Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a group?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A gathering of individuals who hardly interact with each other
A group is an organised system of two or more individuals who interact, depend on one another, have common motives, hold role relationships and follow norms.
Option (1) A gathering of individuals who hardly interact with each other — Not a characteristic of a group (Correct). A group is a gathering of individuals who interact with one another, directly or indirectly. People who hardly interact form a mere collection, like a crowd at an accident, not a group.
Option (2) Collection of individuals having common motives — A characteristic of a group (Incorrect). Group members have common motives and goals, working towards a goal or away from a threat.
Option (3) Collection of individuals who are interdependent — A characteristic of a group (Incorrect). Members are interdependent: what one does has consequences for the others, as a dropped catch affects the whole cricket team.
Option (4) Collection of individuals who follow a set of rules — A characteristic of a group (Incorrect). Members’ interactions are structured by a set of roles and norms, the rules that tell them how to behave in the group.
NCERT (2025-26): “What is a Group? … A group may be defined as an organised system of two or more individuals, who are interacting and interdependent, who have common motives, have a set of role relationships among its members, and have norms that regulate the behaviour of its members. Groups have the following salient characteristics :
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