When a group is cohesive it means that __________.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → They have team spirit or ‘we feeling’
Option (1) It is easy to leave such a group — Incorrect. Members of a highly cohesive group have a greater desire to remain in the group, and it is difficult to leave a cohesive group.
Option (2) They have team spirit or ‘we feeling’ — Correct. Cohesiveness refers to togetherness, binding or mutual attraction among group members; it is the team spirit or ‘we feeling’, a sense of belongingness to the group. Members start to think, feel and act as a social unit.
Option (3) It is easy to gain membership of the group — Incorrect. The reverse holds: it is difficult to gain membership of a group which is highly cohesive, because its members are bound closely to one another.
Option (4) There is a lack of mutual attraction — Incorrect. Cohesiveness is itself mutual attraction among group members, so a cohesive group cannot lack it.
NCERT (2025-26): “Nature and Formation of Groups … Cohesiveness refers to togetherness, binding, or mutual attraction among group members. As the group becomes more cohesive, group members start to think, feel and act as a social unit, and less like isolated individuals. Members of a highly cohesive group have a greater desire to remain in the group in comparison to those who belong to low cohesive groups. Cohesiveness refers to the team spirit or ‘we feeling’ or a sense of belongingness to the group. It is difficult to leave a cohesive group or to gain membership of a group which is highly cohesive. Extreme cohesiveness however, may sometimes not be in a group’s interest. Psychologists have identified the phenomenon of groupthink (see Box 7.1) which is a consequence of extreme cohesiveness.” |