SOCIAL GROUPS

WHAT IS SOCIAL GROUP?

A social group is two or more humans who interact with one another, share similar
characteristics, and have a collective sense of unity.

Renowned social psychologist Muzafer Sherif formulated a

technical definition of a social group. It is a social unit
consisting of a number of individuals interacting with each
other with respect to:
1. Common motives and goals;
2. An accepted division of labour;
3. Established status relationships;
4. Accepted norms and values with reference to matters
relevant to the group; and
5. The development of accepted sanctions, such as
raise and punishment, when norms were respected or
violated.
Examples of groups include:
families, companies, circles of
friends, clubs, local chapters of
fraternities and sororities, and local
religious congregations.
Characteristics shared by members
of a group may include interests,
values, representations, ethnic or
social background, and kinship ties.
TYPE OF SOCIAL GROUPS?
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 PRIMARY GROUP
A primary group is typically a small social group whose members share close,
personal, enduring relationships.

• 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 : A
Study of the Larger Mind.
PRIMARY GROUP

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 sport 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.
 SECONDARY GROUP
Secondary groups are large groups whose relationships are impersonal and goal
oriented; their relationships are temporary.

• The distinction between primary and secondary groups was

originally proposed by Charles Cooley. He termed them
“secondary” because they generally develop later in life
and are much less likely to be influential on one’s identity
than primary groups.
• Secondary relationships involve weak emotional ties and
little personal knowledge of one another. In contrast to
primary groups, secondary groups don’t have the goal of
maintaining and developing the relationships
themselves.
• Secondary groups include groups in which one exchanges
explicit commodities, such as labour for wages,
services for payments, and such. They also include
university classes, athletic teams, and groups of co-
workers.
SECONDARY GROUP
Unlike first groups, secondary groups are
large groups whose relationships are
impersonal and goal oriented. People in a
secondary group interact on a less
personal level than in a primary group,
and their relationships are generally
temporary rather than long lasting. Some
secondary groups may last for many
years, though most are short term.
Such groups also begin and end with very
little significance in the lives of the
people involved. But primary groups can
form within secondary groups as
relationships become more
personal and close.
 TERTIARY (REFERENCE) GROUP
Any group accepted as model or guide for shaping one’s attitude, behaviour and
evaluations is called a tertiary group or reference group

Sociologists use the term ‘reference group’ for such
groups that individuals use as a standard for
evaluating themselves and their own
behaviour. These are the groups to which we
psychologically identify with to which we may
and may not belong but we may aspire to
belong.
Sherif (1953) defined reference groups as
“those groups to which the
individual relates himself as a
part or to which he aspires to
relate himself psychologically”.

Groups are units of society and every human being is a member of one or more than one
group. In order to understand a particular society, it is therefore necessary to study the
behaviour of the groups present in it. Their behaviour is a reflection of the structure of the
society they live in.
 THE ASPECT OF URBAN PLANNING RELATED
SOCIAL INTERACTION WITHIN SOCIAL GROUPS

As author and renowned urban

planner Jan Gehl rightly states: if we
want to create “cities for people” or
“people-friendly” cities, urban planners
need to apply the human perspective,
carefully observe and analyse people’s
behaviour in the urban realm, and create
city spaces as true meeting places. Four
planning and design approaches for
enhance the social interaction between
social groups
 THE ASPECT OF URBAN PLANNING RELATED
SOCIAL INTERACTION WITHIN SOCIAL GROUPS

First,land-use planning is an
important tool for guiding and enabling
balanced urban development. It is crucial
that it not only takes economic aspects into
account, but also considers
environmental and social aspects.
 THE ASPECT OF URBAN PLANNING RELATED
SOCIAL INTERACTION WITHIN SOCIAL GROUPS
Second, transit-oriented development (TOD) has become a popular approach to
creating inclusive and connected communities through spatial planning. Based on
the principle of designing high-quality mixed-used areas that are pedestrian and cycle-
friendly, and in close reach of transit stations and other means of public transport, TOD can
facilitate socioeconomic and cultural diversity. The design of mixed-use areas should
thereby follow the idea of creating an “urban village” where various facilities and services
are provided that cater to the needs of different social groups.
 THE ASPECT OF URBAN PLANNING RELATED
SOCIAL INTERACTION WITHIN SOCIAL GROUPS
Third, the upgrading of street networks
can have a great impact on the vitality and
integration of a given area. Streets are not only
means of transportation but
fundamental shared public spaces
providing for numerous social, cultural,
and economic activities.
Fourth, public spaces should be
designed as meeting points to allow
people to meet and interact on
also
ostensibly neutral ground. Small
interventions in public spaces, such as
improvements to bench seating, or
closing streets to car use, can
already make a huge difference. For
example, the location of street furniture has
a compelling effect on how public spaces
are used and accepted and on how long
and intensively people stay and interact
with strangers.