Social Groups and Societies

1. SOCIAL GROUPS
AND
SOCIETIES

2. Definition & Nature
Social Groups
In the social sciences a social group has been defined
as two or more humans who interact with one another,
share similar characteristics and collectively have a sense
of unity.
Researchers within the social identity tradition
generally define it as “a group is defined in terms of those
identity themselves as member of the group.
Social groups come in a myriad of sizes and varieties.

3. Definition & Nature
SOCIETY
 The community of people living in a particular region
and having shared customs, laws, and organizations.
 A group of people related to each other through
persistent relationship such as social status, role,
network etc.
 The word ‘society’ is derived from French word ‘societe’
which means fellowship.

4. Definition & Nature
Nature of Societies
 Professional Societies
 These societies are promoted by the professionals to
enhance their profession and bring out a common code
of conduct.
 These societies are also termed as associations.
 Charitable Societies
 These are non profit organizations to help the needy
persons of the society.

5. Definition & Nature
Nature of Societies
 Economic Co-operative Societies
 includes many societies like housing, agro processing,
credit, marketing etc which help their members in a
particular trade , either through their own resources or
from the government
 Religious And Cultural Societies
 These societies are formed to revive and maintain
specific cultures, traditions, and religious foundations.

6. Structure of Social Groups
Social Structure:
 Social structure is the organized pattern of
social relationships and social institutions
that together compose society. Social
structures are not immediately visible to the
untrained observer; however they are
present and affect all dimensions of human
experience in society.

7. Structure of Social Groups
Components of Social Structure:
 Status – refers to a position in the social structure.
Each person possesses several statuses, age, sex , race,
occupation, nationality etc.
Examples are:
Master Status – this is the basic one in giving you a sense of who you
are.
Ascribed status – this one has been assigned or given to us and we
can’t change it.
Achieved Status – it is earned by us; ex. Doctor, Lawyer, college
graduate, etc.

8. Structure of Social Groups
Components of Social Structure:
 Roles – are socially prescribed way of acting in a
particular status.
Example of Roles:
Role set – Each status usually has several roles attached to it.
Role model – a person who occupies a status and plays the roles
associated with the status in way that we would like to play them.
Role expectations – social norms that define how a role should be
played.
Role performance – actual role behaviour; how we actually play the
roles we have.

9. Structure of Social Groups
Components of Social Structure:
 Groups - is a number of people who interact together
in an orderly way on the basis of shared expectations
about each other’s behaviour.
Example of Groups:
Primary Groups – small number of people who interact over a
relatively long period of time on an intimate. Face-to-face basis.
Secondary Groups – large number of people who interact on a
temporary and impersonal basis.

10. Structure of Social Groups
Components of Social Structure:
 Association & Institutions:
Associations – is any organized group, large or small that
has structure, continuity, identity.
Institution – is a stable cluster of values, norms, statuses,
roles and groups that develops around a basic social need.

11. Types of Social Groups
 Primary Group: The primary group is very
important to the development of the
human as a social being. It is the locus of
our socialization.
 Secondary Group: The secondary group
reflects characteristics that are the
opposite of the above. It is large, formal
and impersonal group that does not
display social intimacy.

12. Types of Social Groups
 In-groups and Out-groups: (This concept was
first developed by William Graham Sumner
when he spoke of "we" and "they" feelings.
The "in-group" is the group that we belong to
(or feel that we belong to). The "out group" is
one that we feel we don't belong to,
(and act as if we wouldn't want to belong).
 Reference Groups: A reference group is any
group of people that individuals use as a
standard for evaluating themselves and their
own behavior (Schaefer).

13. Types of Social Groups
 Categorical group: Member of this
group share particular characteristics
and a common identity.
 Aggregate group: An aggregate is any
collection of people who are together in
one place without interacting with one
another.

14. Types of Social Groups
 Collective groups: These are temporary
groups which are not generally governed by
established norms of the culture and are
composed of people who share some kind of
belief which motivates them to prepare for
action.
 Association groups: This group is composed
of people who join together in an organized
manner to pursue a common interest.

15. Group Dynamics
Group Dynamics is a system of behaviours and
psychological processes occurring within a social
group (intragroup dynamics) or between social groups
(intergroup dynamics)

16. Group Dynamics
INTRAGROUP DYNAMICS (also referred to as in-
group or within-group)
 Are the underlying processes that give rise to a set of norms,
roles, relations and common goals that characterize a
particular social group.
 Amongst the members of the group, there is a state of
interdependence.

17. Group Dynamics
INTERGROUP DYNAMICS
 Refers to the behavioural and psychological relationships
between two or more groups.
 This includes perceptions, attitudes, opinions, and behaviours
towards one’s own group as well as those another group.

18. Transformation of Societies
Social transformationrefers to the process of change
in values, norms, institutionalized relationships, and
stratification hierarchies over time. It affects patterns of
interaction and institutional arrangements within a society.

19. Transformation of Societies
Stages of Social Transformation:
1. Forming: The individual’s or organizational behavior is
driven by the need to take part in the markets of
conversations.
2. Storming: Every group will next enter the storming stage
in which different ideas compete for consideration. The
group addresses issues such as how social media can
create or find solutions to relevant problems

20. Transformation of Societies
Stages of Social Transformation:
3. Norming: In this stage, all group members knowledge
domain grows and the group begins to comprehend ways
it which social media can be used to accomplish specific
goals.
4. Performing: Some groups reach the performing stage.
These groups are able to create meaningful and
significant change using social technology as the means to
create innovation.

21. Transformation of Societies
Stages of Social Transformation:
5. Transformation: Even the most high-performing
groups will revert to earlier stages in certain
circumstances. Many long-standing groups go through
these cycles many times as they react to changing
developments.

22. Thank you for
Listening!