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A primary group is typically a small social group whose members share close,personal, enduring relationships.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

List at least three defining characteristics of a primary group

KEY POINTS

Primary groups are marked by concern for one another, shared activities and culture, and long periods of

time spent together. They are psychologically comforting and quite influential in developing personal

identity.

Families and close friends are examples of primary groups.

The goal of primary groups is actually the relationships themselves rather than achieving some other

purpose.

The concept of the primary group was introduced by Charles Cooley in his book, Social Organization: AStudy of the Larger Mind.

TERMS

group

A number of things or persons being in some relation to one another.

Close friends

They are examples of primary groups.

relationship

Connection or association; the condition of being related.

EXAMPLES

A primary group is a group in which one exchanges implicit items, such as love, caring, concern, support,

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etc. Examples of these would be family groups, love relationships, crisis support groups, and church

groups.

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FULL TEXT

Sociologists distinguish between two types of groups based upon their characteristics. A primary group is

typically a small social group whose members share close, personal, enduring relationships. These groups

are marked by concern for one another, shared activities and culture, and long periods of time spent

together. The goal of primary groups is actually the relationships themselves rather than achieving some

other purpose. Families and close friends are examples of primary groups.

Charles Cooley

The concept of the primary group was introduced by Charles Cooley, a sociologist from the Chicago

School of sociology, in his book Social Organization: A Study of the Larger Mind (1909). Primary groups

play an important role in the development of personal identity. Cooley argued that the impact of the

primary group is so great that individuals cling to primary ideals in more complex associations and even

create new primary groupings within formal organizations. To that extent, he viewed society as a constant

experiment in enlarging social experience and in coordinating variety. He, therefore, analyzed the

operation of such complex social forms as formal institutions and social class systems and the subtle

controls of public opinion.

Functions of Primary Groups

A primary group is a group in which one exchanges implicit items, such as love, caring, concern, support,

etc. Examples of these would be family groups, love relationships, crisis support groups, and church

groups. Relationships formed in primary groups are often long lasting and goals in themselves. They also

are often psychologically comforting to the individuals involved and provide a source of support and

encouragement.

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Charles Cooley

The concept of the primary group was introduced by Charles Cooley, a sociologist from the Chicago

School of sociology, in his book, "Social Organization: A Study of the Larger Mind" (1909).

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Families as Social Groups

This family from the 1970s would be an example of a primary group.

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1 question for use in quizzes have been written about this concept below

KEY TERM REFERENCE

Formal Institutions — Appears in this related concepts: Politics and Social Institutions

Formal organization — Appears in this related concepts: Formal Structure, An example:

Knoke's information exchange, and Political Parties

More — Appears in this related concepts: The Conflict Perspective: Class Conflict and

Scarce Resources, Value Contradictions, and Norms and Sanctions

association — Appears in this related concepts: Subcultures, Tonnie's Gemeinschaft and

Gessesschalf, and Protecting the Subjects

church — Appears in this related concepts: Widespread Belief, Socialization into Emotions,

and The Church

class — Appears in this related concepts: The Upper­Middle Class, Functions of the State,

and Weber's View of Stratification

control — Appears in this related concepts: Random Assignment of Subjects, Managing to

Prevent Fraud, and Using a Bank for Control

culture — Appears in this related concepts: Noise as a Barrier to Communication,

Countercultures, and Context of Culture and Gender

experiment — Appears in this related concepts: Experimental Design, Experiments, and

Primary Market Research

family — Appears in this related concepts: The Conflict Perspective, The Symbolic

Interactionalist Perpsective, and Periodic Trends in Metallic Properties

goal — Appears in this related concepts: The Goals of an Informative Speech, Leading

Teams, and Goal­Setting Theory

identity — Appears in this related concepts: Career Development: Vocation and Identity,

Adolescent Socialization, and The Psychological Perspective

What is the main goal of a primary group?To obtain material support in emergency situations, There is no goal, To share commonactivities, and The relationships themselves