Social Groups

By: Janelle Yu

Meaning of GROUP  A group is composed of two or more people who came into a more meaningful contact for a purpose (Hebding and Glick, 1992)  A group is also defined as people connected in a network of social relationships guided by set of norms.  By Brinkerhoff, a group is consist of two o more people who interact on the basis of a social structure and recognize mutual dependency. 

According to Joseph Fichter, a group is characterized by the ff:  A group has identity and it is identifiable to both its members and outsiders.  A group has social structure in the sense that each pat o member has a position related to other positions.  Each member in a group has roles to play.  There is mutual reciprocity among members in a group.  A group has norms of behavior that influences the way in which roles enacted.

A

group has a purpose o a goal, which are commonly based on interest and values of each member. Group activity is dieted towards the attainment of goals. A group has relative permanence, a measurable duration over a period of time.

Aggregate Examples: Are people waiting for a ride. People are lined up to attend a movie show, o shoppers.  Category Examples: Filipinos, Gays, dorm residents, poor people o rich people. 

Collectivity Examples: Are the EL SHADDAI gatherings. Mass demonstration, cheering and chanting during basketball games by fans rooting for their respective teams, etc. 

A group is a major source of solidarity and cohesion. A group reinforces and strengthens our integration into society. A group shares survival and problems solving. A group gives meaning and support to an individual. 

According to Cartwright and Zander, a group is formed because of the ff:

The Desire to achieve an objective. To meet the needs of the individual member. People are treated alike by others. 

..CLASSIFICATION of groups Group is classified into two primary groups and secondary group.  Primary Group. The concept of primary group was founded by Charles Norton. He believed that primary groups are an extremely important nit of organization, a necessary pat of social life.

Personal

and intimate relationship Face to face communication Permanence A strong sense of loyalty of “we” feelings Small in size Informality Traditional o non-rational decisionmaking

 Secondary

group. By contrasts, secondary groups are formal, large and impersonal.  secondary groups are created for a clearly defined limited purpose.  Secondary groups are characterized by the ff: • Large • Relationship is personal and aloof • Communication is indirect • Duration is temporary • Group cohesiveness is weak and are based on self interest.

•Decisions

are based on nationality and rules •Structure is formal

GROUP BOUNDARIES  People

in groups create boundaries to maintain a distinction between the “we” of the group and “they” outside the group to describe the “we” and the “they” feelings.  William Graham,Summer,an early American developed the concepts of”in group” and”out group”.

TYPES OF GROUP BOUNDARIES

formal

boundaries Informal boundaries

Lesson 3 The Process of group interaction John

doune once said that “no man is an island” meaning to say that man cannot live alone. He has to seek the company of others. He has to be with a group.

Process of group interaction 

There are three important processes of group interaction. These are the ff:

 Cooperation.

It is an interaction that occurs when people work together to achieve shared goals or promote common interest.  Competition. It occurs when individuals or groups struggle to reach the same goal.  Conflict. It is a social process whereby two or more groups consciously seek other to clock one another in achieving a desired goal, or annihilate one another.

Factors affecting small group interaction Thereunder are some of the more important factors that affect the kind of interaction people’s experience in small groups (brinkerhoff and white,1988)  Size  Proximity  Communication  All channel network  Circle pattern  Wheel pattern  Cohesion  Social control  Decision-making 