Ten women in a village near Nashik form a self-help group. Each of them wants to earn a steady income, so they pool their savings to buy a sewing machine and meet every week to plan orders. Which of the following is the main cause of their working together as a group?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → They share common motives and goals
Option (1) They share common motives and goals — Correct. All ten want the same thing: a steady income. <strong>Common motives and goals</strong> bring them together, and the group works <strong>towards a given goal</strong>.
Option (2) They perceive themselves as belonging to the group — Incorrect. Perceived belonging means members see themselves as part of the group, which gives it an identity.
Option (3) Their interactions are structured by a set of roles and norms — Incorrect. Roles and norms decide how members behave and what each does at meetings. The situation says nothing about fixed roles; it describes a shared aim.
Option (4) What one member does has consequences for the others — Incorrect. This is interdependence, where one member's action affects the others. It may develop later, but the cause of their joining is the common goal of earning.
NCERT (2026-27): “Introduction … “• A social unit consisting of two or more individuals who perceive themselves as belonging to the group. This characteristic of the group helps in distinguishing one group from the other and gives the group its unique identity.” “• A collection of individuals who have common motives and goals. Groups function either working towards a given goal, or away from certain threats facing the group.” |