Understanding Culture Society and Politics (Soc Sci 01)

Week 5
5.0
How Society is Organized
by: Mrs. Liezel P. Elcamel, LPT, LRTG

In this module, you will spend 390 minutes to

a. Explain the different types of social groups;
b. Identify one’s role in social groups, organizations, and
institutions; and
c. Define social institutions.

All societies are organized around an unequal division of labor and decision-
making. Modern societies are expected to provide protection, law and order,
economic security and a sense of belonging to their members. Trying to
understand how societies organize themselves is the goal of social
sciences(Factmonster, 2019).
In the social sciences, a social group is two or more humans who interact with one
another, share similar characteristics, and have a collective sense of unity. This is a
very broad definition, as it includes groups of all sizes, from dyads to whole societies.
A society can be viewed as a large group, though most social groups are
considerably smaller. Society can also be viewed as people who interact with one
another, sharing similarities pertaining to culture and territorial boundaries (Lumen,
n.d.). As cited by Lumen (n.d.), Muzafer Sherif, a renowned social psychologist,
formulated a technical definition of a social group. It is a social unit consisting of a
number of individuals interacting with each other with respect to common motives
and goals, an accepted division of labor, established status relationships, accepted
norms and values with reference to matters relevant to the group, and the
development of accepted sanctions, such as raise and punishment, when norm were
respected or violated. As defined by Amper, Bersales and Nolasco (2016), a social
group is a number of people who interact on a regular basis, are bound together by
roles and statuses and a distinctive set of relationships, and who feel a sense of
unity and common identity. To add, it affects everyone and are organized in many
different ways. But not all collections of people are social groups, this refers to social
aggregate, a collection of people who just happened to be in one place at the same
time and who are hardly unaware of each other. On the other hand, a social category
refers to a collection of people who share similar characteristics but are engaged in
a patterned social interaction and do not have a common identity of membership.
The absence of frequent and patterned interaction and a distinctive set of
relationships mean that a mere collection of people is not a group. A social group
necessarily involves two or more persons relating to and influencing one another,
developing a sense of belonging and a feeling of common membership (Amper,
Bersales, and Nolasco, 2016).
This topic highlights the importance of human interaction within the groups.

SOC SCI 01 SHS MODULE 5 v 2020

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Motivation

Box Activity
To begin this topic, let us give a simple definition
of a box. Merriam-Webster (2020) defined box as
a rigid typically rectangular container with or
without a cover; the contents of a box is as a
measure of quantity; an often small space,
compartment or enclosure; and a box or boxlike
container and its contents. Actually, we can define
as many meanings for a box.
Like a box, we all are social beings and we enjoy
being with others who share our interests.
However, sometimes it is difficult to understand what keeps us isolated from
others that are not in our social group-- or "Box."
This time, close your eyes and envision all the people that they are close
to, limiting at this time to friends, not family. You draw a mental “box” around
yourselves and your friends.
Now, reflect on the qualities or characteristics that draw you to someone.
Again, look in your box and think about the characteristics you have heard from
someone. Reflect on which one has meaning for you, which one is not so
important, and whether or not your box contain people who meet your desired
characteristics. Then, visualize who among the group you want to push away and
why; reflect as to how other group judge your box, and how you feel about it?

My Box (You may use this space for you to write.)

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Instruction

In the first activity, you have classified your box and identified certain
group of people that are attached to you. It is clear that human beings
enter into any relationship with each other, the bond that you create with the
help of such relationships in each case becomes a social unit. The social units
may first take the shape of groups and then enlarge yourselves into social
associations (Mundra, 2017). So in this section, let us examine the different types
of groups.
(1) Primary Group
This concept was introduced by Charles Horton Cooley. As cited by
Mondal (n.d.), in the words of C.H. Cooley “By primary groups I mean
those characterized by intimate face to face association and
cooperation. They are primary, in several senses, but chiefly in that they
are fundamental in framing the social nature and ideal, of the individual.
It is usually small, is characterized by extensive interaction and strong
emotional ties, and endures over time. Members of such groups care a
lot about each other and identify strongly with the group. Indeed, your
membership in a primary group gives you much of your social identity
and give you emotional warmth and comfort in good times and bad and
provide you an identity and a strong sense of loyalty and belonging.
(2) Secondary Group
It is a larger and more impersonal and exist, often for a relatively short
time, to achieve a specific purpose. Secondary group members feel less
emotionally attached to each other than do primary group members and
do not identify as much with their group nor feel as loyal to it. But, it
does not mean secondary groups are unimportant, as society could not
exist without them, but they still do not provide the potential emotional
benefits for their members that primary groups ideally do. According to
Amper, Bersales, and Nolasco (2016), it is characterized by secondary
relationships, and members interact in terms of specific contractual
obligations. The ties are impersonal and temporary, and involve limited
aspects of a person’s life.
(3) Reference Group
As defined by University of Minnesota, reference group is a group groups
that you look to for guidance in order to evaluate our behaviors and
attitudes. It is basically generalized versions of role models. You may or
may not belong to the group, but you use its standards of measurement
as a frame of reference. Both your in-groups and primary groups, are
people who are especially important to you in shaping your values,
attitudes and beliefs. Kdaski (2017) it is defined reference group as
it provides normative function by formulating and enforcing code of
conduct. To get an approval of a group an individual have to follow the
dictates of a group. Another function of reference group is comparison
function. An actor will compare himself with the members of reference
group (group of actors).

Social Group Video Presentation

Click the link below to view the video.

Social Groups: Crash Course

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wFZ5Dbj8DA&t=344s
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Instruction

(4) In-Group
According to Mundra (2017), members of the in-group have very close
relations with each other and their loyalty to the group and to each other
is very pronounced. The group-feeling or the group-spirit makes the
members of this group very conscious of the fact that they belong
together, as in the case of family members, persons who share common
living surroundings, or persons who belong to a particular nation.
(5) Out-Group
The out-group would stand for a collection of individuals for whom a set
of individuals have a feeling of dislike, animosity or even hostility or
hatred. Instead of hatred or dislike, there may exist a mere feeling of
strangeness towards a group and even that would create an out- group.
It is any group or collection of people to which a person feels that he/she
does not belong or identifies with.

Formal Organizations Video Presentation

Click the link below to view the video.

Formal Organizations: Crash Course

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDuBh7VbGgU&t=12s

How do formal organizations differ from small groups? Formal

Organizations exist in the modern society because they help to fulfill tasks in the
most efficient manner. In sociological terms, a formal organization is defined as
a large and complex secondary group that is deliberately created and organized
to achieve specific goals. A corporation, business enterprise, school, and
government agency are examples of formal organizations. It is bureaucratic in
nature. Max Weber, a sociologist, developed a formalized structure called
bureaucracy because he believed that formal organizations must not be managed
informally. It is defined in terms of six characteristics.
These are:
(1) Clear-cut division of labor. This is to align employees with organizational
tasks of the office or company. With division of labor and work
specialization, one is required to focus and work on tasks which he/she
is assigned because of experience or expertise.
(2) Formal written records. These are used to document all rules,
regulations, procedures, decisions, and actions taken by the
organization and its members to preserve consistency and
accountability. A school manual or a standard operating procedure is a
good example of formal records.
(3) Hierarchy of authority and chain of command. A well-defined formal
hierarchy and chain of command distinguishes the level of authority
within an organization. Individuals who hold higher positions will
supervise and direct lower positions within the hierarchy.
(4) Well-stated rules and regulations. Management by rules and regulations
provides a set of standard operating procedures that facilitate
consistency in both organizational and management practices.
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Enrichment

My Social Group

In this section, you probably understood the different types of

social groups. So you will list down your social group that you belong. You may
give examples per classification.

PRIMARY SECONDARY REFERENCE IN-GROUP OUT-GROUP

Total Score:
(3x5=15)

(1) How do the groups that you are part of

affect you?
(2) How do you, in turn, affect those groups?
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Evaluation

Social Institutions

For any society to survive, it has to meet its basic needs, including
reproduction, knowledge transmission and provisioning, among others. A
society is composed of individuals who also have needs to be satisfied by the
society they belong to.
Social institutions provide a framework to the basic areas of social life
that goes beyond the face-to-face social interactions among individuals. The
major social institutions include the family, religions, education, economy,
polity and health care. Each social institution has functions that are interrelated
with the functions of the others. A dysfunction in one institution affects the
others and thus affects the entire society.

Social Institutions Video Presentation

Click the link below to view the video.

Social Institutions: System Innovation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PerZu4Tcif0

Earlier, it has been presented the topic on how are you related with a
social group and how these groups affect you or you affect the group. Each
individual occupies different statuses and roles in various social groups and
behaves based on your society’s norms.
(1) Base from your own understanding, what is social institution?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________

(2) What are the different functions of social institutions?

a. Family
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
b. Economics
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
c. Religion
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
d. Education
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
e. Political
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
f. Health Care
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

Item 1-3pts; Item 2- 2pts each

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Amper, Z., Bersales, J., and Nolasco, M. (2016). Knowing the Social World. Cebu
City: University of San Carlos Press.

Facmonster (2019). DK Society and Beliefs: Societies. Retrieved from

https://www.factmonster.com/dk/encyclopedia/society-and-
beliefs/societies#:~:text=All%20societies%20are%20organized%20around,
goal%20of%20the%20SOCIAL%20SCIENCES. On July 24, 2020.

Kdaski (2017). Types of Social Groups in Sociology. Retrieved from

https://www.sociologylearners.com/types-of-social-groups-in-sociology/ on
July 24, 2020.

Lumen (n.d.) Types of Social Groups. Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/types-of-
social-groups/ on July 24, 2020.

Mundra, A. (2017). Social Groups: Features, Types of Group and Their Goals.
Retrieved from https://www.sociologydiscussion.com/social-groups/social-
groups-features-types-of-group-and-their-goals/2449 on July 24, 2020.

Mondal, P. (n.d.) Social Groups: The Meaning, Characteristics, Classification, and

other details. Retrieved from
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/society/social-groups-the-meaning-
characteristics-classification-and-other-details-7041-words/8510 on July 24,
2020.