1. Groups within a Society 4.4

2. Introduction Society is not only a group; it is a group made up of smaller groups – Everybody participates in a group – Orenstein: “ groups and group activities… the very foundation upon which social life is structured” – Can be small:2-5 – Can be large: 500 soldiers – Intimate: family – Formal: attending a conference

3. What is a Group? Four major features: 1.Consist of two or more people 2.Interaction among group members 3.Members must have shared expectations 4.Members must possess some sense of common identity Aggregate: people gather in the same place at the same time but lack organization or pasting patterns of interaction – Before school in the mornings: the crowds

4. What is a Group? Social Category: classifying people according to a shared trait or common status – “Senior tree” I.Size: some are small and some are enormous – Dyad: smallest possible group of two people Direct control over the groups existence Decision making can be difficult – Triad: moving from two members to three; consider a major change by George Simmel Group takes on a life of its own, independent of any individual member No one person can disband the group Decision making is easier; 2 against 1

5. What is a Group? – Small group: few enough members that everyone can interact on a face to face basis – Determine that 15 is the largest number of people that can work well in a group Any larger than that, members have a tendency to sort themselves into smaller groups II.Time: may meet once and never meet again  May exists for many years: family  Most fall between the two extremes  Interaction is not continuous  Meet at different times: family at dinners or breakfasts

6. What is a Group? III.Organization: formal or informal a.Formal: structure, goals, and activities of the group are clearly defined (government) b.Informal: no official structure or established rules of conduct (circle of friends)

7. Types of Groups Primary Groups: small group of people who interact over a relatively long period of time on direct and personal basis – intimate relationships – face-to-face interaction and cooperation – Fundamental in forming the social nature and ideals of an individual – Entire self of individual is taken into account – Communication is deep and intense, structure is informal – Family is the best example

8. Types of Groups Secondary Groups: interaction is impersonal and temporary in nature – Relationships involve a reaction to only part of the individual’s self – Tend to be causal and limited in personal involvement – Persons importance lies in the function that they perform in the group – Easily replaced Primary and secondary relationships can exisit in the same group

9. Types of Groups Reference Groups: group with whom individuals identify and whose attitudes and values they adopt – Friends and clubs – Same occupation – Have positive and negative effects

10. Types of Groups In-Groups and Out-Groups – In-Group: group person belongs to and identifies with Members tend to separate themselves from other groups with use of symbols View themselves positively and often view out-groups negatively Compete with out-groups, to point of conflict – Out-Group: person does not belong to or identify with

11. Types of Groups E-communities: people interact with one another on the internet Social Networks: web of relationships that is formed by the sum total of a persons interactions with other people – Direct and indirect relationships – Do not have clear boundaries – Do not give rise to a common sense of identity – Knowing the “right” person can mean getting the right job

12. Group Functions Groups must define their boundaries so that members can tell who belongs and who does not – Symbols – Gestures Leaders: people who influence the attitudes and opinions of others – Assigned – Achieved – elections

13. Group Functions – Instrumental Leaders: task-oriented; find specific means that will help the group reach its goals – Expressive Leaders: emotion-oriented; find ways to the group together and to maintain morale – Groups must have a purpose – Assign tasks to their members – Control their members behavior: conformity