Ritika, Anwar, Joseph and Meena live in the same housing colony in Pune and take the same school bus every day. They find that all four love cricket, and soon they start a weekend cricket coaching club for the younger children of the colony. In the club, Anwar usually fixes the practice schedule and Meena keeps the accounts. Joseph, the best batsman, is looked up to by the others. Children who join later soon pick up these arrangements.
Every week the other members count on Anwar to fix the practice schedule; it is the behaviour expected of him in his position in the club. Identify the element of group structure described here.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Roles
Option (1) Roles — Correct. Roles are socially defined expectations that a person in a given position is expected to fulfil. The club expects Anwar, in his place, to fix the schedule each week, so this is his role.
Option (2) Norms — Incorrect. Norms are the group's expected standards of behaviour and beliefs, its unspoken rules for all members. Fixing the schedule is a duty tied to Anwar's own position.
Option (3) Status — Incorrect. Status is the relative position or prestige the members give a person in the group. Joseph, looked up to as the best batsman, shows status; Anwar's weekly task does not.
Option (4) Cohesiveness — Incorrect. Cohesiveness is the togetherness and mutual attraction that bind members to their group. It describes the whole group.
Note: A role is expected of one position in the group; a norm is expected of every member.
NCERT (2026-27): “Stages of Group Formation … “• Roles are socially defined expectations that individuals in a given situation are expected to fulfil. Roles refer to the typical behaviour that depicts a person in a given social context. You have the role of a son or a daughter and with this role, there are certain role expectations, i.e. including the behaviour expected of someone in a particular role. …” |