As many of us are involved in groups either task oriented or socially oriented, I thought it might be useful to present a list of the roles often found in groups. You might want to explore which ones you perform or have observed and their consequences.
Social Roles Groups have members who play certain social roles:
Encourager: Praises the ideas of others.
Harmonizer: Mediates differences between group members.
Compromiser: Moves group to another position that is favored
Gatekeeper/expediter: Keeps communication channels open Follower: Goes along with the group and accepts the group's ideas.
Individualistic Roles These roles place the group member above the group and are destructive to the group.
Aggressor: Attacks other group members, deflates the status of others, and other aggressive behavior.
Blocker: Resists movement by the group.
Recognition seeker: Calls attention to himself or herself.
Self-confessor: Seeks to disclose nongroup related feelings or opinions.
Dominator: Asserts control over the group by manipulating the other group members.
Help seeker: Tries to gain the sympathy of the group.
Special interest pleader: Uses stereotypes to assert his or her own prejudices.