A social group Is a set of people who interact with each other and share similar characteristics and a sense of unity.
A group becomes social when the interaction occurs among its participants; Social interaction is a basic condition for them to occur. That means that people walking in a market, or traveling on a train are not social groups.
A social group can be defined as two or more people who are in communication over an appreciable period of time and who act according to a common function or purpose.
Social groups are an organized aggregate of individuals that persists in time; Must have one or more interests or activities in common.
They also have common objects of attention, are stimulated among them, have a common loyalty and participate in related activities.
Social groups can have a large number of sizes and variables; A society can be seen as a large social group.
However, a social group must have shared characteristics that may include interests, values, representations, ethnic or social background, and affective bonds.
Social groups in which people are involved affect their well-being. Having a sense of belonging in a social group can be key to achieving individual well-being.
Characteristics of social groups
The basis of grouping can be numerous, but the division of the population based on their age, sex, income and profession can provide various types of social groups.
These are some characteristics of social groups:
- A given number of individuals; two or more.
- The existence of reciprocal relations between its members.
- Groups formed for common goals and objectives.
- Have a sense of unity and solidarity that results in loyalty and sympathy.
- A sense of awe that develops cooperation between the group.
- Group rules or regulations (written or not) that must be followed for group control.
- Similar behavior to achieve common goals.
- Awareness of your membership to differentiate yourself from other groups.
- Make them dynamic; Social groups are not static.
- Group control (direct or indirect) for the activities of its members.
Some types and examples of social groups
- Primary Groups
It refers to the initial groups to which a person joins. They are a small conglomerate of people whose members share intimate and personal relationships, often serving as a network of support and comfort for those involved.
Primary groups play an important role in the development of an individual. Examples of primary groups are the family, the immediate school group, the playgroup, and the gang.
Family
The family is a group of persons affiliated by consanguinity (birth recognition), affinity (marriage or other relationship), co-residence, or some combination of these aspects.
Members of the immediate family may include couples, parents, siblings, sisters, sons and daughters. Members of the extended family may include grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, and in-laws.
The family is the main institution for the socialization of children in most societies; It is usually the basic unit to raise them.
Gang, group or clique
It is a group of individuals who interact with each other and share similar interests. Interacting with gangs is a normal part of social development, regardless of gender, ethnic group or popularity.
Although they occur during the development of adolescence and childhood, they exist in all age groups.
Typically, people in a clique do not have a group of friends open, so they can veto a member if they do something deemed unacceptable.
Individuals who are part of a clique are related through similar shared social characteristics, such as ethnic group, economic status, physical appearance or race.
Secondary groups
These are the groups to which an individual joins throughout his life. They are characterized by less intimacy among their members. They usually have specific goals, are organized in a way and are impersonal.
In these groups, loyalty and sense of belonging do not develop spontaneously. They are large groups and there is a relationship based on the achievement of a group goal.
Examples of secondary groups include political parties, co-workers, church members, residents of the same urbanization, etc.
Co workers
In a work environment, employees and supervisors are in a mutual location (such as an office) for the purpose of completing a task.
Supervisors direct their employees with an arrangement that highlights expectations and requirements. The goal of the structured environment is to achieve a predetermined task.
Classmates
A classroom consists of students and a teacher; The teacher is in charge of creating a structure and an environment for students to learn.
This involves implementing a set of rules and expectations. As well as helping students achieve their educational goals. A classroom is located in a school, which is a common meeting place for students and teacher.
Ethnic groups
An ethnic group is a category of people who identify with each other based on similarities as common ancestry, language, and social, cultural, or national experiences.
It is usually an inherited status based on the society in which an individual lives; In some cases it can be adopted if a person moves to another society.
Membership of an ethnic group tends to be defined by its shared cultural heritage, ancestry, mythology of origin, history, homeland and language or dialect; Or by symbolic systems like religion, art, cooking, rituals, etc.
Town Acan
This ethnic group is predominant in the southeastern regions of Ghana. They also occupy territory in Ivory Coast.
The village Acan which is the largest group in both countries and has a population of about 20 million people.
The village language consists of a group of dialects within the Tano-Central branch of the Potou-Tano family of the Niger-Congo family. Its culture is one of the matrilineal traditional cultures of the African continent.
References
- Social group meaning, definition, characteristics and types (2014). Recovered from studylecturenotes.com
- Ethnic group. Retrieved from wikipedia.org
- Types of social groups. Recovered from study.com
- Social groups. Recovered from cliffsnotes.com
- Click. Retrieved from wikipedia.org
- Secundary group. Recovered from study.com
- Social groups (2014). Recovered from slideshare.com
- Social group. Retrieved from wikipedia.org
- Primary groups in society. Recovered from study.com
- Akan people. Retrieved from wikipedia.org.