College of the Social Sciences and Development

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Introduction to Sociology
The Concept of Groups

The Concept of Groups

Group

Apart from individuals, the smallest unit of society is the group. It is any assortment of people who share the same norms, values, and
expectations.

The smallest group is the dyad, or a group of two.

Can be very small (e.g. immediate family, friends) or very large (e.g. religion, nation)

Crowd

Not a group but individual aggregates that happen to be together but experience themselves as essentially independent.

But a crowd can become a group depending on circumstances that they are into.

Types of Groups

There are many types of groups depending on their composition, permanence, fluidity of boundaries, and membership criteria. You are
born into some groups (family, race) or become a member based on your own commitments and activities (religion, ethnic groups). Some
groups are based on expressions of interest (clubs, fans) and others are based on formal application or membership.

Small groups are divided into two types -- primary and secondary.

Primary and Secondary groups

Charles Horton Cooley
(1909 - 1963)

Primary groups come together for expressive reasons. They provide emotional support, companionship, and security.
Primary groups are often experienced early in ones life and it plays an important part in establishing ones personal identity.
Secondary groups come together for instrumental reasons. They want to work together for a common goal.
Secondary groups generally develops later in ones life and are much less likely to be influential in ones identity.

In-groups and Out-groups

In group - A group where one feels positively inclined and where one actually belongs.

Out group- A group that is basically distinguished from ones In - group.

Members of In - group create tendencies to compete and be hostile with other out - groups. In some cases, members of the out - group are
seen as inferior, wrong, bad, or weird.

Sometimes, groups attempt to create a sense of superiority for members of the in - group. This creates the distinction between the members
and non - members.

Escalated and more violent implications of this distinction manifests clearly, especially when the primary determinants of in - groups are
based on gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, and other ascribed status.

Ethnocentrism
o

Is a cultural perspective wherein people who are born into a particular culture and grow up absorbing the values and behaviors of
the culture will develop patterns of thought reflecting the culture as normal. However, since people are accustomed to their birth
culture, it can be difficult for them to see the behaviors of people from a different culture from the viewpoint of that culture rather
than from their own.

College of the Social Sciences and Development

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Introduction to Sociology
The Concept of Groups

Xenocentrism
o

A cultural perspective wherein people who are born into a particular culture, may have tendencies into valuing other cultures
more highly than their own. It is an assumption that other cultures are naturally and far more superior than your own. Creating an
effect which may have different results from ethnocentric tendencies, but are destructive to ones culture as well.

Reference groups

Our membership in groups not only provides us with a source of identity, but it also orients us in the world. We refer to our group
membership as a way of navigating everyday life.

Reference group
o A group toward which we are so strongly committed or one that commands commands so much prestige that we orient our
actions based on what we see on that groups perception.

Reference groups serves as a gauge for legitimacy and authenticity. It is often the in - group, whereas the out - group are those who are
seen as poseurs or wannabess.

In other cases, some implications of group can be negative. (e.g. chauvinism, extremism, interpollation - Althusser, 1971)

Some of these may be political (Nazis, Ku Klux Klan, etc.), or simply competitive groups.

In some cases, your reference groups can be the one that you aspire. (rags to riches cases) In these cases, reference groups do not just
guide your actions as a member of a group, but guide your actions as a future member of a group.

Cliques

Small groups that are organized between inclusion and exclusion.

Ranked hierarchically, those at the bottom are supposed to aspire to be in the cliques at the top.

Cliques provide protection, elevate ones status, and teach outsiders a lesson.

Gemeinschaft and Gesselschaft

Literally translated to community (gemeinschaft) and society (gesselschaft).

Coined by German sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies (1887), he stated that these are the normal types of human association.

Normal type is purely conceptual tool to be build up logically, contrary to Max Webers ideal type where one emphasizes the main elements
of historical / social change. Normal types may vary due to site specific factors (mixed).

Gemeinschaft

Regulated by common mores or beliefs about the appropriate behavior and responsibility of members of the association, to each other and
to the association at large; associations are marked by "unity of will.

Actors see themselves as essential parts in attaining the goals of their social grouping, that more often manifest as a subconscious force.

Gemeinschaft are broadly characterized by a moderate division of labor, strong personal relationships, strong families, and relatively simple
social institutions.

College of the Social Sciences and Development

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Introduction to Sociology
The Concept of Groups

In such societies there is seldom a need to enforce social control externally, due to a collective sense of loyalty individuals feel for society.

A gemeinschaft community involves ascribed status-- I. e., you are given the status by birth by familial and kinship ties.

Gesselschaft

Maintained through individuals acting their own self-interest, and these association lack of the same mores.

Unlike geimenschaft, it emphasizes on secondary relationships, rather than familial or community ties, creating less loyalty of the
individual to the community.

Social cohesion is achieved through a more elaborate division of labor.

Responsibilities are more diffused (effects of bureaucracy)

Actors see that social grouping will further advance individual goals.

A gesselschaft community involves achieved status -- I.e., you create status via education and work, and attainment of objective social
goals.

Due to its instrumental approach in establishing social relationships, gesselschaft societies are more susceptible to class, ethnic, and racial
conflicts.