This document discusses social groups and their key elements and characteristics. It defines a social group as two or more people who interact and influence each other over time while working towards common goals. Social groups can be classified in several ways, including by size (small or large), permanence (stable or unstable), the strength of members' shared identity ("we" feeling), and the nature of members' relationships (primary groups with close personal ties versus secondary groups with more impersonal connections). The document provides examples and explanations for how social groups are structured and differ from one another.

1. SOCIAL GROUP
PRESENTED BY
SR. ANKITA ROY
TUTOR
AHF,SON

2.  Man is a social animal. A completely isolated
individual is purely hypothetical . In his daily life he
participates in various activities of social groups. We
may speak of a group of houses on a street , of trees
in a forest or of buses in a bus stand. In the human
field, by grouping we mean ‘any collection of human
beings who are brought into social relationships with
one-another’ .
INTRODUCTION

3.  according to Merton, three elements are must for a
group:
1. Two or more individuals.
2. Social relationship which is the result of interaction
among individuals.
3. For individuals it is must that he/she should feel
himself/herself the member of group and should
have “we” feeling for that group.
ELEMENTS

4.  “Whenever two or more individuals come together and
influence one another; they may be said to constitute a
social group”. – (Ogburn and Nimkoff)
 “by group we mean any collection of human beings who
are brought into social relationship with one another”.
–( Maclver and Page)
 A social group may be define as,” two or more persons
who are in communication over an appreciable period of
time and who act in accordance with a common function
or purpose”. –( Eldredge and Merritt)
DEFINITION

5.  The members of a group are interrelated to each
other with reciprocal relationship.
 The members of a group are united by sense of unity
and feeling of sympathy.
 The members of a group help each other and define
their interests collectively. They have ‘we’ feeling and
common interests.
 The members of a group behave in a similar way for
the pursuit of common interests.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL
GROUPS

6.  Every group has its own rules or norms to control its
members and the members are supportive to follow.
 The membership of a group is voluntary and
involuntary.
 Division of labour is found within a group.
CONT..

7. On the basis of number or size
On the basis of permanency of stability
On the basis of ‘we’ feeling
On the basis of functions
On the basis of social relation
STRUCTURE

8. 1. On the basis of number or size: George , Simmel,
Johnson and Homans explained the small groups
and large groups. They considered that small groups
are important basis of society. They included family ,
kinship, locality, etc are large group.
CONT..

9. 2. On the basis of permanency: there are two groups,
stable and unstable. The groups which are made forever
like family, kinship and educational institution are
stable groups. The other groups like crowed,
passengers, audience, etc. who are for short time are
unstable groups. A group which is the middle of stable
and unstable is quasi group. It lacks structure and
organization. Social class, status group, age and sex
groups are examples of quasi groups.

10. 3. On the basis of ‘we-feeling’: this classification is given by
Sumner in his book ‘Folkways’ in-group is also known as ‘we’
group and out group as ‘they’ group. The individuals belongs
to number of groups which are in this group, the members of
such groups identify themselves with one another and with
the group as whole.
 The out group which may be formally organized or not,
consists of those persons towards whom we feel a sense
of indifference, avoidance , disgust, competition.
CONT..

11. 4. Involuntary and voluntary group: according to
Giddins and Giddins, the group which our membership is
fix and we cannot change our group is an involuntary
group. E.g. our family, casts, race etc. the group which
we can change and it depends on our wish to be a
member of that group is a voluntary group, eg. teachers
group, professional group, etc.
CONT..

12. 5. On the basis of desire/expectation also known as
reference group: The concept of reference group was
given by Hayman in 1942. later turner, Merton and
sheriff elaborated it. According to Hayman there are
some people some particular individuals in society
whose standards or values become the ideals for other
people are imitated by them. Thus in reference group, a
person considers another person or group as an ideal.
That group is reference for him because he wants to be
like them.
CONT..

13. 6. On the basis of social relationship: Cooley has
classified groups into primary and secondary groups in
his book ‘social organization’ 1909. though Cooley has
never used the term ‘secondary group’, we just
considered those groups in secondary which are not
primary, Lundburg defines primary group as , “ primary
group means, two or more persons behaving in relation
to each other in a way that is intimate, cohesive and
personal. Cooley includes family, play group and
neighbourhood in primary group.
CONT..

14. Secondary groups are those which do not have face to
face relationship and they have competitive
relationships rather than mutual. H.T Majumdur defines
secondary group as , in secondary group “face to face
contacts are not present in the relations of members.”
CONT..

15. PRIMARY GROUP SECONDARY GROUP
Small size Large size
Limited number of members. Unlimited number of members
Physical proximity is must. Physical proximity is not must.
Stable relationship. Unstable relationship
Informal and personal relationship Formal and impersonal relationship
Informal primary social control. Formal secondary social control.
‘we’ feeling Lack of ‘we’ feeling
Co-operation Competition
Direct and face to face relationship Indirect relationship
Involuntary membership Voluntary membership.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY GROUP

16. ANY DOUBT??

17. THANK YOU