UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS

MODULE 5: HOW SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED

Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the student must have:

a. Define socialization and enculturation.
b. Trace kinship ties and social networks (UCSPII/12HSOIIi-20).
c. Appreciate the value of social structures and institutions.

Discussion:

Reading 1: How Society is Organized

The famous poet, John Donne, once wrote: "No man is an island, entire of itself; every
man is a part of the continent, a part of the main." He was recognizing the most distinctive
characteristic of people as social animals, whose behavior and personalities are shaped
by groups. Throughout life, most of the daily activities of people are performed in the
company of others. The need for human contact is both a practical and psychological
need.

If people are deprived of the company of others for a prolonged period of time, mental
breakdown is the usual result. Even the Geneva Convention, an international agreement
that regulates the treatment of prisoners of war, recognizes this need. It regards solitary
confinement for more than 30 days as a cruel and barbarous form of torture (Robertson,
1987: 167).

A group is a unit of people who interact with some regularity and identify themselves as a
unit (Newman, 2012). In a stricter sense, it is a collection of people interacting together in
an orderly way on the basis of shared expectations about one another's behavior.

As a result of this interaction, members feel a common sense of "belonging." A group

differs from an aggregate in the sense that the latter does not interact and do not feel any
shared sense of belonging Passengers in a bus or a crowd in the street are some
examples of aggregates while businessmen in a corporate meeting or students joining a
science club are representations of groups. A group can be categorized based on number,
common interest, purpose and level of interactions.

Reading 2: Types of Groups According to Influence

Primary groups are small but intimate Members have direct access and interaction with
each other. Emotional bonds are formed between members, and any loss in members
affects the identity and structure of the group. Families and close friends are often the
primary groups people have. Secondary groups are formed to perform a specific purpose.
Members interact with each other to accomplish the goals of the group.
Secondary groups are often formal and impersonal. Because of the impersonal nature of
relationships, any loss or change in membership does not rotally affect the structure of a
secondary group. On another note, members of a primary group can join a secondary
group. For example, a student can become close friends with some of his or her
classmates in school.
Quiz: How Society is Organized

1. What does John Donne's quote "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a
part of the continent, a part of the main" emphasize?
A) The importance of individualism
B) The interconnectedness of humanity
C) The significance of isolation
D) The need for solitude

2. According to the passage, what is recognized as a cruel and barbarous form of

torture?
A) Physical punishment
B) Verbal abuse
C) Solitary confinement
D) Sleep deprivation

3. How is a group different from an aggregate?

A) A group lacks interaction while an aggregate has it
B) A group has shared expectations while an aggregate does not
C) A group has a sense of belonging while an aggregate does not
D) A group is smaller in size compared to an aggregate

4. What are primary groups characterized by?

A) Formal and impersonal relationships
B) Large size and indirect interaction
C) Emotional bonds and direct interaction
D) Task-oriented goals and specific purposes

5. Which of the following is an example of a secondary group?

A) A family
B) Close friends
C) A corporate meeting
D) A science club

6. How are secondary groups typically characterized?

A) Small but intimate
B) Emotional and personal
C) Formal and impersonal
D) Direct access and interaction

7. What is the main purpose of secondary groups?

A) To form emotional bonds
B) To accomplish specific goals
C) To provide a sense of belonging
D) To establish personal connections

8. How does membership change affect primary and secondary groups differently?
A) It affects the structure of both groups equally
B) It affects the structure of primary groups more than secondary groups
C) It affects the structure of secondary groups more than primary groups
D) It does not affect the structure of either group

9. Which type of group can primary group members join?

A) An aggregate
B) An emotional group
C) A secondary group
D) A task-oriented group

10. According to the passages, what need does human contact fulfil?
A) A psychological need
B) A physical need
C) An emotional need
D) A social need

Reading 3: Types of Groups According to Membership

In-groups provide members a sense of belongingness and loyalty. For example, being part
of a basketball team lets an individual bond with his or her teammates and join pep rallies
to support the team. Out-groups are groups that an individual is not a member. These
groups elicit a sense of antagonism from a person who maybe be a member of another
group). For example, members of the women's basketball team may have a sense of
antagonism toward the men's basketball team because the latter gets move funding
despite performing badly in the last season.
Reading 4: Reference Groups and Networks
Reference groups provide a person with a set of standards to check against and to know if
one is doing well or where he or she needs improvement. For example, a neophyte
scientist considers his or her superiors as a reference group in the same way a budding
artist looks up to his or her seasoned colleagues Networks are the entirety of social
connections a person takes part in for whatever purpose (economic, political, and social)
and through whatever means (face-to-face interaction or indirect interaction). For instance,
a politician's link with civil society organizations and non-government organization a good
example of a network.

Answer these Guide Questions:

1. How can belonging to an in-group influence our attitudes and behaviours towards out-
groups? (Reading 3)
2. Describe some positive aspects of in-group membership besides a sense of belonging.
(Reading 3)
3. Can a reference group also be an in-group? Explain your answer. (Reading 3 & 4)
4. Does reference groups influence an individual's goals and aspirations? How? State your
answer. (Reading 4)
5. How can a politician's network (as described in Reading 4) be used to influence policies or
gain support?