Social groups

Explain the characteristics, types of social groups. Primary and Secondary social group. Reference group.

1. Social groups

2. Introduction Society consists of groups. Society starts with an aggregate of people. The social group exists when two or more people are in direct or indirect contact and communication. The members of the group stimulate and respond to one another in same meaningful way. This mutual stimulation and response of individuals and groups is social interaction. Society is rooted in social interaction.

3. Meaning of social groups In its elementary sense, a group “is a number of units of anything in close proximity to one another”. Social group is a collection of human beings who are brought into social relationship with one another with a common goal under a common set of codes. It may be a pair, number of persons or even a collection of millions of people ex. Sports club, a political party, a family etc. Need; Social relationships – reciprocity – mutual awareness – consciousness of joint interaction .

4. Definition of social groups William – Social group is a given aggregate of people playing inter-related roles and recognized by themselves or others as a unit of interactions. Horton and Hunt – “Groups are aggregate or categories of people who have a consciousness of membership and of interaction”. Ogburn and Nimkoff – “ Whenever two or more individual come together and influence one another , they may be said to constitute a social group ”. MacIver and Page - social group as “any collection of human beings who are brought into human relationships with one another ”.

5. Characteristics of social groups Collection of individuals Interaction among members Mutual awareness We-feeling Group unity and solidarity Common interests Similar behaviour Group norms Size of the group Groups are dynamic Stability Influence on personality

6. Importance of social groups Survival becomes problematic without groups Man becomes man only among men Groups help social survival also Groups contribute to the development of personality

7. Importance of social groups Survival becomes problematic without groups Groups have become so necessary that our every survival becomes problematic and doubtful in their absence. Groups are complementary to the development of human faculties, traits and human nature. Man by birth itself has the biological potentiality of becoming man – the social being.

8. Importance of social groups Man becomes man only among men Various studies have convincingly proved that man fails to develop human qualities in the absence of human environment . The biological potentiality of man to become a ‘person’ does not happen on its own automatically, even in the absence of a human environment. The biological potentiality blossoms only in social situation, to be more precise, only in the context of groups. Added to this, the prolonged human infancy and the helplessness of new born baby have almost made it a prisoner of the most elementary social group, that is family.

9. Importance of social groups Groups help social survival also Not only from the point of view of survival but also from the viewpoint of leading a successful life man depends on groups. By engaging himself in constant relations with others he learns things and mends his ways. He keeps his eyes wide open, lends his ears to what others say, tries to keep his memory ever fresh to remember the good things of the past and to refrain from repeating the blunders of the past. In brief, from birth to death, man is engaged in the process of socialisation . Socialisation or the process of humanisation helps man to develop a personality of his own.

10. Importance of social groups Groups contribute to the development of personality Personality is the product of the group life . The ‘self’ that every individual develops, though unique, is itself a product of the group. No ‘self’ arises in isolation . Groups provide scope for the individuals to express their real nature, their talents and abilities. Hidden potentialities can find their expression only in the context of social groups. The groups shape man’s attributes, his beliefs, his morals and his ideals. Emotional development, intellectual maturity, satisfaction of physical and social needs are unthinkable without groups.

11. Types of Social Groups

12. Classification of Social Groups Simmel considered size as a criterion for classifying groups. Small size group Large size group Dwight Sanderson suggested a three fold classification of social groups by structure. Involuntary group Voluntary group Delegate group

13. Classification of Social Groups Cooley classified groups on the basis of kind of contacts. Primary group Secondary group F.H. Giddings classified group into Genetic (involuntarily. Ex: family) Congregate (voluntarily. Ex: union)

14. Classification of Social Groups George Hasen classifies groups one the basis of their relations to other group into Unsocial group (does not participate in large society. ex: Tribe) Pseudo-social group (mix with all for own gain. ex: common) Anti-social group (destroys public property) Pro-social group (welfare of the people) Miller divided social groups into Horizontal groups Vertical groups

15. Classification of Social Groups Sumner made distinction between an In-group The groups with the individual indentifies himself are his in-group, his family or tribe or sex or college or occupation or religion. Usually expressed in the contrast between “they” and “us”. Every group they are communists; we are Hindu, they are Muslims; we are Brahmians , they are others not my people etc., Out-group Its opposite of in-group

16. Primary group and secondary group

17. Primary group The concept of ‘primary group’ is a significant contribution of C.H.Cooley to the social thought. Primary groups are found in all the societies. The primary group is the nucleus of all social organisations. It is a small group in which a few persons into direct contact with one another. These persons meet face-to-face for mutual help, companionship and discussion of common questions.

18. Primary & Secondary Groups Primary group is a small group which a small in number, direct contact, face to face relations, mutual aim, common goals and companionship.

19. Characteristics of a Primary Group Dominance of face-to-face relations Physical proximity or Nearness Small Size Stability of the group Similarity of background Limited self-interest Intensity of Shared interests Communication – direct, very quick and effective Direct cooperation

20. Characteristics of a Primary Group Dominance of face-to-face relations: It is characterized by close and intimate relationships. In primary groups everyone knows else; one’s name and fame, one’s wealth, occupation, level of education etc. Physical proximity: In order that relations of the people may be close, it is necessary that their contacts also should be close. Small size: Relationship can be intimate and personal only in a small group. Stability: To promote intimacy of relationship, the primary group should be stable to some extent:

21. Characteristics of a Primary Group Similarity of background: The members of a primary group must be not only close and near to each other but also approximately equally experienced and intelligent. Limited self-interest: The restricted common interest must predominate in their minds. Intensity of shared interests: In a primary group the common interest is shared by every member and by being shared by all the interest acquires a new significance, a new emphasis and new valuation.

22. Importance of Primary Group For the individual: The first things to be impressed about group is that it is a medium through which we learn culture, use culture and change culture. The group is an important factor in shaping the personality of the individual. For the society: Help in the socialization of the individuals and maintain social control over them. The attitudes of sympathy, love, tolerance, mutual help and sacrifice which provides this cementing force.

23. Importance of Primary Group Primary group – a great humanising agent role in socialising or humanising the child. Development of personality – fair play, equality, free expression etc., Satisfaction of psychological needs – companionship, sympathy etc., Provision of stimulus – with confidence and courage. United in process – direct cooperation, face-to-face etc., Strengthens the democratic spirit – kindness, sympathy, love etc., Acts as an agent of social control – family, neighbourhood, friends etc.,

24. Secondary Group Secondary group is a large group like a city, nation, political party, corporation and labour union etc., Here human contacts become superficial and undefined. They communicate with them by such indirect means as the written word. No face to face relations. H.T. Mazumdar – “When face-to-face contacts are not present in the relations of member, we may call that is secondary group”.

25. Characteristics of Secondary Group Main Characteristics of secondary group Formal, impersonal and secondary relations Largeness of the size Option of membership - voluntary No physical basis Active and Inactive members Relations – no face to face (indirect communication) Formal rules – law, legislation, police, court etc., Individuals status- limited influence on personality Goal orientation Group structure – formal structure

26. Importance of Secondary Groups The primary group have an important place in a simple and small society. But in modern era the trend is towards secondary groups. The changing trends of modern society man now depends for his needs more on secondary groups then primary groups. Efficiency (the emphasis is on getting the job done). Open Channels of Opportunity. Wider Outlook.

27. Primary Group Secondary Group Meaning: Groups which re characterized by face-to-face relations , mutual aid are primary group. Ex: family, friends etc., Nature of Social Relations: social relations are face-to-face, direct intimate, personal , non-partisan in character. Groups which provide experience lacking in intimacy are secondary group. Ex: political parties, unions etc., Social relations are i ndirect, impersonal, contractual, specialized, and more economic nature. Difference between Primary & Secondary Groups

28. Difference between Primary & Secondary Groups Size: primary groups are smaller in size. Physical proximity: group are confined to a small geographic area. Communication: its not only direct but also quick and effective. Group interest: interest of members are not specific but general. Nature of co-operation: co-operation is direct. Secondary groups are relatively bigger in size. Groups are not characterized by physical area. Members are spread over a vast area direct communication is difficult. Interest of members are more specific. Co-operation is mostly indirect.

29. Difference between Primary & Secondary Groups Group structure: its very informal. The group is not very much organized in the modern sense. Durability: groups are relatively durable. Effects on personality: the group has a long-lasting influence upon the personality. Nature of group control: informal means of social control. Group structure is formal . The organization of the group is carefully planned and worked out. Groups may be temporary or permanent. The impact of group on the personality of the members is rather limited. Formal means of control.

30. In-group and out-group

31. In-group V/s. Out-group Sumner’s classification between in-group and out-group. The individual belong to number of groups which are his in-groups. All other groups to which he does not belong are his out groups. Family, tribe, the college are examples of in-groups .

32. In-group V/s. Out-group In in-groups their relationships towards each other they display: Sense of belonging co-operation goodwill mutual help solidarity feeling of brotherhood and readiness to sacrifice In-group signifies their unity by the word “we” and their distinctions from the others by applying to those the term “they”.

33. Reference group

34. Reference group The term ‘reference group’ was introduced into the literature on small group by Muzafer Sherif in his book “An Outline of Social Psychology” – 1948. He used the term in contrast to the term membership group . Membership group refers to a group to which a person belongs, while the ‘ reference group’ refers to a group that affects his behaviour . The two, of course, may coincide.

35. Definition Ogburn and Nimkoff – “ groups which serve as points of comparison are known as reference groups ”. They have further added that the reference groups are those groups from which “we get our values, or whose approval we seek”. Horton and Hunt – “a reference group is any group to which we refer when making judgement s – any group whose value-judgements become our value-judgements”. They have further said, “groups which are important as models for one’s ideas and conduct norms…” can be called reference groups.

36. Reference group The concept of “reference group” arises essentially from the fact that any person acting in any situation may be influenced not only by his membership groups but also by his conception of other groups of which he is not a member. These other groups exert their influence as reference groups in a purely passive or silent way, that is, simply by being thought of. They do not entirely exist as reference groups, but they are called so only from the point of view of their capacity in the family with whom it is in contact. The family is both a membership group and a reference group for the child . But when the child becomes mature he selects particular groups which are understood here as reference groups whose approval or disapproval he especially desires.

37. Reference group The concept of reference groups, as distinct from membership groups, has particular relevance for modern complex , heterogeneous society with its high rates of physical and occupational mobility. In such a complex society a person may be member of one group but prefer membership or aspire for membership in another. In a small folk society, the distinction between membership group are reference groups is less common and may be non-existent.

38. Circumstances of reference group When some or all the members of a particular group aspire to membership in the reference group. Example. The ambitions upper-middle class people are always interested in joining the rank of upper-class people . In order to get an admission into upper-class, they may show their prejudice and even aggressiveness towards low-ranking groups.

39. Circumstances of reference group When the members of the particular group struggle to imitate the members of reference group , or try to make their group just like the reference group at least in some respects. Example. The lower caste people in India who suffer from a sense of inferiority are found to be emulating some of the styles and practices of upper caste to feel equal to them at least in some respects. Similarly, members of the minority groups may try to incorporate in their personality dominant-group standards to help better their relationship with the dominant majority group.

40. Circumstances of reference group When the members of the particular group derive some satisfaction from being distinctive and unlike the members of reference group in some aspects. Example. If Whites as a status group are a reference group for Negroes, so are Negroes a reference group for Whites because both want to retain their differences. Whites want to remain unlike the negroes and so is the case with Negroes. Similarly, Muslims may be interested in maintain their difference with the majority community, especially in the Indian context.