Social Group

and
Group Interaction
Social Group
A social group has been defined as two or more
people who interact with one another, share similar
characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity.
Group Interaction
Group interaction refers to the dynamics of the
team and the way individuals in the group interact with one
another.
Social Group Characteristics:
1. Mutual Awareness
The members of a social group must be mutually related to one another. A
more aggregate of individuals cannot constitute a social group unless reciprocal
awareness exist among them.

2. One or more common interest

Groups are mostly formed for the fulfillment of certain interests. The
individuals who form a group should possess one or more than one common interests
and ideals. It is for the realization of common interests that they meet together.
Groups always originates, starts and proceed with a common interests.
Social Group Characteristics:
3. Sense of Unity
Each social group requires sense of unity and a feeling of sympathy for the
development of a feeling or sense of belongingness. The members of a social group
develop common loyalty or feeling of sympathy among themselves in all matters
because of this sense of unity.

4. We-feeling
A sense of we-feeling refers to the tendency on the part of the members to
identify themselves with the group.
Social Group Characteristics:
5. Given number of individual
A social group consists of a given number of individuals. Without a number
of individuals no social group can be formed.

6. Reciprocal Relations
There exist reciprocal relations among the members of a social group.
These reciprocal relations among the members are the basis or foundation of social
group without which social group cannot be formed.
Social Group Characteristics:
7. Group Norms
Each and every group has its own ideals and norms and the members are
supposed to follow these. He who deviates from the existing group-norms is severely
punished.
Social Group Importance:
1. Belonging
2. Friendship
3. Communication
4. Family
5. Support
6. Society
Social Group
Classifications
and
Boundaries
Social Group Classifications:
According to Charles Cooley:
1. Primary Groups
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.

2. Secondary Groups
They have the opposite characteristics of primary groups. They can be small
or large and are mostly impersonal and usually short term.
Social Group Boundaries:
1. Social and Collective Identity
2. Class, ethnic/racial, and gender inequality
3. Professions knowledge and science
4. Communities, national identities, and spatial boundaries
Process of Group Interaction:
1. Cooperation
it is an interaction that occurs when people work together to achieve shared
goals or promote common interests.

2. Competition
It occurs when individuals or groups struggle to reach the same goal.

3. Conflict
A process whereby two or more groups consciously seeks blocks one
another in achieving a desired goal, or to defeat or annihilate one another.
Formal Organizations:
1. Normative Organization
also called voluntary associations which aim to provide one with the
altruistic feeling of doing something good for the benefit of another.

2. Coercive Organizations
referred to as total institutions whose purpose is to transform a human
being’s over-all sense of self.

3. Utilization Organizations
Etzioni distinguishes utilitarian organization by the material benefits they
provide to their member.
Bureaucracy:
1. Specialization
it is the first key characteristic of bureaucratic organizations which requires
that individuals perform distinctive tasks that often correspond to organizational
offices.

2. Hierarchy
each person is supervised by “higher-ups” in the organization, and may also
supervise others in lower positions.

3. Rules and Regulations

they guide the work of all employees.
Bureaucracy:
4. Technical competence
employees of bureaucratic organizations are expected to have the
proficiency necessary to accomplish the task assigned.

5. Impersonality
an offer is expected to be acted to, in response to impersonal rules rather
that personal feelings.

6. Formal, Written Communication

while most social communication is casual and verbal, bureaucracy
demands that people communicate deliberately and in writing.