2.

1 Cultural, Social, and Political Institutions, Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics

Social Organizations: Groups within Society (Primary and Secondary)

Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

explain how society is organized,

describe the organized nature of social life and rules governing behavior,

define social organization and social groups, and

differentiate primary and secondary groups in terms of their duties in society.

How would you describe your relationship with your family?

How would you describe your relationship with your classmates and teachers?

What makes your relationship with your family members and school teachers different from
each other?

Find out the answers in this lesson!

How Society is Organized

People have organized themselves into groups with common rules of living. The organization of
such a group is called society. Different institutions are found in every community, such as the
family, kin relationships, childcare, and division of work based on gender and age.

All societies, small or large, are organized around an uneven division of labor and decision-
making. Present societies are expected to provide protection, economic security, law and order,
and a sense of belonging to their members.

Societies usually adapt to changes around them, like in the environment or in technology. Most
changes happen slowly, but some significant events such as war or revolution can completely
transform societies.

The Threefold Nature of Social Life

Applying Goethe’s method to social life, Rudolf Steiner thought that if we apply the
phenomenological, participatory method to human social life as a multifaceted, multilayered
whole, we can distinguish three different spheres of activity:

cultural–everything involving the growth and expression of the human spirit: education, art,
science, religion, journalism, and publishing
legal or political–involving human rights and relationships between people and organizations
economic–having to do with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
Human society, Steiner claimed, will only flourish if these three spheres are recognized and
each is organized according to its own inherent principles, dynamics, and ideals.

Social Groups and Organizations

Sometimes, organization refers to associational groups. It includes corporations, armies,
schools, and banks. Society composes many of such organizations. A state is considered as a
political organization, or school may represent an educational organization, and so on. They are
all social organizations.

Organization is a state of being or a condition in which various institutions in society are

functioning by their recognized or implied purposes (Elliott and Merrill, 1950).

Social organization or social system refers to the interdependence of parts in groups. These
groups may differ in size and nature. It makes possible the complex activities where members of
a complex society participate in.

Groups within Society

People do not live in isolation. They live in groups. Social groups consist of two or more
individuals who identify with one another and regularly interact as a result of shared norms,
values, and expectations. Being in a group entails realizations of activities and events in one's
life that help people build and define their stories, interests, and contributions to society.

Different group categorization exists in society. Categories include primary and secondary
groups, in-groups and out-groups and reference groups.

Primary Group
First formulated by Charles Horton Cooley, the concept of a primary group is an essential unit of
social organization and social life. A primary group is characterized by personal and lasting
relationships with its members.

It has been identified that relationships in a primary type of team is unconditional and not
prearranged. Setting aside family relations, members of primary groups share lots of things in
common, like interests, stories, or personalities.

The best example of a primary group is the nuclear family. Relationships and attachments
organized in this group are permanent as one's identity, lifestyle, and stories are tied to this
group. A group of close friends is another example of this group.

The term 'primary' is used with these groups because they are the primary or main source of
socialization and relationships. Relationships in primary groups give us security, love, and
companionship. We also learn norms and values from our family and friends that stay with us
for most of our lives.
Secondary Group
By contrast, secondary groups are formal, small or large, and usually short term. These groups
are typically found at work and school.

An example of this group is a political party organized to plan the best campaign for the election.
Members of the board meet infrequently and for only a short period. Team members may have
some similar interests, but the main purpose of the group is on the task instead of the
relationships.

Classroom and work environment are other examples of a secondary group.

Sometimes, secondary groups become informal, and members of the team get to know each
other well; however, even if their friendships exist in a limited time, they will not necessarily
remain close beyond.

Unlike the primary group, members play their roles in a secondary group based on arranged
and conditional contract. Members of this group need not to convene based on shared interests
or personalities.

Explore!
Why is having a companion, a partner, or a group important in our personal lives and future
careers?

Try it!
List three groups in campus and classify them as either a primary or secondary group. Make
some observations regarding their characteristics.

name or description of the group

characteristics
(members, regulations, nature of work, etc.)

What do you think?

Which type of group contributes more important roles in maintaining a balanced life and
orderliness in society? Why?

Keypoints
People have organized themselves into groups with common rules of living. The organization of
such groups is called society.

Applying Goethe’s method to social life, Rudolf Steiner concluded that if we apply the
phenomenological, participatory method to human social life as a multifaceted, multilayered
whole, we can distinguish three different spheres of activitycultural, legal or political, and
economic.

Social organization or social system refers to the interdependence of parts in groups. These
groups may vary in size and nature.

A social group consists of two or more people who regularly interact and share a sense of unity
and collective identity.

Primary groups are groups that are tightly united, typically small scale, with intimate
relationships, and are usually long lasting.

Secondary groups can be small or large, are mostly impersonal, and usually short term. These
groups are typically found at work or at school.