SOCIAL GROUPS

Understanding How
A Society is Organized

By Angelito B. Jareno
 Learning Scope

• Groups within society:

Primary and Secondary
• Reference Groups
• In-groups and out-groups
 Learning Objectives

• Understand the composition of society based on the

various groups that compose it;
• Identify and define the different types of groups in
society;
• Explain the role that social groups play in the formation
of identities, values, attitudes and beliefs; and
• Describe the organized nature of social life and the rules
governing behavior in society.
 ACTIVITY No. 1
“Think-Triad-Share”
• The class will be divided into three major groups. A question will
be assigned for each group and discuss among themselves their
points of views.
• The questions are as follows:
• What are the characteristics that you like the most about your best
friend? The worst thing?
• Why do you think there are friendships that last a lifetime? Others
that last only for a moment?
• How would you react on the saying “If you want to find a friend,
BE A FRIEND?
 WEEKLY
PERFORMANCE TASK-STEM
In not more than ten (10) sentences, share
your own out-of-town trip or international
travel either with your primary group or
secondary group. Include in your sharing a
clear photo of you with the group. Post
your output on the wall of edmodo.com per
section on or before Sept. 9, 2016
 WEEKLY
PERFORMANCE TASK-ABM
Feature a particular fraternity or sorority.
Explain the meaning of the group’s title,
symbol & motto. Illustrate how they
conduct their unique rituals. Include in
your report a prominent member of the
featured group. Post your output on the
wall of edmodo.com on or before Sept. 9th
 WEEKLY
PERFORMANCE TASK-HumSS
Identify a living prominent professional
person from the field of your chosen career
path, local or foreign. Present the overview
of his/her life. Explain how he/she became
influential to you. Include in your output
that person’s major accomplishment. Post
your output on the wall of edmodo.com on
or before Sept. 9th
 Why there is a need for Social
Group? Do we really depend on it?
• Everyone wants a sense of
belongingness
• Man is by nature a social being and he
interacts with others… (Aristotle)
• As members, we think of ourselves as
a special “WE”
WHAT IS A SOCIAL GROUP?

• Two or more people who identify with and interact with

one another (Macionis, 2012).
• A group where human beings come together in couples,
families, circles of friends, churches, clubs, businesses,
neighbourhood and large organizations.
• Whatever the form, it is made up of people with shared
experiences, loyalties and interests.
• A collection of individuals who have relations with one
another that make them interdependent to some degree.
At the outset, not every collection
of individuals forms a GROUP…
• WHY is it so?
• Because people with a status in common (i.e. women,
homeowners, soldiers, skilled workers, professionals,
millionaires, college graduates, and Roman Catholics)
are not a group but a CATEGORY.
• CROWD/AGGREGATE – loosely formed
collection of people in one place (e.g. students sitting
in a large stadium with interaction at a limited extent).
 Characteristics of Social
Group
• Group members interact on a fairly regular basis
through communication.
• Members should develop a structure where each
member assumes a specific status and adopts a
particular role.
• Certain orderly procedures and values are agreed
upon.
• The members of the group feel a sense of identity.
 GROUPS within SOCIETY
by Charles Horton Cooley
• PRIMARY GROUP – a small social group whose
members share personal and lasting relationships.

• SECONDARY GROUP – a large and impersonal social

group whose members pursue a specific goal or activity.

These are the GROUPS classified according to

TIES
 PRIMARY GROUP

• A small, intimate and less specialized group whose

members engage in face-to-face and emotion-based
interactions over an extended period of time.
• The first group we experience in life e.g. family
and closest friends.
• Members are bound to others by emotion and
loyalty.
Examples:
Families, Close-friends, Classmates, Work-related peers, Church
Groups, Gangs, Cliques, etc.
 PRIMARY GROUP

• The first group where an individual experiences

his/her initial encounter with social affinity and
belonging.
• The venue where individuals establish and define
his/her identity, values, ideas and aspirations.
• What do you think distinguishes Filipino primary
groups as compared to other primary groups
abroad?
 SECONDARY GROUP
• Larger, less intimate and many more specialized
groups where members engage in an impersonal &
objective-oriented relationship for a limited time.
• Exists for only a short time, beginning and ending
without particular significance (e.g. students enrolled
in the same course at a university who may not see one
another after the semester ends)
• Members treat others as merely a means to achieve
his/her immediate objectives.
Examples:
Industrial Workers, Business associates, Faculty & Staff, Company Employees
 SECONDARY GROUP
• The level of interaction and interdependence is not deep
and significant.
• Individual members recognize that their affiliation is less
intrinsic but more instrumental.
• Mutual benefit, rather than emotional affinity, becomes the
primary driving force that compel individuals to stay
together in a secondary group.
• What do you think would happen if members of secondary
groups treat each other emotionally or personally?
 Primary and Secondary Groups
-A Comparison-
PRIMARY GROUP SECONDARY GROUP
Quality of Relationships Personal orientation Goal orientation
Duration of Usually long-term Variable; often short-term
Relationships
Scope of Relationships Broad; usually Narrow; usually involving
involving many few activities
activities
Perception of Ends in themselves Means to an end
Relationships
Examples Families, circle of Co-workers, political
friends organizations
 SOCIAL GROUPS
Based on
Self-Identification/Categorization Theory
• IN-GROUP
• a social unit in which individuals feel at home and with which they
identify.
• OUT-GROUP
• a social unit to which individuals do not belong due to differences in
social categories and with which they do not identify.
• REFERENCE/PSYCHOLGICAL GROUP
• groups to which we consciously or unconsciously refer when we
evaluate our life situations and behavior but to which we do not
necessarily belong.
• It serves a comparison function
• It has a normative function
 IN-GROUP

An In-Group is simply any group someone belongs

to and feels emotional attachment to the members.
An In-group is a social group to which a person
psychologically identifies as being a member. 

In-Group Favoritism refers to the fact that under

certain conditions people will prefer and have
affinity for one’s in-group.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
IN-GROUP
1. Members devise ways to distinguish themselves
from non-members for group solidarity &
exclusivity e.g. group titles, symbols, rituals;
2. Members display positive attitudes & behavior
toward their fellow members for the most part but
negative views toward members of their out-
groups;
3. Differences with non-members could transform
into feelings of competition and even hostility as an
effect of unity & cooperation among group
members.
 OUT-GROUP

An Out-Group is one that someone doesn’t belong to

and feels competition and/or hatred towards.
Examples: rival gangs, rival teams or their fans;
cliques at school
Outgroup Derogation - the phenomenon in which an
outgroup is perceived as being threatening to the
members of an in-group
 REFERENCE GROUP
• A social group that serves as a point of reference in making
evaluations and decisions.
• A group where an individual compares him/herself.
• A group that strongly influences an individual’s beliefs, behavior
& social attitudes and used as a standard for self-assessment

• Anticipatory Socialization – this occurs when we use groups

we do not belong to for reference. Conforming to such groups is
a strategy to win acceptance by others.
 WHAT IS A NETWORK?

• Refers to the structure of relationships between social actors

or groups.
• Interconnections, ties & linkages between people, their groups
& the larger social institutions to which they all belong to.
• Enable individuals to appreciate & accept differences &
diversity within the society. This contributes to a more stable
& intact society.
• Differentiate the network of people in the past to that of the
present.
 Activity 3: Think and Share
(A SITUATION ANALYSIS)

• How would you assess one’s behaviour and

attitude in the following situations (feel free to
share your reactions):
Situation 1: A young man who imagines his
family’s response to a woman he is dating.
Situation 2: A supervisor who tries to predict her
employee’s reaction to a new vacation policy.
 Activity 3: Think and Share
(A SITUATION ANALYSIS)

• If you were the man why would you consider your

family’s perception in dating a woman of your choice?
• If you are in the position of the supervisor, will you
consider your employees’ preference? Why?
• Now, think of a certain situation or experience you
have. Who/what do you consider as your reference
group in life? Does it help you in making decisions or
judgements?
 Importance of Social Group

• Human personality develops in social groups. The

type of personality depends on the types of groups
in which he was socialized.
• Man learns his culture among the groups in which
he lives.
• Group life is the essential element in learning
processes. Hence, social group is the real teacher.
 Activity 4: Our Pledge for Life
(A COMMITMENT)

• In your respective team, you’ll have to make a commitment

on how to live effectively and more happily within a
community where social group and interaction is essential.
•  Remember that this is the commitment of the team
• Feel free in making such commitment.
• You are given 10 minutes to do the task.
• When it is done, a representative will present to the class
the final output.
For your active
participation