There are both positives and negatives associated with training in a group. Understanding social psychology, you will notice that similar age groups grouped together will induce either a positive or negative peer pressure.

On the one hand, the group can influence you to train in a positive environment where you enjoy good fitness levels and make friends with like minded people. This is useful when you don't want to train but the thought of letting down the rest of the group compels you to go anyway.

On the other hand, the group can influence your judgments as to how an exercise should be done. If for example, you know how to do an exercise in the gym but everyone else is doing doing it wrong, you might go along with it to avoid indirect peer pressure and to 'go along with the group'. Some other members might act as a 'teacher' and tell you how it's done, trying to pass down their own unconventional philosophy that they have stumbled upon through experimentation.

For some who have experienced life in the gym at peak time, you'll notice the attempted 'male superiority' from certain guys who all gather around each other and try to outdo each other. This form of group training can force some individuals to injure themselves by trying to outdo everyone else in the gym.

I don't know about you but, I hate being in the gym with guys trying to outdo each other. The gym should be a place of individual self improvement where every member has a unique training plan, and isn't compelled to always prove themselves to their colleges.

Learn more about this author, John Mcklain.
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