As a member of society you must be interacting with and in different groups. How do you see there groups from a sociological perspective ?

I Different Social Groups : A social group can be said to have at least the following characteristics : —

(i) Persistent interaction to provide continuity.

(ii) A stable pattern of these interactions.

(iii) A tense of belonging to identify with other members, i.e., each individual is conscious of the group itself and its own set of rules, rituals and symbols.

(iv) Shared interest.

(v) Acceptance of common norms and values.

(vi) A definite structure.

II. Interaction between individuals or groups : Social structure here refers to pattern of regular and repetitive interaction between individuals or groups.

As I am a member of society. I have to ineract with members of my family, people of my age group, people of my profession and so on.

A social group refers to a collection of continuously interacting persons who share common interest, culture, values and norms within a given society.

Different sociologists and social anthropolo gists have categorised groups into different types.

(i) Primary and secondary social groups : The groups to which we belong are not all of equal importance to us. Some groups tend to influence many aspects of our lives and bring us into personal association with others.

The term primary group is used to refer to a small group of people connected by intimate and face-to-face association and co-operation.

The members of primary groups have a sense of belonging. Family, village and groups of friends are examples of primary groups.

Secondary groups are relatively large in size, maintain formal and impersonal relationships. Schools, government offices, hospitals students, association etc. are examples of secondary groups.

2. Community and society or Association : The term community refers to human relationships that are highly personal, intimate and enduring, those where a person's involvement is considerable if not total, as in the family, with real friends or a close—Knit group.

Society or ‘association’ refers to everything opposite of community, in particular the apparently impersonal, superficial and transitory relationships of modern urban life.

Commerce and industry require a more calculating, rational and self interesting approach to one's dealings with others. We make contracts or agreements rather than getting to know one another.

(iii) In-Groups and Out-Groups: A sense of belonging marks an in group. This feeling separates ‘us’ or ‘we’ from ‘them’ or ‘they’ children belonging to a particular school may from an ‘in-group’ as against those who do not belong to the school.

An out-group on the other hand is one to which the members of an in-group do not belong. The members of an out-group can face hostile reactions from the members of the in-group. Migrants are ofter considered as an out-group. However, even there here the actual definition of who belongs and who does not, changes with time and social contexts.

(iv) Peer Groups: This is a kind of primary group, usually formed between individuals who are either of similar age or who are in a common prafessional group. Peer pressure refers to the social pressure exerted by one's peers on what one ought to do or not.

(v) Reference Group : For any group of people these are always other groups whom they look up to and aspire to be like. The groups whose life styles are emulated are known as reference groups. We do not belong to our reference groups but we do identify ourselves with that group. Reference groups are important sources of information about culture, lifestyle, aspiration and goal attainments.