group life

Two or more

persons who have

something in common

What is a Group?

Interacting with each other

Guided by a set of norms.

Interactions become

patterned.

What is a Group?

The patterned and recurrent forms of behavior are sustained over time

& may persist as members come and go.

The members are held together

and set apart from others virtue of

their interaction.

Human clusters which do not form social groups but may transformed into

one.

AggregateBasically unstructured.Common physical location in space.People are in close physical proximity but do not interact with each other.

Social CategoryPossess common identifying status characteristics but do not interact socially.

Makes possible the intelligent understanding of the qualities & behavior of people who are similar.

Similar in age, sex, occupation beliefs or ethnicity.

CollectivityClusters of peopleInteractions are passing or shortlived.

Leaders & symbolsSlogansFlagsEmblems

Share some kind of belief which prepare them for action.Spontaneously forming a temporary group.Opposes or reinterpret the existing norms and organization in a society.

Factors that Influence Groups

Motivational base shared by individuals

Social NeedsDesiresInterestsNoble ActivitiesInsecuritiesProblems

Similar social situations

Motivational Implications

MOTIVES

Size of the GroupAs the size of the group increases, the number of possible channels & interactions among group members increase geometrically.

The structure of the group becomes more formal & more rigid as it increases in size.

Type of group goals

A group develops structural forms that will facilitate the achievement of its goals and block structural forms that slow down the pursuit of goals.

Kind of group cohesionrefers to the degree to which the members of a group have ability to function & interact together towards the pursuit of their goals.

Influenced by size, goals and the possibility of attaining the goals of the group.

Social StructureAn abstractionPatterned social relationships and interrelationshipsSimilar subsistence strategies Availability of particular resources, the weather, or contact with different people

Social Structure

Social FunctionComponent of social structureResults of actionSocial activityExpected functions are not realized

Types of Social Groups

Vary in

SizeQuality of group interactionPurposeStructure

Primary GroupSecondary Group

Primary Group

Cooley (1957: 23-27) Nursery of human nature

Building blocks of larger society.

Primary Group

Important source of social control & social cohesion.

Characterized by intimacy, symphathetic understanding and friendliness.

Secondary Group

Relationships are impersonal, formal, businesslike & “rational”.

Focus on its goals rather than on personal relationships.

GEMEINSCHAFT & GESSELSCHAFT

Ferdinand TonniesGerman sociologist whose theory reconciled the organic and social-contract conceptions of society.

GemeinschaftCommunal Society

Gemeinschaft“natural will”Center around the large family groups & neighbors.“bayanihan”Sharing of pleasure

GesselschaftAssociational Society

Gesselschaft“rational will”Rational-interest & calculating conduct act to weaken traditional bonds.

GesselschaftHuman relations are more impersonal & indirectRationally constructed in the interest of efficiency & pther economic & political considerations.