Lesson 1: Meaning, Characteristics and Importance of Group Meaning of Group
• A group consists of two or more people who are
bound together in relatively stable patterns in social interaction and who share a feeling of unity (Hughes & Kroehler, 2009). • A group is any collection of people who interact on the basis of shared expectations regarding another’s behavior (Kornblum, 2003).
• A group is comprised 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 (Kendall, 2000). General Characteristics of a Group Joseph Fichter 1. A group has identity identifiable by both its members and outsiders. 2. A group has social structure in the sense that each part or member has a position related to other positions. 3. Each member in a group has roles to play. 4. There is mutual reciprocity among members in a group. 5. A group has norms of behavior that influence the way in which the roles are enacted. 6. A group has goals or purposes, which are commonly based on the interests and values of each member. 7. Group activity is directed towards the attainment of goals. 8. A group has relative permanence, a measurable duration over a period of time. Lesson 2: Group Classification and Boundaries Charles Horton Cooley 1. Charles Horton Cooley (1964) first formulated the concept of primary groups. He believed that primary groups are an extemely important unit of social organization, a necessary part of social life.
The basic characteristics of primary groups are:
• personal and intimate relationship • face-to-face communication • permanence duration • a strong sense of loyalty or “we” feeling • small in size • informal structure • traditional or non-rational decision-making 2. Secondary groups are characterized as ff: • large • impersonal, aloof relationship • indirect communication • temporary duration • weak group cohesiveness based on self-interest • rational decision-making • formal structure Group Boundaries 1. An in-group is an esteemed social group commanding a member’s loyalty. It is a group to which a person belongs. It consists of people in whose presence the person feels comfortable and with whom he/she shares common experiences.
Example: friendship groups and religious groups
2. An out-group is a scorned social group to which one feels competition or opposition. It is a group to which a person does not belong.
Example: If you are a member of a club, those who
are not members are the out-groups. Types of Group Boundaries 1. Formal group boundaries are determined by predetermined criteria such as being accepted as a fraternity member or a Rotarian. They may be maintained, and group members are identified by such things as a particular mode of dress, an unusual handshake, or a union card. 2. Informal group boundaries are determined by non- specific criteria as in a school peer group. Member and non-member boundaries are informal when a group develops around a temporary activity such as playing basketball or meeting with friends. Consequences of Group Boundaries Members of a group tend to believe that their group is something special, and they seek to maintain its boundaries. By joining together with some people while simultaneously avoiding contact with others, people gain a clearer sense of their place in a world of diversity. However, this process often promotes self- serving distortions of reality. Ethnocentrism may grow out of the tendency to overvalue one’s own group while undervaluing other cultures as out-groups.