10 advantages and disadvantages of belonging to a social group.

Several benefits and disadvantages of being part of a group, according to social psychology.

One of the main characteristics of human beings is that we have a clear tendency to live in groups, rather than individually. In fact, for millions of years, our evolutionary lineage has been composed of hominids who have lived in tribes, groups in which several families live together.

However, as with virtually any psychological propensity, this lifestyle not only provides benefits; it also entails certain risks and drawbacks. In this article we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of peeten advantages and disadvantages of belonging to a social group, with explanations.with explanations.

Advantages of belonging to a group

In this section we will see what are the benefits of having one or more social groups that accept us and consider us as a member of the community? social groups that accept us and consider us to be a member of the community.

1. They are a protective factor

The first advantage is obvious and has to do with a very material fact: being part of a group makes it more difficult for us to be exposed to many dangerous situations. makes it more difficult for us to expose ourselves to many dangerous situations that could end up with us.

For example, it means that if someone attacks us, others will probably come to our defense, or that if we are left without basic sustenance to live on, others will give us shelter.

2. It provides us with role models

In addition, another advantage of being part of a group is that we are constantly exposed to role models, people who have similar characteristics and objectives to our own and who are stimulating when it comes to orienting our actions towards a goal..

In this way, being surrounded by such people will make it more likely that we will feel motivated to perfect certain qualities that, if we work at them, will provide us with better livelihoods and at the same time will surely benefit the rest of the members of the group.

3. Reinforce our self-esteem

The feeling of belonging is one of the aspects that positively reinforce people's self-esteem.

On the one hand, seeing how other people consider us to be part of the group implies that they recognize our importance, given that the same efforts that these people dedicate to caring for the community are, indirectly, efforts from which we ourselves benefit.

On the other hand, being part of a group implies that other people identify with us, that they are predisposed to make sacrifices to defend us against attacks from elements outside the group. emulates the functioning of the affective bonds that arise in families and love relationships in general. and love relationships in general.

4. Combats loneliness

Loneliness is one of the vital situations most related to harmful life habits and physical or psychological illness.

For that reason, the simple fact of having a community is beneficial, because it encourages us to get out of the house and socialize with otherswhich keeps us active and gives us a reason not to abandon ourselves.

5. It provides us with information

Information is another resource, and belonging to a group, with the possibility of contacting many people, is an important social capital.

This, for example, means that we do not need to memorize everything we need to live.This information is distributed among the individuals we deal with (this is what is known as transactive memory).

Disadvantages of being part of a group

Although it is considered that in the balance between benefits and disadvantages the former outweigh the latter (among other things because we depend on social relations for survival), it is true that belonging to a group also has its negative elements. belonging to a group also has its negative elements.. Let's see what they are.

1. Risk of contagion

Groups are a means of contagion of epidemics. However, in modern societies, the fact of belonging to a group in which adequate prevention measures are taken minimizes this risk, assuming that one can not be part of a group and at the same time relate to others.

2. Effect of social pressure

Another disadvantage of belonging to a group is that the simple fact of being part of one exposes us more to peer pressure. exposes us more to group pressure.The group's members share certain characteristics with us, and through this identification, initiatives to create uniformity among individuals can be legitimized.

For example, using as an excuse that all members of the group share a language, we can try to associate a clothing and a symbology that expresses that identity, making those who do not adopt this aesthetic to be singled out.

3. Penalization of dissidence

It is part of group dynamics to use exemplary punishments the use of exemplary punishments against those who previously formed part of the collective and later adopted behaviors that are considered contrary to the group identity.

4. Appearance of leadership by default

Another disadvantage of group membership is that if we do not make an effort to avoid it by using democratic mechanisms, a leader appears who has more power than the rest, a leader emerges who has more power than the rest in decision making and the distribution of roles, regardless of their degree of skill in the task to be addressed collectively.

5. External confrontation

The feeling of belonging has varying degrees of intensity, and in the most extreme cases it can legitimize hostility towards those who are not part of the group, just for being outside its boundaries.just because they are outside the boundaries of the group.

But even when the feeling of belonging is not very strong, the simple fact of being part of one usually predisposes us not to be so supportive of those outside it.

Bibliographical references:

• Asch, S. E. (1955). Opinions and social pressure. Scientific American, pp. 31 - 35.
• Sewell, W. H. (1989). Some reflections on the golden age of interdisciplinary social psychology. Annual Review of Sociology. 15.