoyment of social situations: The importance of pleasantness. |journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=81 |issue=2 |pages=343–356|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.81.2.343|year= 2001|pmid= 11519937}}</ref> gender;<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gore |first1= Jonathan S.|last2=Cross|first2=Susan E. |last3= Morris|first3=Michael L.|date=2006-03-01|title=Let's be friends: Relational self-construal and the development of intimacy |journal=Personal Relationships|language=en|volume=13|issue= 1 |pages=83–102|doi=10.1111/j.1475-6811.2006.00106.x|issn=1475-6811}}</ref> social motives such as need for affiliation,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=McAdams|first1=Dan P.|last2=Constantian|first2=Carol A.|title=Intimacy and affiliation motives in daily living: An experience sampling analysis.|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|language=en|volume=45|issue= 4|pages=851–861|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.45.4.851|year=1983}}</ref> need for power,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Turner|first=Jonathan|date=1974-12-01|title= THE POWER MOTIVE. By David G. Winter. New York: Free Press, 1973. 373 pp. $12.00|journal=Social Forces|language=en|volume=53|issue=2|pages=363–364|doi= 10.1093/sf/53.2.363 |issn=0037-7732}}</ref> and need for intimacy;<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=McAdams|first1=Dan P.|last2=Constantian|first2=Carol A. |title=Intimacy and affiliation motives in daily living: An experience sampling analysis.|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology |language= en |volume=45|issue=4|pages=851–861|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.45.4.851|year=1983}}</ref> attachment style;<ref>{{Cite journal|last1= Rom|first1= Eldad |last2= Mikulincer|first2=Mario|title=Attachment theory and group processes: The association between attachment style and group-related representations, goals, memories, and functioning.|journal=Journal of Personality and Social Psychology|volume=84|issue=6|pages=1220–1235|doi=10.1037/0022-3514.84.6.1220|year= 2003 |pmid= 12793586 }}</ref> and prior group experiences.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bohrnstedt|first1=George W.|last2=Fisher|first2=Gene A.|title=The Effects of Recalled Childhood and Adolescent Relationships Compared to Current Role Performances on Young Adults' Affective Functioning|journal=Social Psychology Quarterly |volume=49|issue=1|pages=19–32|doi=10.2307/2786854|jstor=2786854|year=1986}}</ref> Groups can offer some advantages to its members that would not be possible if an individual decided to remain alone, including gaining [[social support]] in the forms of emotional support,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McGuire |first=Gail M.|title=Intimate Work|journal= Work and Occupations|volume=34|issue=2|pages=125–147|doi=10.1177/0730888406297313|year=2007|s2cid=145394891}}</ref> instrumental support,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Social support and physical health : understanding the health consequences of relationships|last= Uchino|first=Bert N.|date=2004|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300102185|location=New Haven|oclc=182530829}}</ref> and informational support.<ref name=":0" /> It also offers friendship, potential new interests, learning new skills, and enhancing self esteem.<ref name = hoggabrams>{{Cite book|title= Group motivation : social psychological perspectives|date= 1993|publisher=Harvester Wheatsheaf|last1=Hogg|first1= Michael A.|last2= Abrams|first2= Dominic |isbn= 978-0745012391 |location=New York|oclc=28963933}}</ref> However, joining a group may also cost an individual time, effort, and personal resources as they may conform to [[social pressure]]s and strive to reap the benefits that may be offered by the group.<ref name = hoggabrams/>

The [[Minimax principle|Minimax Principle]] is a part of [[social exchange theory]] that states that people will join and remain in a group that can provide them with the maximum amount of valuable rewards while at the same time, ensuring the minimum amount of costs to themselves.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Interpersonal relations : a theory of interdependence|last=H.|first=Kelley, Harold|date=1978|publisher=Wiley|others=Thibaut, John W.|isbn=978-0471034735|location=New York|oclc=3627845}}</ref> However, this does not necessarily mean that a person will join a group simply because the reward/cost ratio seems attractive. According to Howard Kelley and John Thibaut, a group may be attractive to us in terms of costs and benefits, but that attractiveness alone does not determine whether or not we will join the group. Instead, our decision is based on two factors: our comparison level, and our comparison level for alternatives.<ref name=":1" />

In John Thibaut and Harold Kelley's [[social exchange theory]], comparison level is the standard by which an individual will evaluate the desirability of becoming a member of the group and forming new social relationships within the group.<ref name=":1" /> This comparison level is influenced by previous relationships and membership in different groups. Those individuals who have experienced positive rewards with few costs in previous relationships and groups will have a higher comparison level than a person who experienced more negative costs and fewer rewards in previous relationships and group memberships. According to the [[social exchange theory]], group membership will be more satisfying to a new prospective member if the group's outcomes, in terms of costs and rewards, are above the individual's comparison level. As well, group membership will be unsatisfying to a new member if the outcomes are below the individual's comparison level.<ref name=":1" />

Comparison level only predicts how satisfied a new member will be with the social relationships within the group.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Group Dynamics|author-link1=Donelson R. Forsyth|last=Forsyth|first=Donelson|publisher=Wadsworth|year=2006|location=Belmont, CA}}</ref> To determine whether people will actually join or leave a group, the value of other, alternative groups needs to be taken into account.<ref name=":2" /> This is called the comparison level for alternatives. This comparison level for alternatives is the standard by which an individual will evaluate the quality of the group in comparison to other groups the individual has the opportunity to join. Thiabaut and Kelley stated that the "comparison level for alternatives can be defined informally as the lowest level of outcomes a member will accept in the light of available alternative opportunities.”<ref>{{Cite book|title=The social psychology of groups|last=W.|first=Thibaut, John|date=1986|publisher=Transaction Books|others=Kelley, Harold H.|isbn=9780887386336|location=New Brunswick, U.S.A.|oclc=12662505|page = 21}}</ref>

Joining and leaving groups is ultimately dependent on the comparison level for alternatives, whereas member satisfaction within a group depends on the comparison level.<ref name=":2" /> To summarize, if membership in the group is above the comparison level for alternatives and above the comparison level, the membership within the group will be satisfying and an individual will be more likely to join the group. If membership in the group is above the comparison level for alternatives but below the comparison level, membership will be not be satisfactory; however, the individual will likely join the group since no other desirable options are available. When group membership is below the comparison level for alternatives but above the comparison level, membership is satisfying but an individual will be unlikely to join. If group membership is below both the comparison and alternative comparison levels, membership will be dissatisfying and the individual will be less likely to join the group.