12th Grade Sociology

I.) What exactly is a Group?

Group: at least two people who have one or more goals in common and share common ways of thinking and behaving

II.) A “Group” is not

Social Category: people who share a social characteristic

Social Aggregate: people who are temporarily in the same place at the same time

III.) A “Group” is

Primary Group: people who know each other well, are emotionally close, and seek one another's company* Based on Primary Relationships (intimate, caring, personal, fulfilling)

How to develop?• small in size• face to face contact• continual contact• social environment

Function?• emotional support• socialization• conformity

Secondary Group: people who share only part of their lives and are together to accomplish a task or goal* Based on Secondary Relationships (impersonal, limited emotion)

How to develop?• social environment• segment of person’s life

Function?• to accomplish a goal• to complete a task

Reference Group: a group used for self-evaluation by which one forms attitudes, beliefs, norms.

Examples: Cliques, Teams, Countries, Races, Gangs, Neighborhoods

IV.) NetworksSocial Network: all of a person’s social relationships• Not a “group” itself• Includes both “primary” & “secondary” groups