Ritika, Anwar, Joseph and Meena live in the same housing colony in Pune and take the same school bus every day. Meeting daily, they come to know one another and find that all four enjoy cricket. They form a small group and start a weekend cricket coaching club for the younger children of the colony. Over the following months a pattern appears. Anwar usually fixes the practice schedule and Meena keeps the accounts. Joseph, the best batsman, is looked up to by the others. New children who join the club soon learn these arrangements.
The four friends first came together because they lived in the same colony and met every day on the school bus. Which condition of group formation does this show?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Proximity
Option (1) Similarity — Incorrect. Similarity means liking people whose interests, opinions and values match ours. The shared love of cricket came later; it is not the reason they first met.
Option (2) Proximity — Correct. Proximity means being physically close, such as living in the same colony or going to the same school. Living nearby and meeting daily on the bus gave the friends repeated interactions, which is how the group began.
Option (3) Common motives and goals — Incorrect. Common motives and goals bring people together to reach a goal they cannot reach alone. The coaching club goal came after the friendship.
Option (4) Security — Incorrect. Security is a reason people join groups: groups reduce the insecurity of being alone. It is not a condition that brings people into contact in the first place.
NCERT (2026-27): “Group Formation “• Proximity : Just think about your group of friends. Would you have been friends if you were not living in the same colony, or going to the same school, or may be playing in the same playground? Probably your answer would be ‘No’. Repeated interactions with the same set of individuals give us a chance to know them, and their interests and attitudes. Common interests, attitudes, and background are important determinants of your liking for your group members.” |