Research on groups has been a major focus of concern among psychologists and sociologists for many years. The study of groups certainly deserves a central role in these disciplines since much of our behavior occurs in groups and many important social phenomena involve groups. Issues such as leadership, conformity, group decision-making, group task performance, and coalition formation have had a long history of research. However, recently a number of other areas of research have blossomed that provide interesting new perspectives on group processes (e.g., social impact). In addition, topics of research have developed outside the commonly ac­ cepted domain of group dynamics (e.g., self-disclosure) which seem to be concerned with rather basic group processes. Basic Group Processes was designed to bring together in one volume a repre­ sentative sample of the broad range of work currently being done in the area of groups. Some of the chapters provide a review of the literature while others focus more specifically on current programs of research. All, however, provide new insights into basic group processes and a number provide broad integrative schemes. All of the authors were asked to emphasize theoretical issues rather than a detailed presenta­ tion of research. Basic Group Processes suggests that research on groups is a lively enterprise and forging interesting new theoretical and empirical directions.

1. Introduction.- 1. Social Influence Processes in Groups.- 2. Leadership Theory and Research: A Systems-Process Integration.- 3. Minority Influence.- 4. Group Discussion and Judgment.- 2. Group Influence on Task Performance and Informational Processing.- 5. Group Influence on Individual Task Performance.- 6. The Impact of Personal Equity Processes on Performance in a Group Setting.- 7. Social Context Effects in Persuasion: The Effects of Multiple Sources and Multiple Targets.- 3. Exchange Processes in Groups.- 8. Coalition Formation: A Social Psychological Approach.- 9. The Influence of Communication on Bargaining.- 10. Procedural Justice, Participation, and the Fair Process Effect in Groups and Organizations.- 4. Interaction in Groups.- 11. Loneliness, Sex-Role Orientation, and Group Life: A Social Needs Perspective.- 12. The Interpersonal Orientations of Disclosure.- 13. Influences of Past Relationships on Subsequent Ones.- Author Index.