TYPES OF ROLES IN SMALL-GROUPS - A BIT OF HISTORY AND A CURRENT PERSPECTIVE

The types of roles played by members of small groups have been describ ed from a number of different perspectives. Most of the research has b een based on laboratory or therapy-like groups in their ''task-oriente d'' phase, after the overall purpose of the group has been given, reso urces supplied, and basic formal roles indicated. Informal roles tend to develop as a response to the set of formal roles. They may provide additional activities necessary for effective group functioning or the y may be in opposition to the formal roles. Little attention has been paid to groups beginning de novo. However roles are described, they mu st be placed, eventually, along with other concepts in a comprehensive social-psychological theory. As an illustration, several category sys tems, derived from different social-psychological perspectives, can be used to describe the form and content of formal, informal, and dramat urgical roles in small groups.