Understanding Groups in Societies

1. Chapter 4 Section 4

2. Groups Within Societies • Societies are collections of smaller groups. • A group can be two people or 500 people. • Groups can be intimate or formal.

3. What Is a Group • A group must have two or more people. • There must be interaction among the members. • The members must have shared expectations. • The members must possess some sense of common identity.

4. What Is a Group • An aggregate is where people gather in the same place at the same time without organization. • These are not groups. • A social category is how we characterize people by shared traits. Women • These are not groups.

5. Group Size • The smallest possible group consists of two people and is called a dyad. • In a dyad each member controls the group’s existence. • Decision making can be difficult in a dyad. • A three member group is a triad. • No one person can disband the group.

6. Group Size • Decision making in a triad is easier since two against one can happen. • A small group size is small enough where all members can interact face-to-face.

7. Time • Some groups meet once and that is it. • Other groups can exist for many years. • Most groups fall somewhere in between. • Group interaction isn’t continuous.

8. Organization • In a formal group the structure, goals, and activities are clearly defined. • In an informal group there is no official structure or rules of conduct. • The student council is formal; your peer group is informal.

9. Types of Groups • Groups are classified by how intimate they are. • A primary group is a small group who interact over a long period of time on a personal basis. • The family is the prototypical primary group.

10. Types of Groups • A secondary group is one in which interaction is impersonal and temporary. • These groups tend to be casual and limited. • The person’s importance to the group lies in the function that he or she performs.

11. Types of Groups A reference group is any group with whom individuals identify and whose attitudes and values they adopt. A group someone belongs to and identifies with is called and in-group. Any group a person does not belong to or identify with is an out-group.

12. Types of Groups • In in-groups members tend to separate themselves from other groups with use of symbols. • Members view themselves positively and out-groups as negative. • In-groups compete with out-groups.

13. Types of Groups • An e-community people interact with one another on the Internet. • Newsgroups use the Internet to provide information and and outlets for discussion. • A social network is the web of relationships that is formed by the sum total of a person’s interactions with other people. • It includes direct and indirect relationships.

14. Groups Functions • Groups must define boundaries so people know who belongs and who doesn’t. • Groups must also select leaders who influence others.Instrumental leaders are task-oriented and find specific means that will help the group reach its goal.

15. Groups Functions • Expressive leaders are emotion-oriented. • Instrumental leaders develop plans and emotion-oriented leaders use songs and chants. • To achieve goals groups need to assign tasks to their members. • Groups need to control their members’ behavior.