Social Groups
Definition: In sociology, a social group is defined as a collection of individuals who interact with
one another, share similar characteristics, and have a sense of unity or common identity.
Members of a social group may share interests, values, norms, and expectations.
Functions of Social Groups:
Socialization: Groups help transmit culture, norms, and values to new members.
Identity Formation: They provide a sense of identity and belonging.
Support: Groups offer emotional, psychological, and sometimes financial support.
Goal Attainment: Groups help individuals achieve common goals through collaboration and
cooperation.
Norm Enforcement: Groups establish social norms and enforce them to maintain social order.
Example: A family is a primary social group providing emotional support and cultural
socialization, while a business organization is a secondary group focused on achieving
professional goals.
Types of Social Groups
Primary Groups:
Definition: Small, close-knit, and typically long-lasting groups where members have intimate
and personal relationships.
Functions: Emotional support, socialization, and identity formation.
Example: Family, close friends, and peer groups.
Secondary Groups:
Definition: Larger, more impersonal, and goal-oriented groups that are often temporary.
Functions: Focused on achieving specific objectives or tasks.
Example: Classrooms, workplaces, and political organizations.
Formal Groups:
Definition: Groups with specific roles, structured hierarchy, and established rules.
Functions: Regulate behavior, allocate responsibilities, and achieve formal objectives.
Example: Corporations, government agencies, and schools.
Informal Groups:
Definition: Groups formed based on personal relationships and shared interests without formal
structures.
Functions: Social support, companionship, and sharing of common interests.
Example: Friend circles, hobby clubs, and social media communities.
In-Groups:
Definition: Groups to which an individual feels they belong and identify strongly with.
Functions: Promote unity and a sense of shared identity.
Example: A sports team one supports, or an ethnic group one belongs to.
Out-Groups:
Definition: Groups an individual does not identify with or may feel opposition towards.
Functions: Can reinforce in-group solidarity by contrasting with out-groups.
Example: Rival sports teams or different political parties.
Reference Groups:
Definition: Groups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating their own behaviors, values,
and attitudes.
Functions: Serve as benchmarks for self-assessment and aspiration.
Example: Celebrities can be reference groups for fashion, while a professional organization can
set career standards.
Pressure Groups:
Definition: Groups formed to influence public opinion or policy without seeking formal power.
Functions: Advocate for specific causes, shape public opinion, and lobby for political or social
change.
Example: Environmental advocacy groups, labor unions, and civil rights organizations.
These classifications illustrate how social groups shape individual behaviors, provide support,
and influence society on multiple levels.
