Primary group

Sociology Assignment .Primary group and its importance

1. Group:-

A collection of individuals who have regular contact and frequent interaction, mutual influence,
common feeling of camaraderie, and who work together to achieve a common set of goals.

 A number of people or things that are located, gathered, or classed together.
 A number of persons or things ranged or considered together as being related in some
way.
 A number of persons bound together by common social standards, interests, etc


Primary group:-

A primary group is typically a small social group whose members share close, personal, enduring
relationships.
 A social group, such as a family or friends, made up of intimate face-to-face relationships
that strongly influence the attitudes and ideals of the individuals involved
 A group held together by relationships formed by family and environmental associations,
regarded as basic to social life and culture.
Functions of Primary Groups:-
A primary group is a group in which one exchange implicit items, such as love, caring, concern,
support, etc. Examples of these would be family groups, love relationships, crisis support groups,
and church groups. Relationships formed in primary groups are often long lasting and goals in
themselves. They also are often psychologically comforting to the individuals involved and
provide a source of support and encouragement.
Importance of Primary Group for the Society:-
Primary groups are important not only from the individual point of view, but they are equally
important from the viewpoint of society. The primary group is the birth-place of human nature.
Primary groups help in the socialization of the individuals and maintain social control over them.
The attitude of kindness, love, sympathy, mutual help and sacrifice which provide the cementing
force to social structure is developed in the primary group. The importance of primary groups is
as follows:

2.  Development of personality:
The primary group, particularly, the family, is the chief molder of the human personality. The
quality of behavior that a child picks up during its childhood in primary groups finds expression
in adult life. Primary groups mould our opinions, guide our affection, influence our actions and
determine our loyalties.
 An agent of social control:
Primary groups not only provide security to the members but also control their behavior and
regulate their relations. For instance, family, peer group or friend group control much of the
activities of their members.
 Provision of stimulus:
The primary groups not only provide happiness to its members, but they also provide a stimulus
to pursue their interests. Everyone feels that he is not alone pursuing the interests but there are
others who are along with him.
 A heaven-like place:
The primary group is a heaven for the individuals where they can find comfort and security. The
primary relations are based on sympathy and mutual identification. Primary relation here counts
'who you are', not 'what you are'.
 Satisfaction of psychological needs:
Primary groups satisfy many psychological needs of the individuals. Individuals get mental
happiness, security and also realize that the primary group is their noble centre of human
affection, love and sympathy.