Group dynamics, an introduction

Group dynamics, which is the study of human behaviour in small groups, serves as a link between the two fields of psychology and sociology. The book, ‘Group Dynamics: an introduction’, provides the reader with a basic knowledge of the themes that pertain to this field and which have been developed over the past eighty years.

There are four main themes that group dynamics touches upon: group development, leadership, the functioning of groups and group context. Each group represents a unique and particular blend of these four ingredients. It is in a certain stage of its development or in a transitional phase, it is subject to a given form of leadership, it communicates in a certain way and on a certain level, and it functions within a specific context. This book focuses on each of these four ingredients extensively. Several other themes are also discussed such as systems & communication theory, feedback, decision-making and conformity.

Over the past twenty years, this book has grown into a classic in the field of group dynamics in the Netherlands and in Belgium. It has attained a wide readership, which includes professionals who work together with groups or who are training to do so, as well as those managers who work with teams within an organisational context.