Final CD.

GROUPS

Group is a collection of two or more than two people who have interaction among them. Man needs group for the fulfillment of all his needs. He is dependent on others for his proper and full development as a social human being. Men as a social being express their nature by creating and recreating a complex system of relationships which guide and control their behaviour in thousands of ways. As a social being, men lives in groups and continuously create new groups with his fellows such as family, the friendly group, the social class or working group. These social groups enable the individual members to attain certain goals of interest which they hold in common. A social group is thus a collection of individuals who interact with each other for the attainment of common purpose. Group life is basic to mans social life. According to Hutton and Hunt, Groups are aggregates or categories of people who have a consciousness of membership and of interaction. According to MacIver and Page, A group is any collection of human beings who are brought into social relationships with one another. According to Arnold Green, A group is an aggregate of individuals which persists in time, which has one or more interests and activities in common and which is organized. According to Sheriff and Sheriff, A small group may be thought of as a number of persons two or more who have some common object of attention, who are stimulating to each other, have common loyalty and participating in similar activities. According to Bogardus, A group is a number of units of anything in close proximity to one another. According to Caber, A group is any number of human beings in a reciprocal communication.

According to Osborn and Knockoff, Whenever two or more individuals come together and influence one another they may be said to constitute a social group. A group may thus be defined as a collection of individuals interacting with one another under a recognized structure. Interaction is the basic concept in group formation. When the action of one person stimulates a response in another, we have interaction. When there are two or more than two persons in interaction these persons constitute a group. It may be two friends, family, cricket club or nation. Groups are formed in order to satisfy our basic needs such as family. Groups also provide many activities which would not be possible to a lone individual. It taken 22 men to play football. We derive so many satisfactions from groups that group affiliation itself becomes precious to us. Characteristics of group i) ii) iii) iv) v) vi) i) Reciprocal relations Sense of unity We feeling Common Interest Similar Behaviour Group Norms

Reciprocal relations The members of a group are interrelated to each other. A gathering of people

forms a group only when they are interrelated and reciprocate to each other. ii) Sense of unity The members of a group are united by a sense of togetherness and a feeling of sympathy. iii) We feeling We feeling are present among the members of a group and they help each other and defend the interest collectivity.

iv)

Common interest The interests and ideals of a group are common. It is for the realization of a

common interest that they meet together. v) Group norms Every group has its own rules and regulations or the norms which each and every member is supposed to follow and the one who violated them is either thrown out of the group or is penalized according to the norms of the group. Groups are formed for the following reasons: i) ii) iii) iv) i) Satisfaction of needs Proximity and attraction Economic needs Group Goals

Satisfaction of needs - Groups fulfills our needs from physiological to self fulfills or gives high self-esteem to a person or to its

actualization need. A group member. ii)

Proximity and attraction Inter-personal interaction can result in group Proximity means physical distance between people who perform a job.

formation.

Attraction to each other may be due to perceptional, attitudinal, performance or motivational similarities. iii) Economic needs In many cases groups are formed because individuals believe that they can derive greater economic benefits from their job if they form groups. In the hour of need people give or take money from their group. iv) Group goals The goals of a group can attract the individuals to a group. Most groups turn out to have both formal and informal functions. They serve the needs of both the group and the individual member, integrates the groups goals and personal needs. Classification of groups

We may classify the types of groups from a varied view points in which men participate. i) Classification based on size Simmel has classified groups on the basis of size into the following; i) Monad, (ii) Dyad, (iii) Triads and so on. Simmel has considered size as a criterion for classifying groups since person i.e. the individual with his societal conditioning is the most elementary unit of society, he began with `Monad the single person as a focus of group relationships and pursued his analysis through the Dyad the Triad and the other smaller collectivities on the one hand and the large scale groups on the other. ii) Classification based on identification Sumner has made distinction between an In-group and Out-group. The

groups with which the individual identifies himself are his in-group such as his family, tribe, college i.e. by virtue of his awareness of likeness or consciousness of kind. It embodies the collective pronoun We. An out-group is defined by the individual with relation to the in-group usually expressed in the contrast between `They and `We. iii) Classification of group by Miller into Horizontal and Vertical group Miller divides social groups into horizontal and vertical ones. The horizontal are large inclusive groups such as nations, religious organizations and political parties. The vertical groups are small divisions such as economic classes. Since the vertical group is a part of the horizontal or the large group and an individual is the member of both. iv) Classification according to Gillin and Gillin Gillin and Gillin have classified group such as; a) b) c) d) e) Kinship group Territorial groups Temporary groups Permanent groups Family, Caste etc Age, Race etc Tribe, State, Nation, Village etc Crowd, Audience etc Village, Town, City etc Based on physical appearance -

f) v)

Cultural groups

Economic, Religious, Political and Educational groups.

Classification on the basis of place, equality and interest Edward Toss has classified groups as:a) b) c) Local groups Common groups Interests Neighbourhood, Village etc Nationality Trade union etc.

Groups based on identity of -

vi)

Classification of groups on the basis of social contact and the degree of interaction Charles Cooleys classification of groups (which is largely accepted) on the basis

of social contact and the degree of interactions. Cooley has classified social groups into two main types. i) ii) Primary group Secondary group

This classification depends on the nature of social contact and the degree of interaction among the members concerned. Primary groups are called `face to face group or `We groups and secondary groups are called `they groups. Primary Group As Cooley puts it, Such association is clearly the nursery of human nature in the world around us. It is the unit cell of the social structure. The primary group in the form of family initiates us in the secrets of society. It is the group through which as playmates and comrades we first give a creative expression to our social impulses. It is the breeding ground of our mores, the nurse of our loyalties. It is the first and generally remains the chief focus of our social satisfaction. In these respects the face to face group is primary in our lives.

Individual is benefited a lot by remaining in a primary group. In the primary group simultaneously people live together and collectively tackle the situations. It satisfies human needs and provides incentives for the fulfillment of his desires and thoughts. From the societal point of view primary groups existence is of great importance as its formation indicates certain valuable systems and manners. The self is developed and molded by the primary group relations. They socialize the individuals. As McIver observes primary groups are the Breeding ground of our mores and nurse of our loyalties. The simplest way of describing the wholeness is by saying that it is we group. It involves the sort of sympathy and mutual identification for which `We is a natural expression. One lives in the feeling of the whole and finds the chief aim of his will in that feeling. The association between the members of the family is friendly, close and spontaneous with one another. Members are interested in one another as persons. They confide hopes and fears, experiences, gossip agreeably and fulfill the need for intimate human companionship. They are primary in several senses, but chiefly in that they are fundamental in framing the social nature and ideals of the individuals. They are universal groups functioning in all stages of cultural development. Example of primary group is family, neighbourhood, peer group, friends and classmates. By primary group Cooley means those characteristics which have intimate face to face association and cooperation. It forms the nucleus of all social organization. It consists of small groups of persons in which the contact is face to face and direct. Family constitutes the most important type of primary group. There are certain physical and mental conditions necessary for the primary group. 1) 2) Physical proximity Small size

3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

Permanence and stability of relationships Similarity of interest Personal relationship Spontaneous relations Maximum control Similarity of background

1)

Physical closeness or proximity: Physical proximity is necessary for a primary group. In the absence of physical

proximity, close contacts among the members can not be established. It is due to the physical proximity that the family and neighbourhood are primary groups. 2. Smallness of the group or small size: Besides physical proximity it is also necessary that the size of the primary groups should be limited. The closeness of the relations among the members depends upon the small size of the group. Intimacy diminishes when the numbers of persons increase in class, family, team or other groups. 3. Permanence and stability of relationships: To promote closeness in a primary group, it should be stable to some extent. New friends increase and old ones decrease if a person tends to change places too often. Therefore, continuity in relations is necessary for the members of a primary group. By meeting frequently, by exchanging thoughts the intimacy increases. When this chain is broken, the relations do not remain so fast. 4. Similarity of interests: - Members of the primary group have common aim and

purposes. In primary group like family every members pleasure and pain are shared by the whole family and all the members works for some common aims. Close relations are established on account of identical interests. The relationship is end in itself; the

relations of the members of the primary group are not based on personal interests. These relations are ends in themselves. These provide mental pressure and contentment to both the parties. Family relations are of this nature. 5. Relations of members are personal or personal relationships: - Member has

personal relations and that is why the gap of one members absence is not filled completely by the other. After the death of wife, a person may marry again, but the memory of the first wife does not end. Kinsley David has rightly written, A new personal relationship can be established, an old one can be abandoned but no substitution can be made of one individual for another in the same relationship. Relations of members are inclusive. Their whole personality takes active part in these relations... Due to intimate relationship, every one knows each other very well. 6. The relations of the members are spontaneous: As the relations are ends in

themselves, so they are spontaneous. There is nothing like compulsion or pressure between them. Every member of the group feels intimacy for others in a natural way. 7. Maximum control on the members: - Because of the intimacy, spontaneity,

physical closeness, stability and small size of the group. All the members of a primary group know each other very well and it is difficult to conceal the affairs of any member from the other. There is maximum control of the group on the affairs of the people of the group. The group can not permit anybody to go on the wrong path and it stops him against the affairs contradictory to group traditions and ideals. 8. Similarity of Background: - In addition to the above mentioned conditions,

similarity of background is essential. For the establishment of primary group experiences of members, their knowledge and intelligence and equality of intellectual standard are necessary and these are impossible in the absence of similarity of background. Family is an important primary group.

Thus, a primary group has derived its name because it exerts an influence in the early years of a persons life. That is before he is old enough to be influenced by other groups. One begins life as a small child; one becomes a member of one or more play groups. Hence, in this sense the family and the play group exert primary influences before the other groups do.

Family as an important primary group : According to the description of primary groups given above, now we will consider family in the light of those conditions which are essential for the primary groups. 1. Physical conditions; in the family we find all physical conditions of primary

groups. Physical proximity of the members is greatly seen in the family. The members have very closely knit relations with each other. By staying together, doing everyday chore together, exchanging thoughts with each other brings them closer and they are very intimate with each other. Family generally is limited in size. The actual units of family are a man, a woman and their children i.e. husband, wife and children. Extended family or joint family etc. is groups of families staying together. Family as such is a small unit having limited members in it. This is one criteria of primary group. The continuity and stability in the relationships of the members is found in family. Family is stable as well as continues to serve as a total community for the lives born within it. No other group is as stable in nature as the family. The family is an ideal primary group. Physical closeness, limited size of the group continuity in the relations and stability is found in the family to a very large extent and hence there is great solidarity among members. There is no formality in their relationship. The members are natural and very informal in their behaviour. So much so

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if we see such close and intimate relationship in any other group we immediately say it is just like a family i.e. we compare any other close unit group to a family. 2. Mental conditions: In the family we find all the qualities of primary

relationships. The aim of the family is same. Each member of a family has the unity and similarity in their aims. The relations are inclusive. A member takes part with his whole personality. His interest and the interest of other family members is the same, for example the altitude of mother in the family is exemplary. Hers is selfless devotion towards the children and husband. Their aim is her aim, their interest her interest. In return she does not expect anything from them. Similarly other members also sacrifice their individual interest for the sake of the interest of the whole family. Thus, `we feeling is very strong in an organized family. The relationship is end in itself. The relationship is not based on selfish ends. There is sanctity in the relationship of family members. The relationship between a husband and wife is not just for sexual pleasure or economic gain, but the attachment is much beyond these superfluous things. Robert Frost has very aptly put, Home is a place where you can visit without any restriction. The family relations are not based on the functions or quality of the members but they are personal. The void can not be filled by the absence of a member. Parents or brothers or sisters or children can not be substituted. In the family the relationships is spontaneous. There is nothing like pressure or compulsion between family members. They feel intimate in a natural ways. Thus we see that the family is the most ideal and first universal primary group. As M Page says, Of all the organization, large or small which society upholds none transcends the family in the intensity of its sociological significance. Family is necessary for human behaviour and social relationships. The society and culture are born in the family and develop here. Family is the primary unit where society

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flourishes. A nation is born out of it. An individual is born in a family as a biological entity but becomes a person as his personality develops in the family initially. He is born as an animal but becomes human in the family environment. His basic personality may develop a little more outside family but does not change. important primary group. Secondary groups This term is introduced by Cooley; this is exactly an opposite group of the primary group. There is no intimacy and spontaneity between its members but they have specific roles defined to them. In todays world we can find that most of our relationships are secondary in nature because people in big organizations are not bothered to know the employee as an individual because the secondary groups are bigger than the primary groups, the relations are formal and impersonal. The secondary groups are established to fulfill a limited purpose, as a result of which people also leave the group as soon as the purpose is fulfilled. They are organized to satisfy the purpose of different people. Among the members of the secondary groups face to face contact is not present. Their relation is not intimate. It is generally large. It is regulated by rules and regulations. A member knows only few others of the group. A person has a special position in the group. Examples of secondary groups are commercial companies, labour unions etc. Characteristics of secondary group 1. 2. 3. 4. Indirect cooperation Contractual relationships among members Impersonal relationships Special position of each person As such family is very

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Difference between primary and secondary groups Primary group 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Relationship informal Secondary group Relationship formal

Membership involuntary and Membership voluntary and compulsory optional Small size Big and large size Intimate and direct relationships Impersonal and indirect relationships Controls even the personal life Informal social control Face to face relationship Members have `We feeling Long duration Similarities in aims E.g. of relations between - Brother Sister - Teacher Student - Husband Wife Not much control on personal life Formal social control No face to face relationship Members have They feeling Short duration No similarities in aims E.g. relations between Seller purchaser Speaker audience Officer official

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Example of primary group family Example of secondary groups, friends, village, neighbourhood, etc nation, occupation, organization, co-operative societies, political party and labour unions, etc