UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS

MODULE 6: HOW SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED

PART I: SOCIAL GROUPS

INTRODUCTION:
This module tackles the primary concept of social groups and its different kinds. The
comparison of primary and secondary groups, and the idea of reference groups as identity groups are
discussed alongside its contextualization in the Philippine setting. The learners will discover the groups
where they possibly belong and how it helps maintain the organization within society.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Identify groups within society and their functions
• Differentiate primary groups from secondary groups
• Analyze in-groups and out-groups as forms of reference groups

READ! READ! READ!

GROUPS: THE HEART OF INTERACTION
When individuals aggregate physically in a given space, they do not necessarily make a social
group. They are just a collection of warm bodies who happened to be together in one space or who
may happen to share a set of common characteristics. Technically, the former is referred to in sociology
as social aggregates a simple collection of people who happened to be together in a particular place
but do not significantly interact or identify with one another. The latter is technically referred to as
social categories people who share a common characteristic (such as gender or occupation) but do not
necessarily interact or identify with one another.
But when the relationship starts to go beyond mere "co-presence" or mere "co-category," a
group starts to emerge (Fig 5.2). This situation then suggests that groups are not just a collection of
beings; they have some common interests that necessitate "interaction" with to each other across time
and space. Hence, a group can be described as a collection of individuals who have regular contact and
frequent interaction, mutual influence, and common feeling of belongingness, and who work together
to achieve a common set of goals.
 Social Aggregates

Social Groups

Social Categories

Fig. 5.2 Social groups can be formed from social aggregates and social categories.
Although groups are collections of individuals, they may differ in terms of what binds these
individuals together. For example, a family can be considered a group, but it is different from a peer
group or an interest group. The difference is not just in mere physical closeness, but in the quality of
feeling one has for and with the other individuals in the group. Some groups are bonded by the actual
feeling of belongingness, but some individuals may have the same feeling without them being
recognized by the group as part of them.

SOCIAL GROUP
Social group can be defined as a collection of people who regularly interact with one another
on the basis of shared expectations concerning. behavior and who share a sense of common identity.
With these qualifications as to what constitute a group, will be better to define/describe the categories
of groups based on some standards:
• Primary group. This is typically a small social group whose members share close, personal,
and enduring relationships. Primary groups are marked by the members' concern for one
another and shared activities and culture. Examples include families, childhood friends, and
highly influential social groups. They are typically small-scale, include intimate relationships,
and are usually long-lasting. The members of primary groups feel a strong personal identity
with the group.

Comparison of Primary and Secondary Groups

Group Basic Features (in terms of level of intimacy, Examples
duration of interaction, and reason for interaction)
 Primary Small; characterized by long-lasting intimate Family, childhood
relationship which binds the members together friends
more than the goal.
Secondary Can be large or small; common interests bind the Project group
members together more than their relationship.

• Secondary group. This has the opposite characteristics of a primary group. Secondary groups
can be small or large and they are mostly impersonal and usually short-term. These groups are
typically found at work and school. An example of a secondary group is a committee organized
to plan a holiday party at work. Members of the committee meet infrequently and for only a
short period of time. Although group members may have some similar interests, the purpose
of the group is about the task instead of the relationships. Sometimes, secondary groups become
pretty informal, and the members get to know each other fairly well.

• Reference group. This is a group to which we compare ourselves Reference groups, such as
those of college freshmen, serve as a standard against which behaviors and attitudes are
measured. We use reference groups in order to guide our behavior and attitudes and help us to
identify social norms. Hence, reference groups may also be called as "identity association
group" since their creation is fueled by a person's desire to provide a character connection
Reference groups may be classified as in-groups or out-groups as shown in the matrix below.

Reference Groups as Identity Groups

Group Basic Features (in terms of feeling of belongingness) Examples

Reference Group In-Group: social groups to which an individual feels Fraternity

he or she belongs. One feels loyalty and respect for
these groups.

Out-Group: social groups that an individual does not Sports team;

identify with. One feels antagonism and contempt for opponent
these groups.

Groups and how they behave are not necessarily categorized in terms of membership, actual as
in the primary and secondary group, or imagined as in the reference groups. They may be categorized
in terms of how an individual is linked to any actual or imagined groups, as in the networks defined as
sets of informal and formal social ties that link people to each other. A network may not be a physical
group or a group that is populated by actual people. It is formed by the presence of social linkage
invoked and availed by an individual for some personal, economic, religious, or political reasons.
As we can see from the previous discussion, groups may influence their members in a variety
of ways, from their thinking to their actual behavior. Sometimes violent behaviors and certain forms
of biases result. With this, we can appreciate the insight that groups are part of our social psyches, in
thoughts and in actions. History is replete with examples of this phenomenon: the Holocaust, the
Guyana mass suicides, ISIS terrorism (or terrorism in general), and many others.

When this happens, a groupthink-a process by which the members of a group ignore ways of
thinking and plans of action that go against the group consensus-is said to be taking place. Groupthink,
in its general sense, is the psychological influence exerted over us by our respective groups on moral,
legal, scientific and religious matters. Groupthink is normally evaluative in nature; hence it may affect
the relationships of groups with each other.

REFERENCE/S:
Contreras, A. P., Dela Cruz, A. R. D., Erasga, D. S., Fadrigon, C. C. (2018). Understanding Culture,
Society, and Politics. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc. Quezon City, Philippines