Ch. 4 section 4: GROUPS WITHIN SOCIETY
What is a GROUP?

Defined: a set of people who
interact on shared expectations
and possess some common
identity.
Groups have 4 features:

Have 2 OR MORE PEOPLE;
MEMBERS MUST INTERACT
MEMBERS SHARE
EXPECTATIONS;
Have COMMON SENSE OF
IDENTITY
AGGREGATE:

Occurs when people gather at the
same place and time without
formal organization or lasting
pattern of organization.
EX: Standing in line at the
movies

SOCIAL CATEGORY

people who share traits or
common statuses.
EX: women, men, teens, students,
etc.
Aggregate + social category

How do these differ from a group?
3 major ways to
differentiate groups:

#1- SIZE: varies from smallest (dyad = 2) to
enormous.
 The size impacts the amount of control members
have.
 In dyads, if one member leaves-- the group ends.
 In triads (3), group is tougher to disband &
decisions may be easier b/c majority rules.
 When small groups exceed 45, members sort
themselves into subsets.
3 major ways to
differentiate groups

#2. TIME:
Participate in some groups once then
never again;
Be lifelong member of a group;
Or vary time spent with the group.
3 major ways to
differentiate groups:

#3. ORGANIZATION:
Formal – has clearly defined structure, goals
and activities. Examples?
Informal – has no official structure or
established rules of conduct.
Examples?
2 TYPES OF GROUPS

#1:PRIMARY: small group of
people who interact over a long
period of time on a personal basis.
Relationships are intimate & faceto-face; communication is
deep/intense; structure is
informal. EX: Families.
2 TYPES OF GROUPS

#2
-SECONDARY: interaction is
impersonal & temporary.
Relationships in the group are
casual & limited.
Members are often easily replaced.
Secondary groups are organized
around specific goals. EX:?
TYPES OF SECONDARY GROUPS
Reference groups:
 any group you
identify with (join)& whose
attitudes & values you adopt
EX: friends, school clubs.
TYPES OF SECONDARY
GROUPS

 In Groups/Out Groups: group you identify with;
These groups have 3 characteristics…
1. use symbols to separate themselves from
others;
2. see themselves positively & out-groups
negatively;
3. competition exists with out-groups that
may lead to conflict.
TYPES OF SECONDARY
GROUPS

E-communities: people interact with
one another regularly on the internet.
TYPES OF SECONDARY
GROUPS

Social Networks: the different groups
you belong to form the basis of your
social network.
 relationships may be direct and
indirect.
Social networks are NOT groups…but
may still serve as important parts of
people’s lives.
GROUP FUNCTIONS

 Different types of LEADERS (people who influence the
attitudes & opinions of others) include…
 INSTRUMENTAL LEADERS – task oriented people
help the group achieve its goals; and
 ESPRESSIVE LEADERS – emotion oriented people who
keep the group together and maintain morale.
 Leaders help set goals, assign tasks & make decisions.
Within groups conformity to norms helps it function
productively.
Final word on Social Networks…

 The sum total of all combined interactions forms
your own personal Social Network. Today we tend
to define e-communities as “social networks’ but
within Sociology, the meaning of social network is
quite different. Don’t confuse the two…
 So this is NOT a social network by the Sociology
class definition… movie clip
 This is a better example of the definition of Social
Network in terms of Sociology…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc
 HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR OVERALL
SOCIAL NETWORK??