1. Groups Within Society
Chapter 3 Section 4

2. Group People who share several features, including the following:
It must consist of two or more people.
They are in regular contact with one another.
They share some ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
They take one another’s behavior into account.
They have one or more interests or goals in common.

3. Aggregate People who happen to be in the same place at the same time.
Lack organization or lasting patterns of interraction.
Example: People standing in line to purchase tickets to a movie.

4. Size The smallest group possible is a dyad, a two member group.
each member has control over group's existence
decision making can be difficult
A three person group is called a triad.
no one person can disband the group
decision making is easier ( 2 vs. 1)
A group of 10 people has 45 possible face- to-face-interactions
A group of 15 members is the largest that can work well in one group.

5. Time Some groups may meet once and never meet again.
ex. teacher assigned group, ...
Other groups may exist for many years.
ex. family, best friends, ...
Few people spend 24 hours a day in a group setting.

6. Organization
Formal group: the structure, goals and activities are clearly defined.
ex. student government, sports teams, ...
Informal group: there is no official structure or established rules of conduct
ex. your friends, ...

7. Primary Group
A primary group is composed of people who are emotionally close, know one another well, and seek one another’s company.
The members of a primary group have a “we” feeling and enjoy being together.

8. Primary Group
Primary groups are the most important setting for socialization.
Family and childhood playgroups are the first primary groups a child experiences.
Examples: close friends in high school and college, neighbors that look after each others children, friends who meet weekly for golf

9. How do primary groups develop?
Small size – It is hard for members of large groups to develop close emotional ties.
Face-to-face contact – People who can see each other and who can experience non-verbal communication are more likely to develop close ties.
Continuous contact – Closeness rarely develops in a short period of time.
Proper social environment – Just seeing someone everyday is not enough.

10. Primary Group Functions
Emotional support
Socialization
Encourage conformity

11. Secondary Group A secondary group is impersonal and goal oriented.
The secondary group involves only a segment of its members’ lives.

12. Secondary Group
Secondary groups exist to accomplish a specific purpose.
Examples: interactions between clerks and customers, employers and workers, dentists and patients

13. Exception
Many secondary groups include some primary relationship.

14. Primary or Secondary?
A marine recruit and his drill instructor at boot camp
A married couple
A coach and her soccer team
A teacher and his students
A car salesperson and her potential customer

39. Reference Groups
Groups we use to evaluate ourselves and to acquire attitudes, values, beliefs, and norms.
Examples: families, teachers, classmates, student government leaders, music artists, professional athletes

40. Reference Groups
You do not need to be a member of the reference group.
Example: Junior high school girls’ may imitate high school girls’ taste in clothing or athletic interests.

41. In-Groups An in-group requires extreme loyalty from its members.
Its norms compel members to exclude others.

43. Out-Groups
A group which in-group members feel opposition, antagonism, or competition.
People divide into “we” and “they”

44. Are you in or out? Jocks Cheerleaders Geeks Genius Rednecks Juniors
Pirates

45. Electronic Communities
People interact regularly on the internet.
ex. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram
Members create a personal profile, share content, and interact with one another.
People argue, gossip, play games, discuss issues, and flirt.
Interaction is done on-line rather than face- to-face.

46. Social Network
A network of friends, colleagues, and other personal contacts.
Includes both direct and indirect relationships.
Direct: people in our primary and secondary groups
Indirect: people we know, but don't interact with regularly or at all