Social Groups
1. What is a social group?
A: A social group consists of at least two persons who interact with one another and who recognize themselves as a distinct social unit. The frequent interaction leads these people to share values and beliefs. Another of the results of this interaction is that the members of the social group identify with each other, what causes, in turn, a more intense interaction. Social groups are the most stable and enduring social units. They are important to both, their members and their whole society. A very important characteristic of social groups is that they encourage regular and predictable behavior, basic concepts in which society rests. Some examples of social groups are: families, political parties, villages, sport teams, classmates, friends, etc.
2. What keeps people in a social group together?
A: People keep in a social group because they have similar ideas, values, customs, traditions, hobbies, likes, interests, etc.
3. What is a primary social group? What kinds of relations do its members have with each other? Give an example of a primary social group.
A: Charles Cooley assigned the term “Primary Social Group” to those groups that are characterized by intimate face – to face association. These groups are fundamental during the development and adjustment of their members to their society. Some examples of Primary Groups are: the family, the playing group (when we’re kids) and our neighborhood (when adults).
This type of group is almost universal in all societies because it gives people their earliest and most complete experiences of social unity.
Even of this definition, modern society is changing a lot, so maybe this term is not so useful if we think about a family that is constantly moving, or families in which parents are divorced.
These groups tend to have emotional relations among each member.
4. What is a secondary social group? What kind of relations do its members have with each other? Give an example of
A: A social group consists of at least two persons who interact with one another and who recognize themselves as a distinct social unit. The frequent interaction leads these people to share values and beliefs. Another of the results of this interaction is that the members of the social group identify with each other, what causes, in turn, a more intense interaction. Social groups are the most stable and enduring social units. They are important to both, their members and their whole society. A very important characteristic of social groups is that they encourage regular and predictable behavior, basic concepts in which society rests. Some examples of social groups are: families, political parties, villages, sport teams, classmates, friends, etc.
2. What keeps people in a social group together?
A: People keep in a social group because they have similar ideas, values, customs, traditions, hobbies, likes, interests, etc.
3. What is a primary social group? What kinds of relations do its members have with each other? Give an example of a primary social group.
A: Charles Cooley assigned the term “Primary Social Group” to those groups that are characterized by intimate face – to face association. These groups are fundamental during the development and adjustment of their members to their society. Some examples of Primary Groups are: the family, the playing group (when we’re kids) and our neighborhood (when adults).
This type of group is almost universal in all societies because it gives people their earliest and most complete experiences of social unity.
Even of this definition, modern society is changing a lot, so maybe this term is not so useful if we think about a family that is constantly moving, or families in which parents are divorced.
These groups tend to have emotional relations among each member.
4. What is a secondary social group? What kind of relations do its members have with each other? Give an example of