Social

Groups
CHAPTER
OUTLINE:
• INTRODUCTION
• DEFINITION OF THE TERM
SOCIAL GROUPS
• SOCIAL AGGREGATES AND
CATEGORIES
• GROUP SIZE
• SOCIAL NETWORKS
• TYPES OF SOCIAL GROUPS
• GROUP DYNAMICS 2
 The study and understanding of social groups is central to sociology.
We live most of our lives within social settings, so sociology is
actually a study of our experiences within groups. Sociologists devote
much attention to groups of all sizes and characteristics. Much
sociological study investigates “how individuals are shaped by their
social groups, from families to nations, and how groups are created
and maintained by the individuals who compose them” (Kimmel
1998, 7).
3
SOCIAL GROUPS:

• The term group has a A group is a collection of

specific definition in people who interact
sociology that differs regularly based on some
from everyday usage. In shared interest and who
everyday language, develop some sense of
almost any collection of belonging that sets them
people might be called a apart from other
group. However, two or gatherings of people. They
more people being in form a social relationship.
close physical proximity This is sometimes referred
does not constitute a to as developing a sense of
group in the sociological “we-ness.” All groups
meaning of the word share this factor of
interdependence (Lewin
1948).
4
 SOCIAL AGGREGATES AND SOCIAL CATEGORIES
• People who just happen to be in the
same place at the same time are not a
group. Rather, they are an aggregate.
Individuals riding the bus or walking
their dogs in a park are examples of
aggregates. If these people interact and
develop some sort of shared interests or
sense of themselves as a group, then
they become a group by definition.
• A category refers to people who share some
common characteristic or status. Categories are
often used by sociologists and other researchers
interested in studying social life. Age, race,
gender, income level, religious affiliation, being
a musician, owning a pet, or living in a
apartment are all categories. People in a
category do not necessarily interact or share
any sense of belonging, and may not even know5
 GROUP SIZE
Sociologist Georg Simmel addressed the
importance of this concept. Simmel notes that the
smallest possible group is composed of two
persons. This group of two is called a DYAD.
These are often our strongest, most intimate
relationships, such as a marriage. The existence
of the dyad depends on both people. If one leaves,
the group ceases to exist.
A three-person group is a TRIAD. The
addition of the third person changes the group
dynamics considerably. The addition of just this
one person also makes the group more stable.
Simmel also noted that as groups become larger
in size, they generally become more stable and
less intimate, with less required of each member.
Larger groups can lose members and still exist.
For example, owners regularly trade members of
sports teams, and a military unit can lose
members in battle but still exist.
 SOCIAL
NETWORK
S

Sociologists have also demonstrated the importance

of our relationships that occur outside of defined
groups in networks, the patterned relationships that
connect us with those outside of our established
groups. Network relationships are ever changing as
people come and go from our lives.
7
TYPES OF SOCIAL GROUPS

ON THE BASIS ON THE BASIS

OF CONTACT: OF RULES AND ON THE BASIS OF
REGULATION: RELATION TO
• SECONDAR
• FORMAL SOCIETY:
Y GROUPS
GROUP • UNSOCIAL
• PRIMARY • IN FORMAL GROUP
GROUPS ON THE BASIS
FROUP • PSEUDO
ON THE BASIS SOCIAL
OF STRUCTURE:
OF GROUP
IDENTIFICATI • INVOLUNTAR
Y GROUP • ANTI SOCIAL
ON: GROUP
• VOLUNTARY • PRO-SOCIAL
• IN-GROUP GROUP
GROUP
• OUT-GROUP • DELEGATE
GROUP

9
 ON THE BASIS OF • ON THE BASIS OF CONTACT AMONG THE
MEMBERS, SOCIAL GROUPS CAN BE
DIVIDED AS “PRIMARY GROUPS” AND
CONTACT: “SECONDARY GROUPS”
1. PRIMARY GROUPS:
Defining primary groups, Cooley writes: “By primary groups, I
mean those groups characterized by intimate face-to-face association
and cooperation. They are primary in several senses but chiefly in
that they are fundamental in forming the social nature and ideals of
the individual.” Similarly, E.A. Shils (1951) writes: “By primary
group we mean a group characterized by a high degree of solidarity,
informality in the code of rules which regulate the behavior of its
members, and autonomy in the creation of these rules. The solidarity
involves a close identification of the members with one another and
with any symbols of the group which might have grown up.” In such
groups, social contacts are intimate, personal and total in that they
involve many parts of person’s life experience. The social
relationships tend to be informal and relaxed. The members are
interested in one another as persons. 10
2. Secondary Groups:
The secondary groups are just opposite of
primary groups. What makes the
relationship secondary is the relatively
narrow, utilitarian, task-oriented, time-
limited focus of its activities. A secondary
group is organized around secondary
relationships. These relationships are more
formal, impersonal, segmental and
utilitarian. In the secondary group not total
personality but a segmental personality of a
person is involved. Defining these groups,
Ogburn and Nimkoff write: “The groups
which provide experience lacking in intimacy
are called secondary groups.” Kimball Young
has termed these groups as ‘special interest
groups’ because they are formed to fulfill
11
• ON THE BASIS OF 1: IN-GROUP:
An in-group is a social group to which a person
IDENTIFICATION psychologically identifies as being a member. It
can be our own family, tribe, occupation, games
William G Sumner has or interest group. For example, if I am player of a
divided social groups cricket team, my cricket-team is in-group for me.
A religious group is in-group for its followers. The
into two types: term 'in-group' is used when an individual wants
to identify himself with a group or show an
In-group association with his group, such as by saying: We
Out-group. are Americans, we are Christians, and we are
Muslims. The members of in-group have a sense
of 'we-feelings' and belongingness towards their
in- group.
According to Sumner ethnocentrism is one of the
most important characteristic of in group. He
opines ethnocentrism is that view of things in
which one’s own group is the center of everything
and others are scaled with reference to it. Because
of this feeling the members of in group consider
their group superior than other groups. It is really
the sentiment*of patriotism.
2. OUT-GROUP:
By contrast, an out-group is a social
group with which an individual does not
identify. People may for example identify
with their peer group, family,
community, sports team, political party,
gender, religion, nation, tribe, ethnicity,
occupations or interest groups. For
example, if I am a student of Psychology,
the students of psychology are in-group
for me, but the students of any other
discipline (other than psychology) are an
out-group for me. The term 'out-group'
is used to distinguish one's identity from
that of others or to compare one's
identity to that of other, such as by
saying: We are Americans (in-group) and
they are Indians (out-group). We are
Muslims (in-group) and they are
Christians (out-group). There is a sense
• On The Basis Of Rules 1. Formal Group:
And Regulation: Formal groups are formulated when
two or more members of an
There are two types of
organization are assembled by the
social groups on the basis
management with the purpose of
of rules and regulations: achieving a specific goal. It is a
• Formal group group that has well-defined rules and
• In formal group regulation for joining the group,
staying in the group and leaving the
group. Those, who fulfill these rules
and regulations, can join and engage
in activates of the group. The
membership can be canceled if the
member violates the rules.
Example of Formal groups: Example
includes organizations, banks,
hospitals, educational institutions,
2; Informal Group:
Informal groups are formed by two or more
members with the purpose of satisfying their
personal and psychological needs. They emerge
naturally, in response to the common interests of
organizational members.
Informal groups may have their own leaders and
followers, group goals, social roles, and working
patterns. They have their own unwritten rules
and a code of conduct that every member
implicitly accepts.
It is a group which has no prescribed rules and
regulation for joining the group, staying in the
group and leaving the group. Any person can join
the group, participate in it and leave it whenever
he/she wants.
Example of In-formal groups: A group of
students sitting in playgroup and gossiping with
one another. Any other classmate can come and
join it.
• ON THE BASIS OF STRUCTURE:
Sanderson has divided social groups on
the basis of structure into three types:
1. Voluntary group
2. Involuntary group
3. Delegate group
1. Involuntary Group:
It is a group that an individual cannot
join or leave by his or her own choice
Or The family and the community to
which one belongs is an involuntary
group
For example: A family is an
involuntary group because an
individual has no control over his
birth-to be born or not born in a
specific family. Similarly, the sex
group is an involuntary group to
which we are born without choice and
we have no control on changing our
sex group (e.g. from male to female or
vice versa). Age group is also an
involuntary group. We belong to our
• 2. Voluntary Group:
• It is a group that an individual can join or
leave by his or her own choice Or A
voluntary group is one which is constituted
with a pre-meditated and a deliberate
objective.
• For example: You can join people watching
a game in the playground, you can become
a student in a college, and you can join an
organization and so on. Sometimes, you
are requires to fulfill criteria to join a
voluntary group but still, it is in your
control to fulfill the criteria and join it.
3. Delegate Group:
It is a group that serves as a representative
of the larger number of people. Join the
group for their own benefits or societal
benefits. The members are either elected
by the people or nominated on the basis of
certain criteria. A parliament is a delegate
group as it represents wishes and needs of
the public. Similarly, a group of experts,
sent to another country to discuss an issue
on behalf of their country, is a delegate
group
17
• On The Basis Of Relation To Society:
1.Un-social group:
An unsocial group is one which largely lives to
itself and for itself and does not participate in the
larger society of which it is a part. It does not mix-
up with other groups and remains aloof from
them.
• 3. Anti-Social group:
• Anti-social behaviors are actions that harm or
lack consideration for the well-being of others. It
has also been defined as any type of conduct that
violates the basic rights of another person and
any behavior that is considered to be disruptive
to others in society.
• Example: The terrorist organization or group in
north Waziristan which were highly active back
till 2014 displays to be an example of anti-social
groups.
• 2. Pseudo-social group:
• A pseudo-social group participates in the
larger group of which it is a part but mainly for
its own gain and not for the greater good.
• Example: The Baloch Republic party (RBP)
which acts a parasite for the country can be
identified as an example of pseudo-social
group.
4: Pro-Social group:
It is a group that works for the betterment of the society. They
engage in activities for the development, prosperity, welfare,
and peace in the society.
Example: The team sar e aam have always been a perfect
example of pro-social groups, even in this pandemic situation
they played a great role by helping poor with finance; back in
March and April when there arose a shortage of blood in the
blood bank for the thalassemia patients because of the
lockdown they helped spread the message and the team
member themselves donated the blood. 18
UNSOCIAL BEHAVIOR ANTI-SOCIAL GROUP:

PRO-SOCIAL GROUP:
PSEUDO-SOCIAL GROUP:
GROUP DYNAMICS
An entire field of study known as group
dynamics has developed
around the scientific study of groups and
group processes. Drawing from both
sociology and psychology, group dynamics
includes studying the influences
groups have on our behavior (Johnson and
Johnson 2000, 37–44; Forsyth 1990).
Areas of interest include how groups form and
develop, the socialization that
The Basics of Sociology
86takes place within groups, power structures,
conformity to group ideas, conflict,
leadership, and decision making. Kurt Lewin,
profiled below, is generally considered the
founder of group dynamics as a field of study.