TYPES OF SOCIAL GROUPS

By

Md Aaquib Sahrwardi

What is a Social Group?

Man is a social animal.He lives in a social group.Socialgroup is collection of human beings who are broughtinto social relationship with one another with acommon goal under a common set of codes.A socialgroup may be a pair ,a number of persons, or even acollection millions of people.A social group may be asports club,a political party,a family etc.

TypesAccording to “Charles Horton Cooley(1909)”

Intimate pair group

Quasi group

Primary group

Secondary group

Primary Group

Primary group is the nucleus of all socialorganisations.It’s a group of a small number of personswho come into direct contact with each other.They meetface to face with the aim of helping each other mutuallyand for companionship an discussion of commongoals.Primary groups are also the key means ofsocialization in society,the main place whereattitudes,values and orientations are developed andsustained.

Characteristics of Primary group

Physical proximity

Small size

Stability

Similarity of background

Limited self interest

Personal relationship

Continuety of relationship

Intensity of shared interests

Secondary Group

The secondary group is a large group like a city,nation,political party,corporation and labour union etc.Here contacts among the members are limited in scope and established after much trial and error towards individual’s goal.

Characteristics of Secondary group

Formal and impersonal relations

Large in size

Option of membership

Relations

Individual’s status

Orientations

According to “Franklin Henry Giddings”

Genetic

People are contacted by blood relationship or birth relationship.eg:Brother-Sister.

Congregate

That group in which people come late and join.eg:any class in which any students comes later and join.

According to “George Simmel”

Dyad

Triad

According to “Miller”

Vertical

Horizontal

According to “Toseland” and “Rivas”

2.Formed Group

Catagorised

1.Natural Group

B.Task GpA.Teratment Gp

1.Natural group

Is that group which is formed by nature like blood relationship and born relationship.eg:Brother-Sister.

2.Formed Group

That group which is formed after birth and this formed group is catagorised in two.

i. Treatment Group

ii. Task Group

Formal Group

Established by organisation to perform organisational work.Thisformal group also devided into two groups.

a. Command group

b. Task group

Informal Group

Are natural grouping of employees that form to fullfill social needs,evolving naturally.It is also devided in two groups.

a. Interest group

b. Friendship group