# 5 Social Groups - Group SOCIAL GROUPS People who belong...

SOCIAL GROUPS
SOCIAL GROUPS
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Group
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People who belong together
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Interact with each other
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Example: coworkers at a restaurant
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Aggregate
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People who occupy the same space
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Not connected with each other
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Example: People waiting for a bus
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Category
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People who share characteristics
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May not interact with each other
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Example: COS students
PRIMARY GROUP (COOLEY)
PRIMARY GROUP (COOLEY)
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Small in size
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Intimate face-to-face association
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Cooperation
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Important to person’s identity
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Essential to emotional well being
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Examples:
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Families
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Close friends
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Small religious groups
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Intimate partners

SECONDARY GROUP
SECONDARY GROUP
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Larger in size
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More formal
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More impersonal
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Based on an interest or activity
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May break down into primary groups
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Examples:
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College class
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Walmart employees
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Phi Theta Kappa members
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Dorm residents
VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
A special type of secondary group
A special type of secondary group
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Usually large in size
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Organize on basis of mutual interest
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May be local, state, or national
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Often advocate for welfare of members
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Examples:
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NAACP
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Baptist church members
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NRA
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Libertarian Party
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California Teachers Association
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Iron law of oligarchy
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Domination by a small group of people (the “elite)

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Often occurs in voluntary associations
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Attitudes of leaders “hidden” from members
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Elected officers “chosen” informally ahead of time
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Examples:
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VFW
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Political parties
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Professional associations
“IN-GROUPS” AND “OUT-GROUPS”
“IN-GROUPS” AND “OUT-GROUPS”
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In-group
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Strong identification by members
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Feeling of loyalty
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Sense of superiority
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Out-group
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Group toward which in-group feels competition or antagonism
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Considered “inferior” to the in-group
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May be the victim of discrimination
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Examples of in-group/out-group tensions
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