Generally, teamwork in groups leads to beneficial results. Rayan, working at an automobile company, suggested that extreme cohesion can interfere with effective leadership and can lead to disastrous decisions. This process is termed as “groupthink” in which a group allows its concerns for unanimity. They, in fact, “override the motivation to realistically appraise courses of action”. It results in the tendency of decision maker to make irrational decisions. Studies have shown that such a group has an exaggerated sense of its own power to control events and tends to ignore and minimise outside cues from real world in order to preserve their internal harmony and collective well-being.
Which of the following is NOT a suitable reason for people to join groups?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → To align with crowd
People join groups because groups satisfy a range of needs: security, status, self-esteem, psychological and social needs, goal achievement and knowledge.
Option (1) Security — A reason for joining groups (Incorrect). Alone, we feel insecure; groups reduce this insecurity and give comfort and protection, so people feel stronger and less vulnerable to threats.
Option (2) Status — A reason for joining groups (Incorrect). Being a member of a group others see as important makes us feel recognised and gives a sense of power, as when one’s school wins a debate competition.
Option (3) Self-esteem — A reason for joining groups (Incorrect). Groups give feelings of self-worth and a positive social identity; membership of a prestigious group enhances one’s self-concept.
Option (4) To align with crowd — Not a reason for joining groups (Correct). A crowd is a collection of people present at a place by chance, such as people who gather after a road accident. It has neither structure nor a feeling of belongingness, and behaviour in it is irrational, so it meets none of the needs for which people join a group.
NCERT (2025-26): “Nature and Formation of Groups … Groups can be differentiated from other collections of people. For example, a crowd is also a collection of people who may be present at a place/situation by chance. Suppose you are going on the road and an accident takes place. Soon a large number of people tend to collect. This is an example of a crowd. There is neither any structure nor feeling of belongingness in a crowd. Behaviour of people in crowds is irrational and there is no interdependence among members.…” “Why Do People Join Groups? … People join groups because these groups satisfy a range of needs. In general, people join groups for the following reasons :
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