Introduction
A group is called social, when the interaction interplays among its participants.
Social interaction is the basic condition of the social group.
Definition:
Merrill: " Two are more persons are in communication over an appreciable period of time and who act in accordance with common function or purpose."
Basis of social Group
Social group is the function of society and culture. Man is also a product of social life. Most of the Anthropologists believe that the man started his life on earth by living together. life is impossible by alone every man needs other. This reciprocal help brought them into social; contact with one an other and here the social groups are founded. many people live together at the same place and they help each other they create a social group or a community. All they need food, house an clothes for living.
Importance of social group
Persons defined sociology as the study of structure and function of human groups. it means sociology is the systematic. From the above we can conclude that social group is the basic factor in all social functions, social structure, social institutions, system and organization.
The importance become more clear when we observe that human personality develops in social groups. The type of personality develops of the type of groups in which he was socialized. The whole process of socialization pass through social groups.
Man learns the culture among the group in which he lives. Culture is the way of living of people. This ways of living can be learnt only living a social life with people. The ways it means group is the essential element in learning process. All the techniques of social life are learnt in society.
Hence social group is the real teacher.
Essential or Elements of social group
Followings are the elements of social groups:
1. There are at least to social persons.
2. There is a reciprocal relationship among the members.
3. There is a common purpose among the common groups.
Groups life Among Animals
Group life also exists among animals. Ants, bees, birds and other animals have group life among themselves. They have social life and this is their society. The bird leading in flight is their king. Similarly , bees and ant have their king and queen. Their presence together is a sense of social interaction among themselves. It means social interaction among animals is low degree than that of human beings. That is why animals have no culture to learn and transmit. An animal when separated from its group feels perturbed and similarly the other animals of his group feels restlessness.
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Types of Social Group
We may classify group from various viewpoints. If we consider size as the criterion, the single person as a focus of group relationship is Monad, two involves in interaction to effects its organization is Dyad, and triad, with the participation of three. if we consider the nature of social contact and intensity of social interaction the types of grouping.
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Primary Group
C.H Cooley gave this type of social group in the book of "Social Organization"
Primary group is the simplest and the most universal of the forms of associations. The group attains social solidarity among the members due to high rate of interaction, intensity in social contacts, during of contact being extensive and having a common focus of attention for the members.
Characteristics of primary group
There are following characteristics of this group:
i. Face to face interaction:
Primary group are characterized by close intimate and face to face interaction.
ii. Intimacy:
In this group every one knows every one else and there is strong intimacy among the group members.
iii. Mutual Aid and help:
Mutual aid and help assistance among the members of the group always found. They cooperate with each other at the time of help.
iv. We--Feeling:
We feeling is found among the members of group. It means they live together as one body.
v. Small in Size:
Primary groups are smaller in size. large members decrease intimacy and loose the bound of the group.
Secondary Group:
This type was given by Maciver.
The people within their contact second to the primary group from secondary group no matter whatever the type of relationship is their.
Definition
Ogburn and Nimkoff: Group which provide experience lacking can be called secondary group.
Characteristics of Secondary group
Following are the silent features of secondary group:
i. Large in Size:
Members of the secondary group are relatively larger in size than the primary group. They can be thousands and lakhs of members.
ii. Less physical proximity:
Their physical proximity is rarely foung and most of the members reside quite away from each other.
iii. Membership:
Membership in this case is mainly voluntary. Individual are at liberty to join or to go away from the groups.
iv. Social control:
Means of social control in this group are usually formal. Laws other regulation are enforced on nthe members of the authorities.
v. Impersonal relation:
Secondary group are characterized by indirect, impersonal and non-inclusive relations.
In-Group and Out group
These3 types are given by W,G. Sumner.
During this process of our daily life we decide people into we, and they,. The interest of individual rest within those people with whom he is closely affiliated and places his confidence in them. Consciousness of king also falls in this type of group.
Out group members are3 considered in relation to in group. They not included in we, and fall in they , are the members of out group.
Formal And informal groups
Formal is that group in which membership is defined. Those who fulfil the condition can become members to that group The members enjoying the match on tickets are also formal group.
Informal group is that group in which the membership is not defined. any person participate in such group and leave it when he likes. People in bazar , fairs, listening radio are the example of informal group.
Reference Group
The term reference group was introduced by Muzafer Sherif in his book "an outline of social psychology"
It is that group in which an individual was socialized. He identifies himself by this group. This group may include the old members of the family and those who influenced him.
Ethnic Group
It is the group which has its cultural traits different from the different cultural of the society. These are smaller groups widespread at different place in society.
Casts
Casts is a permanent group in which the status of an individual is fixed through heredity alone .
Pressure-Group
It is the group which lays pressure on government to change its poli