FORMS AND

FUNCTION OF
SOCIAL
ORGANIZATION
Concepts of Social Group and
Social Organization
 Homans (1950) defines a group as
collection of two or more persons
who are in social interaction, who
are guided by similar norms, values,
and expectations, and who maintain
a stable pattern of relations over a
period of time.
 Donald Light (1984)
defines a group as set of
individuals who identify
and interact with one
another in a structured
way based on shared
values and goals.
 Social group
 is a unit of interacting
personalities with interdependence
of roles and statuses existing
between and among themselves. It
is a collection of people who
interact with each other in
accordance with the position they
occupy in the society.
 Social Organization
 refers to a type of collectivity
established for the pursuit of
the specific aims or goals,
characterized by a formal
structure of rules, authority
relations, a division of labor
and limited membership or
admission (Jarry, D. 1995).
 Fundamentally, society with a
group of individuals called a social
group. A social group exists when
at least two people are in contact
and commonly stimulating and
reacting with each other through
language both verbal and non-
verbal. This shared between inter-
stimulation and reaction between
at least two people and groups is
referred to as social interaction.
 When interaction persists
often enough, a pattern of
a social relation exists
which is reciprocal in
nature that is, the behavior
of the interactants derives
its meaning from his
relation to the other person
or persons involved.
 Social Status
 is a collection of rights
and duties that goes with
a position in a group. A
status may be ascribed or
achieved.
 Ascribed Status
 is the status by virtue of
one’s birth. He does not have
a choice or decision on the
matter such as his sex, age,
gender, kinship, religion or
nationality
at birth.
 Achieved Status
 on the other hand, is where an
individual may acquire by virtue of
his own efforts, use of intelligence
and skills, choice, or through some
stroke of good fortune. This can be
through marriage, occupation,
profession, education, financial
acumen, industry or lotto winning.
 The pattern of behavior that
accompanies a status is a social
role. Every person inhabits a
number of statuses and plays the
corresponding varied roles at
different stages of his life and to the
different social groups to which he
belongs and depending upon which
social relationship is effect at any
particular time.
 Activity 1: My Family
Fill in the table below. List down the
name of the members of your
household and identify their social
status and social role in your family.
Family Member Social Status Social Role
 Characteristics of Social
Group
 The basis of grouping can be
numerous, but the division of
the population based on their
age, sex, income and
profession can provide various
types of social
groups.
The 12 Most Important
Characteristics of
Social Group
1. Given number of
Individual

 A social group consists of a given number of

individuals. Without a number of individuals,
no social group can be formed. Two or more
than that individual are necessary to form a
group. This number may vary. These
individuals belong to the group as members of
the group and are considered as unit of the
group.
 2. Reciprocal Relations

 There exist reciprocal relations among

the members of a social group. These
reciprocal relations among the members
are the basis or foundation of social group
without which social group cannot be
formed. The members must interact or
interrelated with each other.
 3.Common Goals
 It is another important characteristic of a
social group. The aims, objectives and
ideals of the members are common. For
the fulfillment of these common goals
social groups are formed. Here individual
interests are sacrificed for group
interests.
 4. Sense of unity and
solidarity
 Members of a social group are always tied by
a sense of unity and bond of solidarity,
common goals and mutual relations
strengthens this bond of unity and solidarity.
This creates loyalty and sympathy among the
members of social group.
 5. A strong sense of awe-
feeling
 Members of a social group is characterized by
a strong sense of awe-feeling. This we- feeling
fosters co-operation among members. Because
of this we- feeling the members identify
themselves with the group and consider others
as outsiders.
 6. Group Norms
 Every social group has its own, regulations
and norms which the members are supposed
to follow. With the help of these rules and
norms the group exercises control over its
members. These norms may be written or
unwritten. Any violation of group norms is
followed by punishment. The group norms
maintain unity and
integrity in the group
 7. Similar Behavior
 Members of a social group show similar
behavior. As the interests, ideals and
values of a group are common hence its
members behave in a similar manner.
This similar behavior helps in the
achievement of common goals.
 8. Awareness
 Members of a social group are aware
about the membership which
distinguishes them from others. This is
perhaps due to ‘the consciousness of
kind’ as opined by Giddings.
 9. Group Control
 Social group exercises some sort of
control over its members and over their
activities. This control may be direct or
indirect. Of course, group exercises
control only over non-conformists or
deviants.
 10. Social groups may be
permanent or temporary in nature.
There are permanent
groups likes family and temporary
groups like crowd, mob etc.
 11. Social groups are dynamic in
nature. It is not static. It responds
to different changes. The nature of
change may be slow or rapid but it
is bound to occur.
 12. Social groups have
established patterns.
Types of Social
Group /
Organizations
 1. According to Social Ties

 a. Primary Group
• The most fundamental unit of human society
• A long and lasting group whose members have
intimate, personal
continuous face-to-face relationships.
• Characterized by strong ties of love and affection.
• The do’s and don’ts of behavior are learned here.
 a. Primary Group

• The most fundamental unit of

human society
• A long and lasting group whose
members have intimate, personal
continuous face-to-face
relationships.
• Characterized by strong ties of
love and affection.
• The do’s and don’ts of behavior
are learned here.
2. According to Self-
identification
 a. In-group
• A social unit in which individuals
feel home and with which they
identify
 b. Out-group
• A social unit to which
individuals do not belong
due to differences in certain
social categories and with
which they do not identify.
 c. Reference group or
psychological group
• Groups to which we consciously
or unconsciously refer when we try
to evaluate our own life situations
and behavior, but to which we do
not necessarily belong.
• It serves a comparison function.
• It has a normative function.
 3. According to Purpose

 a. Special interest groups

• Groups which are
organized to meet the
special interest of the
member
 b. Task Group

• Group assigned to
accomplish jobs which
cannot be done by one
person.
 c. Influence or pressure
groups.

• Group organized to
support or influence
social actions
4. According to geographical
location and degree or quality
relationship
 a. Gemeinschaft
• A social system in which most
relationship is personal or
traditional.
• It is a community of intimate,
private and exclusive living and
familism.
 b. Gesselschaft

• A social system in which most

relationships are impersonal,
formal,
contractual or bargain-like.
• Relationship is individualistic,
business-like, secondary and
rationalized.
5. According to form of
organization
 a. Formal groups
• Social organization
• Deliberately formed, and their purpose and
objectives are explicitly
defined.
• Their goals are clearly stated and the division of
labor is based on
member’s ability or merit.
• Have a certain type of administrative structure
called
“bureaucracy
 Bureaucracy
• A hierarchical arrangement in
large-scale formal organizations in
which parts of the organization
are ordered in the manner of a
pyramid based on a division of
function and authority. (Weber, M.
1965)

• Formal, rationally organized

social structure.
Weber (1965) identified the following
characteristics in a bureaucracy:

1. Positions and offices are clearly

defined.

2. The hierarchical arrangements of

authority, rights and obligations are
specifically drawn and clear-cut.

3. The personnel are selected on the

basis of technical or professional
qualification and expert training and
competence through competitive
examination.
 4 . Definite rules govern official
behavior.

5. Security of tenure and the

pursuit of a career with
promotion in the hierarchy
are assured.
 b. Informal groups.
• Arises spontaneously out of the
interactions of two or more persons.
• It is unplanned
• Has no explicit rules for membership,
and does not have specific
objectives to be attained.
• It has the characteristics of primary
groups and members are bound
by emotions and sentiments.