Primary GroupsSociology
GroupComposed of people who share several
features:Regular contactShare similar ways of thinking, feelings, and
behaviorTake one another’s behavior into accountHave one or more interests or goals in
common.
Social AggregatePeople who share a social characteristic.Ex. Concert, study center, standing in line at
lunch
Charles Horton CooleyPrimary
Interaction is directthe common bonds
are close and intimate
Relationships are warm and personal
Small group of people
SecondaryBonds are
impersonalDuration of group is
shortRelationship
involved few emotional ties.
Functions of a Primary Group1. Emotional Support2. Socialization3. Encourage conformity
Reference GroupSocial groups that provide the standards by
which we evaluate ourselves.Ex. Student is worried about how her family
will react to her grades, she is using her family as a reference group.
Ex. Parents, using other parents as a reference group.
Ex. Athletes mentally comparing themselves to other athletes.
In-Group and Out-groupIn - Group
“we” belong to this/these group(s)
A sense of loyalty“us”Examples of in-groups
are endless…. Schools, athletic teams,
racially or ethnic, sexual orientation, gender/sex, occupation, nationality, geographical region, etc….
Out – GroupGroups toward
which one feels a sense of competition or opposition.
“them”
In-groups are a.k.a. “Cliques”Do “cliques” exist at BHS?How do you know?
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