Microgroup Theory

The article presents the idea, key concepts and general provisions of microgroup theory — socio-psychological theory of small groups. The main postulate of the theory implies analysis of group and individual phenomena and processes through the prism of non-formal subgroups and members not included into them, their relationships. The theory relies on the first order concepts — “non-formal subgroup”, “individual included into a subgroup”, “individual not included into subgroup”, “contradictions” and “integration — disintegration” and second order concepts — “socio-psychological structure” and “group dynamics”. General provisions reflect fundamental components of construction and dynamics of a group: levels and connections, integrity and complexity of a small group, regimes of group activeness, reasons for emerging of non-formal subgroups in a group, their types and functions, universal source and mechanism of group dynamics, external interactions of a group / subgroup and internal processes.

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