1. Primary versus Secondary Groups
Primary Groups
Secondary Groups
Examples
Family, friendship group, work group, gang
Corporation, city, university, nation, sociology class
Size
Tends to be small
Can be very large
Nature of members’ attachment
Socio-emotional (gemeinschaft), personal
Instrumental (gesellschaft), impersonal
Duration
Long term
Long term or very short term
Demands on members
Greedy; want to take in entire individual
Limited demands, only requires performance of a specific role
Nature of social control
Informal
Formal
Boundaries
Relatively closed; harder to enter and exit
Relatively open, easier to enter and exit

2. Task 1: Individually, complete the following in your notebook.
Think of a PRIMARY group to which you belong. Which of the characteristics of primary groups does your primary group have?
What is the name of your group?
How big is your group?
What is the nature of members’ attachment (motive for staying in group)?
How long has the group been in existence?
What are the demands on the individual members?
What is the nature of social control? That is, if a member gets out of line what kinds of sanctions might be expected?
What are the groups’ boundaries? How easy is it for a new person to join or an established group member to leave?

3. Now, STAND UP, form trios and share your responses
Now, STAND UP, form trios and share your responses. Each person has two minutes to share. Then, return to your seat.

4. Task 2: Individually, complete the following in your notebook.
Now, think of a SECONDARY group to which you belong. Which of the characteristics of secondary groups does your secondary group have?
What is the name of your group?
How big is your group?
What is the nature of members’ attachment (motive for staying in group)?
How long has the group been in existence?
What are the demands on the individual members?
What is the nature of social control? That is, if a member gets out of line what kinds of sanctions might be expected?
What are the groups’ boundaries? How easy is it for a new person to join or an established group member to leave?

5. Now, STAND UP, form trios WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE and share your responses. Each person has two minutes to share. Then, return to your seat.

6. Discuss as a class:
Sociologists distinguish between ascribed and achieved social statuses. Examples.
But do these different types of statuses have different or similar origins? To what extent can we claim these for ourselves, and to what extent are they awarded or assigned by others?
Select two of your ascribed statuses and two of your achieved statuses and discuss their origins. Are some more important than others?

7. Individual reflection:
Complete this on a half sheet of paper and turn in to Ms. Erickson’s In-box:
At this stage of your life, what is your master status? What will your master status be in 10 years? In 20 years? Describe what, if any, consequences your master status will have on how you live your life.