Social Groups

Types of Groups

GROUP• A group consists of two or more people who are

distinct in the following three ways:– Interact over time.– Have a sense of identity or belonging.– Have norms/rules that non-members don’t have.

• Example: our class—we interact, meet at scheduled times and have expectations that do not apply to those not in this class

• A clique is an internal faction that forms within a group.

Types of Groups

AGGREGATE• An aggregate is a collection of people who

happen to be at the same place at the same time but who have no other connection to one another.

• Example: people dining in the same restaurant on a particular evening, they generally have no other connection and that collection of people are not likely to meet again

Types of Groups

CATEGORY• A category is a collection of people who

share a particular characteristic. They do not necessarily interact with one another and have nothing else in common.

• Example: people who have green eyes, people who were born in Bridgewater, and women who have given birth to twins.

Summary of Groups

• A group consists of two or more people who interact frequently over time, have a shared sense of identity and rules that apply to belonging to that group.

• An aggregate is a collection of people who happen to be at the same place at the same time but who have no other connection to one another.

• A category is a collection of people who share a particular characteristic. They do not necessarily interact with one another and have nothing else in common.

Primary & Secondary Groups

• A primary group offers a great deal of intimacy. Members of a primary group meet the following criteria:– Meet frequently on a face-to-face basis.– Have a sense of identity or belonging that lasts a

long time.– Share little task orientation.– Have emotional intimacy.

• Example: family

Primary & Secondary Groups

• A secondary group is more formal and less personal. Members of a secondary group meet the following criteria:– Do not meet frequently, or they meet only for short periods

of time.– Share a sense of identity or belonging only until the group

ends.– Are task-oriented.– Feel little emotional intimacy.

• Example: part-time job co-workers

In-Group & Out-Group

• An in-group is a group to which we belong and to which we feel loyalty.

• Example: family, people from same school or hometown

• An out-group is a group to which we do not belong and to which we feel no loyalty. There is often hatred towards or perceived competition with out-groups.

• Example: enemy, homeless, mentally ill

Reference Group

• A reference group is the group to which we compare ourselves for purposes of self-evaluation.

• Example: People compare themselves to others in similar age groups and with similar educational levels to determine how successful they are materially. – Grads of the same year, people in same

occupation with similar amount of experience

Review

• Flashcard Practice

Consequences of Group Behaviour

• Group Dynamics

• Group Size & Stability– Dyads, triads & larger groups

• Social Pressure– Asch & conformity– Milgram & obedience

Conformity and Compliance

HAZING & INITIATION RITUALS• Military (Boot Camp)• Athletic/Sports Teams• Fraternities and Sororities• Gangs

CULTS

• Scientology (L. Ron Hubbard)• Hare Krishna• Unification Church (“Moonies”)• Children of God (David Berg)• The Manson Family (Charles

Manson)• Heaven’s Gate• Branch Davidians (Waco)• The People’s Temple

(Jonestown)

OTHER SOCIAL GROUP STUDIES• The Halo Effect• Bystander Theory• Sherif’s Robbers Cave Experiment• Groupthink