The required behaviours, while distinct in our discussion are actually highly intertwined and mutually dependent. Careful analysis of the required and personal systems can aid the observer in attempting to predict emergent behaviour. Homans hypothesised that interaction and interpersonal sentiments are closely related. There appears to be no set time frame for groups to go through these stages. Bion called these assumptions dependency, flight, fight and pairing.
Dependency is characterised by an attitude of helplessness and an abdication of responsibility.
The group waits for the leader to decide, take action or care for the group. In this situation the members act as if they are helpless or incompetent. Pairing occurs when two members of the group work on their relationship while the other members watch. In this situation it is as if the pair will work out their problem and in doing so will work out the group problems. The basis of this theory is one of avoidance of the task at hand and it is through these emotional states that the group becomes fixed to such a degree that the task is hindered.