Activity 3

1. What are the major characteristics and functions of primary group? Secondary groups? Explain
each.
 Characteristics of Primary Groups are
personal and intimate relationship- In order that relations of the people may be close, it
is necessary that their contacts also should be close. Seeing and talking with each other
makes exchange of ideas and opinions easy. It makes possible the “conversation of
gestures”.
permanence- To promote intimacy of relationship, the primary group should be stable to
some extent.
small in size- Relationship can be intimate and personal only in a small group. There is
always a point at which further expansion of membership means “dispersion instead of
concentration, dilution instead of reinforcement of the common interest.” It is impossible
to be in sensory contact with many people at the same time. As groups become larger,
each person counts less as a unique personality but more as a sheer cipher or unit.
Limited Self Interest-Though members join the group with the motive of satisfying
their own interests, yet they should subordinate their interests to the central
interests of the group. They must come together in a spirit to participate
cooperatively.
Intensity of Shared Interest- 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 a new valuation. Each member shares the interest intensely
because he is sustained by the devotion and energy of his fellow members.
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.
There is, says MacIver, “a level on which every group must dwell, and the person
who is too far above or below it, disturbs the process of group participation.”
Each member must have something to give as well as to take. This feature is
clearly evident in a discussion group where each member presents his own view-
point and takes the view-point of others.
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 a new valuation. Each member shares the
interest intensely because he is sustained by the devotion and energy of his fellow
members.

Functions of Primary Groups

A primary group is a group in which one exchanges 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.

 Characteristics of Secondary Groups are

 Large- secondary group the membership is widespread. It may contain thousands of
members scattered in different parts of the world as is the case with a corporation.
relationship is personal, aloof- A secondary group is regulated by formal rules which
mean a substitution of impersonal for personal relationships. The relations now become
secondary and formal. It does not exercise a primary influence over its members because
they do not live in the presence and thought of one another.
communication is indirect - The relations among the members of a secondary group are
indirect, formal and impersonal type. People do not develop personal relations among
themselves. Relations in a secondary group are not face-to- face rather touch and go type
and casual. They interact among themselves in accordance with formal rules and
regulations. Because of large size it is not possible to establish direct relations among
themselves; one is not directly concerned with the other aspects of his fellow’s life.
Contact and relation among member are mainly indirect.
duration is temporary- Secondary group is characterized by dissimilar ends. The
members of a secondary group have different and diverse ends. To fulfill their diverse
ends people, join in a secondary group.
group cohesiveness is weak and are based on self- interest- Secondary relations are
not an end in itself rather it is a means to an end. Establishment of relationship is not an
end rather individual establish relationship to fulfill his self-interest. They became friends
for specific purposes.
decisions are based on rationality and rules - Self-dependency among members is
another important characteristic of a secondary group. Because of the large size of the
secondary group the relations among the members are indirect and impersonal. Members
are also selfish. As a result, each member tries to safeguard and fulfill his own interest by
himself
structure is formal - A secondary group is characterized by formal or written rules.
These formal rules and regulations exercise control over its members. A secondary group
is organized and regulated by formal rules and regulations. A formal authority is set up
and a clear-cut division of labor is made. He who do not obey these formal rules and
regulations losses his membership.
Division of Labor- A secondary group is characterized by division of labor. The duties,
functions and responsibilities of members are clearly defined. Each member has to
perform his allotted functions.

Functions of Secondary Groups

1. To help in fulfilling various kinds of increasing human needs.
2. To help in bringing social awareness and social change.
3. To help in removing conservatism and superstition through education and
rational thinking.
4. To increase social mobility.
5. To help in satisfying various special interests such as sports, dance, music,
touring etc.

2. Search the following in the internet.

 The Formation of Groups

 Goal achievement: Very often, groups are formed for the purpose of getting
something done 
  Proximity: How do you make friends, in the first place? Unless you're strange,
you tend to meet and make friends in the immediate circle of your personal
contacts.
 Similarity: People who share the same likes, dislikes, values, beliefs, etc., will
often form clubs and social networks.

 Group work process

The group-work process. — Group work may be defined as an educational process
emphasizing (1) the development and social adjustment of an individual through
voluntary group association; and (2) the use of this association as a means of
furthering other socially desirable ends. It is concerned therefore with both individual
growth and social results. Moreover, it is the combined and consistent pursuit of both
these objectives, not merely one of them, that distinguishes group work as a process.

 Communication process in a group

The goal of communication is to convey information—and the understanding of that
information—from one person or group to another person or group. This
communication process is divided into three basic components: A sender transmits a
message through a channel to the receiver. (Figure shows a more elaborate model.)
The sender first develops an idea, which is composed into a message and then
transmitted to the other party, who interprets the message and receives meaning.
Information theorists have added somewhat more complicated language. Developing
a message is known as encoding. Interpreting the message is referred to as decoding.
The other important feature is the feedback cycle. When two people interact,
communication is rarely one‐way only. When a person receives a message, she
responds to it by giving a reply. The feedback cycle is the same as the sender‐receiver
feedback noted in Figure. Otherwise, the sender can't know whether the other parties
properly interpreted the message or how they reacted to it