UNIT - 4
Society
1.Types of Social Group
• It is based on kinship such as in
the family. e.g. A man has no
Involuntary
choice to what family he will
belong.
• In this group a man joins of his
own will or volition. He agrees
Voluntary to be a member of it and is free
to withdraw at any time from its
membership.
• A delegate group is one which a
man joins as a representative of
Delegate a number of people either
elected or nominated by some
Il. According to Charles. A.
Ellwood Classification:
VOLUNTARY
INSTITUTION
TEMPORARY
AND AL AND
INVOLUNTAR
PERMANENT
Y
GROUPS
a. Voluntary: Are those in which members participate
out of free will. e.g. Clubs, trade unions.
b. Involuntary: These are those in which person
becomes a member automatically. e.g. Family,
village, city or nation.
c. Temporary Groups: These are those which last
infor relatively very short period. e.g. Crowd and
audience.
d. Permanent Groups: These last for longer time. e.g.
Family, neighbourhood and community.
III. According to Park and Burgers Classification
1. Familial group
2. Language group
3. Racial group
4. Territorial group
5. Conflict group
Familial: Groups based on blood relationship
and kinship. e.g. Family, lineage etc.
Language: Those who speak the same
language form a group. e.g. Tamilians,
Punjabis etc.
Racial Groups: People of same race form
one distinct group. e.g. Negroes, Margoloids
etc.
Territorial Groups: People residing in the
same geographic areas. e.g. State, nation,
village and city.
Conflict Groups: In this group there will be
conflict with each other. Usually, the interest
of one group is against that of the other. e.g.
Political parties, labour unions etc.
IV. According To Sumner
Classification
Groups
In-group Out-group
a. In-group: It is any group or social category
to which a person feels he or she belongs to.
People feel comfort and secure and in-group is
glorified.
b. Out-group: It is any group or social
category to which a person feels he/she does
not belong to.People are hostile and lack of
contact with other groups. It may lead to
misunderstanding and suspicion.
Intense competition and frustration present in
IN – GROUP OUT – GROUP
The groups with which
In this group individual does
individual identifies himself not identify himself.
are in group. Members of group use term
Members of the group use ‘they’
the term ‘we’ to express Individual is not at all a
themselves.
member of his out group
Individual is the member of
Not based on ethnocentrism
his in group.
Based on ethnocentrism
They show dissimilar
Similarity in behaviour , behaviour, attitude and
attitude and opinion is opinion towards the member
observed .
Have positive attitude Negative attitude
towards their own group.
towards their group
Display cooperation,
Individual shows a
goodwill, mutual help, a
sense of avoidance,
feeling of brotherhood
dislike, indifference
and readiness to sacrifice
themselves for group. and antagonism.
Feel that their personal
welfare is bound up with Out group members
other members of group. do not feel so.
V. According To Tonnies
Classification
1. Communities
2. Associations
Community: Communities are usually based on locality like
village, city or nation.
A community is an inclusive group with two chief characteristics:
1. Within, the individual can have most of the experiences and
conduct most of the activities that are important to him.
2. It is bound together by a shared sense of belonging and by the
feeling among its members that the group defines. The
geographical area and a sense of place set the boundaries of
common living and provide a basis for solidarity. e.g. Catholic
community, Hindu community, Japanese-American community
and Jerish community.
Associations: Associations are special
purpose organisations, such as trade
unions, corporations and political parties.
Associations are usually based on limited
utilitarian interests. e,g. Voluntary
associations, clubs, veterans groups,
factories etc.
Institutions: The word "institution"
refers to practices, to "established ways
of doing things." When an association
serves public rather than merely private
interests, and does so in an accepted,
orderly and enduring way is called
"Institution" e.g. Marriage, Private
enterprise and Constitutional government
and thanks-giving dinners etc.
Vi. Cooley has classified groups
Into
1. 2.
Prima Secon
ry dary
group group
1. Primary Group:
The primary group is the nucleus of all
social organizations.
It is a small group in which a small number
of persons come into direct contact with one
another.
In primary group the members meet face-
to-face for mutual help, companionship and
discussion of common questions.
Definition
Primary group means two or more
persons behaving in relation to each
other in a way that is intimate, cohesive
and personal.
E.g : family, play ground, neighbourhood,
friends group etc..
- lunberg George
and others
