11 Soc - Types of Groups and Influence

8/10/2019 11 Soc - Types of Groups and Influence

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Types of Groupsand Their Influence

Sociological Perspective


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Types of Groups Sociologists study the following components:

Look at different types of groups thatexist in todays society

Explore how groups affect their members

Analyze how individuals in groups can

affect group behaviour People belong to different types of groupsthat have varying impacts on their lives


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Primary Groups


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Primary Groups Small, emotionally close,and interdependent

Members see one anotheroften, know one anotherwell, and value each other

as a whole person Consist of close personalgroups such as familiesand in some cases friends


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are difficult to replace

often meet face-to-face and have warm,personal, supportive relationships in whichfeelings, concerns, and information is shared

are highly valued,

and helps define anindividualsidentity

Primary Members


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POSITIVE:groups are supportive and caring,give members sense of self-worth

Members feel relaxed within these groupsand value emotional support

Effects on Individuals


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NEGATIVE:can lead to pressure to conform

Groups demand their members share

common values, dress or act certain ways

People often give in to group expectationseven if they do not really want to



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Expectations of a persons family mayconflict with those of their friends

Can lead to struggles over appropriateclothing, music preferences, and hobbies

Being part of groups often restricts a

persons independence and free will -resulting in internal conflicts

Group Conflicts


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Secondary Groups


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Secondary Groups Tend to be larger, impersonal, and formal

Has limited information, dependence, orinterest from its members


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Secondary Groups Members may not know much more aboutone another than their positions in the

group, and they rarely share personalfeelings or private concern

Interest is usually limited to the specific

reason that the group was created Ex. School band, office workplace


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Group Contributions Individuals are valued for their groupcontributions, not necessarily for their own

individual personalities As a result, people in these groups aremore easily replaced


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Communication Other than polite smalltalk, people discuss

mainly just the businessat hand

Co-workers may even

communicate mainlythrough memos, e-mail,or phone


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POSITIVE:groups are less restricting toindividual freedom

Behaviours, roles, norms, rules, and valuesare expected to be followed during groupgatherings only

Conflicts between secondary groupexpectations are also less frequent, sinceexpectations are limited to a particulartime or activity



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NEGATIVE:groups do not provide powerfulemotional support or the same

sense of a close, shared identitythat primary groups do

Large secondary groups such as localcommunity groups or secondary schoolsmay seem distant and intimidating to somemembers



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How Groups

Influence Behaviour Primary and Secondary Groups ensure thattheir members conform to group

expectations in the following ways: Roles

Norms

Sanctions


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We all have multiple rolesand we learn what is

expected of us as we grow upand adopt new roles

Role expectations are notfixed, they vary andchange over time

Roles


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Our families, friends, and colleagues tellus how to act, and group pressure causes

us to conform

In more formalsettings, rules are

often written downas codes of conduct

Roles


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Each role has certain norms or guidelinesof behavior

These standards of behaviour vary fromgroup to group

Mores are a certain type of norm that are

highly regarded moral views on behavior As a result, laws are put in place to ensure

that they are almost never broken

Norms


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Folkways are another type of norm whichinvolves everyday habits or traditional

practices regarding manners, interactions,or personal appearance

Ex. SayingThank youwhen youreceive a giftfrom some one

Norms


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Formal/informalpunishments or rewards

given to ensureconformity to groupnorms

Ensures individuals arefollowing the rules andguidelines expected bythe group

Sanctions


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Consist primarily of emotional responses Eg. Smiles, frowns, praise or criticism

Informal Sanctions


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Official public rewards and punishments

Ex. Receiving a scholarships or beingexpelled from school

Ex. Formal courtsanctions are

needed tomaintain therule of lawin society

Formal Sanctions


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Most people follow expected social andgroup norms because they share the same

ideas about what is expected behavior They value the sense of security receivedfrom living in a society that has

predictable patterns of behaviour

Sanctions


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Group Activity

Please get into the following groups:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Junho

Farhan

Wei QingMelica

Hyobin

Tomo

AmandaChristin

Hatim

Park

Lydia

Max

Ali

Jesica

Selyne

Seung

AunHyun

Christine

Imran

Shamana


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Individual Reflection

Think of two roles you have in your life.Explain at least two expectedbehaviours for each role and onesanction used to get you to conform tothe expected behavior

Written in proper paragraph format

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11 Soc - Types of Groups and Influence