From the options given below regarding conditions of group formation, identify the one which explains "People prefer consistency and like relationships that are consistent".
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Similarity
Option (1) Proximity — Incorrect. Proximity means living, studying or playing close to others. Repeated interactions with the same people give us a chance to know their interests and attitudes. It explains how contact begins, not the preference for consistency.
Option (2) Stabilisation — Incorrect. Stabilisation is one of the stages a group goes through once it has formed (formation, conflict, stabilisation, performance and dismissal), in Tuckman’s terms the norming stage. It is not a condition that brings people together.
Option (3) Common motives and goals — Incorrect. Here people come together because they want to reach a goal they cannot attain alone, such as a group of friends teaching children of a slum area. The reason is the shared goal, not consistency.
Option (4) Similarity — Correct. Being exposed to someone over a period of time makes us assess our similarities. One explanation of why we like similar people is that people prefer consistency and like relationships that are consistent; when two people are similar there is consistency, and they start liking each other.
NCERT (2025-26): “Group Formation … Similarity : Being exposed to someone over a period of time makes us assess our similarities and paves the way for formation of groups. Why do we like people who are similar? Psychologists have given several explanations for this. One explanation is that people prefer consistency and like relationships that are consistent. When two people are similar, there is consistency and they start liking each other. For example, you like playing football and another person in your class also loves playing football; there is a matching of your interests. There are higher chances that you may become friends. Another explanation given by psychologists is that when we meet similar people, they reinforce and validate our opinions and values, we feel we are right and thus we start liking them. Suppose you are of the opinion that too much watching of television is not good, because it shows too much violence. You meet someone who also has similar views. This validates your opinion, and you start liking the person who was instrumental in validating your opinion.…” “Stages of Group Formation … Groups usually go through different stages of formation, conflict, stabilisation, performance, and dismissal.…” |