Social Groups Two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity.

Primary Social Groups Small social group (small-scale society) Close, personal, enduring relationships. Marked by members' concern for one another, in shared activities and culture. Theory developed by Charles Cooley

Secondary Social Groups People interact on less personal level Relationships generally temporary Since secondary groups are established to perform functions, roles are more interchangeable. These groups are most often part of institutions, and, more specifically, one’s status within these institutions.

Reference Social Group A group to which an individual or another group is compared. Any group that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves and their own behaviour. The group to which the individual relates or aspires to relate psychologically. The individual's frame of reference and source for ordering experiences, perceptions, cognition, and ideas of self.

Social Network A social structure made up of a set of individuals (or organizations), sets of dyadic (paired) ties, and other social interactions between people or groups of people.

Social Status The relative position or rank of a person or group, within the society. Location within the stratification system Determined in two ways: Achieved or ascribed Embodied status: one that is generated by physical selves (ie. “beauty”, physical disability, stature, build). Highest: master status

Master Status

Social Role A set of rights, duties, expectations, norms and behaviours that a person has to face and fulfill. An individual's behaviour is context-specific, based on social position and other factors If there is conflict between roles, an individual can experience role strain

Check it Make a list of roles you inhabit that bind you to primary social groups. Make a list of roles you inhabit that bind you to secondary social groups. Create Venn Diagrams that illustrate the various social groups you inhabit, and how they connect with each other. Describe any elements of “role strain” that you experience. After examining the document you have created, how would you describe your social status? Examine the people you listed in the primary and secondary groups. What is their effect on your social status and your potential for social mobility?