ORGANIZED NATURE

OF SOCIAL LIFE AND

RULES GOVERNING
BEHAVIOR
 A society is a group of individuals
involved in persistent social interaction, or a
large social group sharing the same
geographical or social territory, typically
subject to the same political authority and
HOW SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED
People have organized themselves into groups
with common rules of living.The organization of
such a group is called society. Different institutions
are found in every community, such as the family, kin
relationships, childcare, and division of work based
on gender and age.
THE THREEFOLD NATURE OF SOCIAL LIFE
• Applying Goethe’s method to social life, Rudolf Steiner thought that
if we apply the phenomenological, participatory method to human
social life as a multifaceted, multilayered whole, we can distinguish
three different spheres of activity:

• Cultural – everything involving the growth and expression of the

human spirit: education, art, science, religion, journalism, and
publishing
• Legal or Political – Involving human rights and relationships between
people and organizations
• Economic – having to do with the production, distribution, and consumption
of goods and services
• Sometimes, organization refers to associational groups. It includes
corporations, armies, schools, and banks. Society composes many of
such organizations. A state is considered as a political organization,
or school may represent an educational organization, and so on.
They are all social organizations.
• Organization is a state of being or a condition in which various
institutions in society are functioning by their recognized or implied
purposes (Elliott and Merrill, 1950).
• Social organization or social system refers to the interdependence of
parts in groups. These groups may differ in size and nature. It makes
possible the complex activities where members of a complex
society participate in.
• Consist of two or more: The people
who regularly interact and share
sense of unity and common identity.

Primary Group
Social Group
Secondary Group
PRIMARY GROUP
• Typically small scale, include intimate relationships, and are
usually long lasting.

Characteristics:
• Strong sense of
belonging
• Strong group loyalty
• Strong influence on
behavior
• Have intrinsic value
 SECONDARY GROUP
Are another type of social group. They have
opposite characteristic of primary groups
An example of this group is a political party organized to plan the best campaign
for the election. Members of the board meet infrequently and for only a short
period. Team members may have some similar interests, but the main purpose of
the group is on the task instead of the relationships.

Characteristic:
• Large membership base
• Task Oriented
• Relationships based on accomplishing
DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS OF SOCIAL
ORGANIZATION
• The power elite is run by a small group representing the wealthiest,
most powerful, and most influential people in government, business,
and the military.
• Example: A generous business person may make substantial
contributions to a political candidate.
DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS OF
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
• Voluntary associations are groups that people choose to join, wherein
members are united by the pursuit of a common goal.
• Example: a parent-teacher association at a particular school
• Formal organizations are secondary groups organized to achieve specific goals.
Legal organizations tend to be larger and more impersonal than voluntary
associations.
• Example: A corporation is usually a formal organization. The very specific goal
of most companies is to increase profits.
DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS OF
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
• Bureaucracy is a type of formal organization in which a rational
approach is used to handle large tasks. The bureaucratic
organization is highly organized with a high degree of formality in
the way it operates.
• Examples: colleges and universities
GROUPS WITHIN SOCIETY

In-Group Out-Group
 IN-GROUP
• An in-group is an exclusive social group formed out of shared interest
and identity. It is in this group where people feel more comfortable and
secured, with no threat, intimidation or conflict of interest. Members of
this group consist of those who share common experiences or ideas in
life.
• Examples include friendship groups, families, and religious group

In-group favoritism happens when a person favors or offers special

treatment to in-group members over out-group members. This
activity may disregard merit and result to serious social situations
such as corruption, crime, and padrino system.
 OUT-GROUP
• People outside of the in-group are called the outgroup. Generally, the in-
group feels anger towards the out-groups and wants to engage in
competitive situations with them. This is the “they” of society, where a
person is not a part of or does not belong to the group. The formation of
out-groups is the result of perceived differences.

• Out-group homogeneity is the tendency of a person to classify those

people who are not in their in-group as being similar to one another.
In short, people overgeneralize and label out-groups in a negative
manner.
REFERENCE GROUPS
REFERENCE GROUPS
• Reference Groups are groups that serve as our standards in setting
and evaluating our own behaviors and attitudes.

• Normative Reference Groups - when reference groups serve a

purpose of setting your norms and values. These groups directly
influence the behavior of a person, serving as a role model,
standard, or base point.
• Comparative Reference Groups - whose norms and values serve as
points of comparison for certain behaviors. Some reference groups
exist to provide people with means of comparison for behavior,
style, and achievement.
• Aspirational reference groups refers to people or groups of people
with whom we want to be compared with. Product advertisers and
celebrities like athletes, movie stars, or talk show hosts are fine examples
of this reference group. People think that by supporting their favorite
celebrity, they become associated with them.
• Associative reference groups refer to groups where we belong and
take part in. These people include our neighbors, coworkers, club
members, or church members. People have a tendency to confine with
what is on trend in their immediate community.
• Dissociative reference groups refers to groups that people have no
interest in being associated with. This group of people includes those
with whom we share conflicts in interest, attitude, or behavior
SOCIAL NETWORKS
• A social network is a social structure comprised of individuals
joined by a certain pattern of links or relations. Social networks are
indicative of a person or an organization's relationships as either
casual and informal or personal and intimate. This is often regarded
as individuals' basic tool to connect to society.
• The person or organization playing a part in a network is known as
a node. On the other hand, ties are the links or connections that
bind individuals or organizations together.
• It is important to note that these networks serve a role in the
attainment of the goals of society. Through networks, people get
connected, get updated, and become aware.