Social Groups

Social Groups

What is a Social Group?

 

A social group is a number of individuals who share a common bond or relationship and have a particular goal or purpose. Members of groups interact with one another, have certain expectations of each other and try to accept each other. Each person in society is a member of a group, for example, a family, community sports team or political party. A social group may have as few as three members or it may have thousands. An individual's behaviour affects the groups and at the same time, the group affects the individual's behaviour.

Types of group

Primary groups, Secondary groups, Formal groups, Informal groups, Negative or Dysfunctional groups, Peer groups, Interest groups, Voluntary groups, Involuntary groups, In-groups and Out-groups.

Primary group-These are groups in which relationships is warm, intimate and personal, and where matters of sentiment and everyday interaction bind the group. The interaction takes place face to face and is generally spontaneous. Everyone in the groups makes an important contribution to its operation. Primary groups may be formal, for example in a classroom situation where the primary group consists of the class members; or informal, for example your peer group. Membership of a primary group may be voluntary, as it is in a group of friends meeting on a Saturday morning, or involuntary as in the school year group.

 

Secondary group-These groups are much larger than primary groups. This leads to less frequent interaction among members, and there is less intimacy than in the smaller primary groups. Secondary groups tend to have a formal structure because of their size. Trade unions, Scouts, Girl Guides, Police force, sport groups, choirs, church, school, political parties and business organizations with branches in different areas of a country are examples of secondary group.

Formal groups are organize with a formal structure which govern the interaction of members. Additionally, it has membership requirements, a code of conduct or rules, specific objectives and formally chosen leadership. Leaderships are usually elected or chosen according to a set formula. Community clubs or associations and Chambers of Commerce are good examples of formal groups. Some school clubs have a formal structure but because such clubs are small it is difficult to make the structure very rigid. 

Informal groups have no written rules regarding behaviour of members, however, they do know how to react in given situations. This type of group are more spontaneous and activities and leadership, if any, may change regularly. This type of group it does not have a formal structure. There are no set rules and no membership requirements and activities are spontaneous. Example of informal groups include the street corner group, consisting of boys or girls living on the same scheme or block, or a drop-in youth club. These groups leadership is spontaneous, if it exist at all.

One example of a primary group is the peer group. A peer group consist of everyone of about the same age in a community.  It is  an important agent of socialization and also exerts social control over its members.  The group gives members a sense  of belonging. It also gives  them social experience away from the family and helps to prepare young people for other relationship. It is essentially both an informal and an involuntary group. Among peer group members there is a strong sense of loyalty, cooperation and social interaction. The peer group continues to be important for many people throughout their lives. Many of their friends and acquaintances and those they meet in other social groups also belong to their peer group. 

Interest group 
Many groups can be called interest groups in that the members share a common interest. That might  e sport, a hobby such as photography, a need to keep upto date in a tade or profession,a need to influence others as in a trade union wishing to get better conditions from an employer. 

Some interest groups are campaigning groups on specific issues such as the environment, local planning decisions or human rights, while others may raise money for charity, or are social groups concerned with a common activity such as sports clubs or choirs. Interest group are voluntary. 

Negative or dysfunctional groups
In society, groups which are negative maybe formal or informal. Such groups can influence negative  behaviour  and attitudes of individuals and society, and may be involved in criminal activities, such as narcotic trafficking , kidnapping or gang warfare. Are there any negative groups in your country? What kind of impact do they have on your society?

In-group
A group of people sharing similar interests and attitudes, producing feelings of solidarity, community, and exclusivity. In-group members have some form of identity which excludes others. This may include badges, names or particular way of dressing. Those who do not belong are part of the out-group.

Out-group

People outside one's own group, especially as considered to be inferior or alien; a group perceived as other than one's own.