Meaning of Group

a Group is usually defined as a number of people who identify and interact

with one another. This is a very broad definition, as it includes groups of all
sizes, from dyads to whole societies. While an aggregate comprises merely a
number of individuals, a group in sociology exhibits cohesiveness to a larger
degree. Aspects that members in the group may share include: interests,
values, ethnic/linguistic background, roles and kinship.

-any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

Characteristics of Group

Importance of Group

Belonging
Social groups fulfill one of the basic psychological needs for survival,
belonging. Feeling needed and wanted psychological motivates a person to
stride forward and stay mentally healthy. An example of belonging is found in
Maslow's psychological hierarchy of needs.

Friendship

A social group is not always made up of friends, however, friendships may

form within a group. Spending a lot of time with people builds relationships
and friendships. All members of a group have at least one thing in common
otherwise the group wouldn't form.

Communication
Social groups is a form of communication amongst friends or peers.
Communication plays an essential and vital role in life. Communication has
many forms and is used on a daily basis in one form or another. Again, it is
not mentally healthy to be alone all the time as it often leads to inverted
personality traits and depression.

Support

Social groups act as a great support system when needed. Groups can
identify and unify to help solve another members problems or anguish. A
good example of a support group is any addiction rehabilitation program.

Society

In society social groups exist for many reasons. Take protesters for example;
they unite to express personal beliefs towards an opposing group or force.
The purpose of the protest is to accomplish a unified goal. Accomplishing
goals resonates in all occupations.

Classification of Group

1. Primary Group:

The concept of the primary group was introduced by C.H. Cooley. By primary
groups he meant the intimate, personal, face-to-face groups. For example,
our companions and comrades, the members of our family and our daily
associates may come under this category.

The expression face-to-face should be interpreted figuratively, not literally.

It is possible to have face-to-face relations with people who are not members
of our primary groups. Likewise, it is possible that we may not have face-to-
face relations with those who are members of our primary groups.

2. Secondary Group:

In the changed circumstances, we develop, in contrast to the intimacy and

spontaneity of primary groups, formal organisations described as secondary
groups (this term was not introduced by Cooley) in which the individuals
have functionally defined roles as members of the group.
The groups with which an individual identifies himself completely are his in-
groups. He has feelings of attachment, sympathy and affection towards the
members of these groups. He uses the word we with reference to these
groups. Family is a familiar example of in-group for most of the individuals.

An out-group, on the other hand, is defined by an individual with reference to

his in-group. He uses the word they or other with reference to his out-
groups. The relationship of an individual to his out-group is marked by a
sense of remoteness or detachment and sometimes even of hostility.

4. Reference Group:

The concept of reference group was first developed by Hayman.

Subsequently, Turner, R.K. Merton and Sheriff elaborated it further. The
concept of reference group, as originally developed, may be explained thus:
In some situations we conform not to the norms of the groups to which we
actually belong but rather to those of the groups to which we should like to
belong, those with which we would like to be identified.

Boundaries of Group

Group Boundaries
In-group

An esteemed social group commanding a members loyalty.

A group, in which a person belongs to.
Consists of people in whose presence the person feels comfortable and
with whom he/she shares common experiences.

Out-group
A scorned social group to which one feels competition or opposition.
A group to which a person does not belong to.