INTRAGROUP COMMUNICATION: CHARACTERISTICS, LEVELS, IMPORTANCE, EXAMPLES - PSYCHOLOGY - 2025

The intragroup communication is a process of exchange of information that occurs between two or more individuals belonging to the same group. It is the counterpart of intergroup communication, in which the communicative process occurs between individuals who are members of different communities. This difference generates very different characteristics in both phenomena.

Intragroup communication is normally considered a subtype of interpersonal communication. However, the special nature of the relationship between sender and receiver gives it a number of features that make it necessary to study it separately.

Intragroup communication occurs between people in the same group, such as a family

There are many different theories about intragroup communication, because there are several phenomena that intervene in it. Understanding aspects such as the hierarchy of the interlocutors, the common context they share, the nature of the relationships between them or their past history as a community is essential to understand what is happening.

In this article we will see what are the most important characteristics of intra-group communication, and how it differs from other types of information exchange with which it shares some similarities.

Characteristics of intragroup communication

- It occurs in specific communities

Within social psychology, not all sets of people can be considered groups. On the contrary, they are entities with a series of their own characteristics that distinguish them from other similar ones, such as organizations or common interpersonal relationships.

According to social theory, groups are normally made up of between three and twenty people, the most common being five members. All the people who compose them share a series of interests and have a common goal, which makes them stay together over time even if there is no specific event that catches their attention.

On the other hand, groups are regulated by a series of implicit and explicit norms, as well as by common expectations that help their members to achieve their common objectives. However, these rules and regulations are not imposed by one of the group members, but rather develop naturally over time.

- Has a complex nature

One of the most important characteristics of intra-group communication is that it does not normally occur simply between two people who belong to the same group.

On the contrary, to correctly understand what is happening, it is necessary to understand all the information exchanges that occur dynamically between the different members of the group.

In this sense, one of the most different elements between this type of communication and other simpler ones is the context. As we have already seen, in a group the expectations of each of the members, the hierarchies, the past history and the implicit and explicit norms of the same come into play.

For this reason, an outside observer who does not know at least the most basic of all these elements will have difficulties to understand what is really happening in a concrete information exchange.

- Its function is related to the group itself

Not all information exchanges within a group fall into this category. For a message to be considered intra-group communication, it must be important for the functioning of the community. Thus, there are only some functions that are considered valid in this sense.

The most common types of intra-group communication are those that help members set new goals, improve their relationship with each other, strengthen their group identity, increase motivation, or help keep the group stable.

Levels of intra-group communication

There are many different communication theories, but most of them divide the information exchange processes at certain levels, from those that involve fewer individuals to those that take place in larger contexts.

Generally, the higher levels include the lower ones. In this sense, communication at the level of an entire society (one of the highest levels) includes lower-level processes, such as those that refer to intrapersonal or intergroup communication.

From this point of view, intragroup communication is at one of the lowest levels that exist. Thus, the most accepted hierarchy would be the following:

- Intrapersonal communication.

- Interpersonal level.

- Intragroup communication.

- Intergroup communication.

- Community level.

- Society level.

Yet there are many variants of this theory, adding several levels at different points in the hierarchy. In addition, each of them grants a series of characteristics to each of the levels.

Importance

Understanding group communication is essential to understand this social entity. The messages that are exchanged between members of the community are one of the most useful tools to understand the nature of the relationship between its members, in addition to that of the group itself.

In this sense, intragroup communication can serve to differentiate a circumstantial group from a purely social one. In addition, it also provides us with clues to understand the hierarchies and roles played by each of its members, as well as data on their past history and on the culture and values ​​of the community.

At the level of the group itself, intra-group communication is important because it is the main tool with which the members of the group can improve their relationship, stay connected and move on even in the most difficult moments. Therefore, it is necessary for community members to be able to convey their emotions and thoughts appropriately.

Examples

Intragroup communication makes up a large part of the interactions that we develop in our day to day. This is because almost all of our relationships are part of a group, some very common examples being our family or our usual group of friends.

However, as we have already seen, not all interactions that take place within a group have to be an example of this type of communication. A family debating about where to go on vacation could be considered an intra-group communication interaction, but if instead they were talking about the weather, we would be faced with an exchange of information of another kind.

References

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