2. Introduction
• Man is a social animal, no man can live in isolation.
• In fact every aspect of man’s life is influenced to a great extent by the
members of the different groups of which he/she is a part.
• Social group is a collection of human beings. “A number of units of
anything in close proximity to one another.”
• In human context social group is – “Any collection of human beings
who are brought into social relationships with one another”
3. GROUP
• Definitions “A group is a social unit which consists of a number of
individuals who stand in (more or less)definite status and role
relationships to one another and which possesses a set of values or
norms of its own, regulating the behavior of individual members at
least in matters of consequence to the group” (Sheriff & Sheriff)
• “A social group is a number of persons two or more, who have some
common objects of attention, who are stimulating to each other, who
have common loyalty and participate in similar activities.” (Bogardus)
4. More of definitions……
• Whenever two or more individuals come together and influence one
another, they may be said to constitute a social group.” (Ogburn &
Nimkoff)
• Social group involves some degree of reciprocity and mutual
awareness between the related individuals. The essence of social
group is not physical closeness but a consciousness of joint
interaction.
• Within a social group some of the members lead while others follow
5. Characteristics of social group
• Reciprocal relationships.
• Sense of unity and feeling of sympathy towards each other.
• We- feeling: Members defend their interests collectively.
• Common interests and ideals.
• Similar behavior: for achieving the common goals and interests.
Group norms: Every group has it’s own set of rules and norms.
6. Group v/s Society
Group Society
1 A collection of human beings A system of
social relationships
A collection of human beings A system of
social relationships
2 An artificial creation A natural growth.
3 Membership is voluntary Membership is compulsory
4 A specific purpose General purposes
5 Marked by co-operation Marked by both co-operation and conflict
6 Group may be temporary Society is permanent.
7. 1. Society
• 1. Society • “ A Society is a collection of individuals united by certain
relations or mode of behavior which mark them off from others who
do not enter into these relations or who differ from them in
behavior”. Morris Ginsberg •
• “ Society is the complex of organised associations and institutions
with a community”. – G.D.M. Cole •
• “ Society is “ a web of social relationship”. - MacIve
8. Characteristics of society
• Mutual Interaction and Mutual Awareness
• Society depends on Likeness
• Society rest on Difference too
• Co-operation and Division of Labor
• Society implies Interdependence also
• Society is dynamic
• Social control
• Culture
• Gregarious nature of Man- “Man is a Social Animal
9. 2. Community
• Community is “ a social group with some degree of “we-feeling” and
living in a given area” – Bogardus
• Community is “ the smallest territorial group that can embrace all
aspects of social life” – Kinsley Davis • “A community is a group or
collection of groups that inhibits a locality” – Ogburn and Nimkoff
• Community is “ any circle of people who live together and belong
together in such a way that they do not share this or that particular
interest only, but a whole set of interests”. – Manhei
10. Main Elements of Community
• The main bases of community are:
• Locality: A community is a territorial group.
It occupies some geographical area.
Locality is the physical basis of community. Living together facilitates
people to develop social contacts, give protection, safety and security.
Further, the very physical conditions may influence social life to a great
extent.
11. Contd.
• Community Sentiment: It means a feeling of belonging together.
• The members must be aware of their staying together and sharing
common interest.
• The members develop a sense of “we-feeling”. It means a kind of
identification with the group. Without a sense of identification, a
sense of awareness, a sense of living and sharing some common
interest in life , there can not be any community.
12. • Other Aspects of Community:
• Stability
• Naturalness
• Size of community
• Regulation of Relations
13. Society & Community : Difference
01 Society is a web of social relationships Community consists of a group of individuals living
in a particular area with some degree of “we-
feeling
02 A definite geographic area is not an
essential aspect
It always denotes a definite locality / geographic
area
03 “We-Feeling” may or may not be present “Community sentiment” is an essential element
04 Society is wider. There can be more than
one community in a society
Community is smaller than society
05 The objectives and interest of society are
more extensive and varied
Objectives and interests are comparatively less
extensive and varied
06 Society involves both likeness and
difference.
Likeness is important than difference in
community
07 Society involves both likeness and
difference.
Likeness is important than difference in
community
14. Association
• • An Association is “ an organization deliberately formed for the
collective pursuit of some interests, or a set of interests, which its
members share”. – R.M.MacIver
• An Association is “ a group of social beings related to one another by
the fact that they possess or have instituted in common an organization
with a view to securing a specific end or specific ends”. – Morris
Ginsberg .
15. Characteristics of Association
• Association- a Human Group
• Common Interest or Interests
• Co-operative Spirit
• Organization
• Regulation of Relations
• Association as Agencies
• Durability of Association
