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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of a reference group?
What is the primary function of a reference group?
- To evaluate oneself and acquire attitudes, values, and norms (correct)
- To promote individualism and independence
- To create conflicts with other groups
- To provide a sense of belonging to an individual
What is a characteristic of an in-group?
What is a characteristic of an in-group?
- It competes with and is opposed to an out-group (correct)
- It has no boundaries to define its members
- It requires little loyalty from its members
- It promotes unity among all groups
What is the purpose of a boundary in an in-group?
What is the purpose of a boundary in an in-group?
- To define who is and is not a member of the group (correct)
- To promote unity among all groups
- To exclude others from the group
- To create conflicts with other groups
What can an individual do to consider a group as a reference group?
What can an individual do to consider a group as a reference group?
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What is an example of an out-group in a high school setting?
What is an example of an out-group in a high school setting?
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Study Notes
Reference Groups
- Reference groups are social groups that we use to evaluate ourselves and acquire attitudes, values, beliefs, norms, and mores.
- Examples of reference groups include families, teachers, classmates, student government leaders, social organizations, rock groups, and professional sports teams.
- We may consider a group as a reference group even if we are not a member of it, as long as we evaluate ourselves in terms of their standards and subscribe to their beliefs, values, and norms.
In-Groups and Out-Groups
- In-groups and out-groups are types of reference groups that are interdependent and form around shared identities, interests, or affiliations.
- An in-group requires extreme loyalty from its members and competes with and is opposed to an out-group.
- In-group members tend to feel opposition, antagonism, or competition towards the out-group, and divide people into "we" and "they".
- Examples of in-groups and out-groups include schools, athletic teams, racially or ethnically divided neighborhoods, or countries at war.
Boundaries of In-Groups
- In-groups must have boundaries to distinguish between who is "in" and who is not.
- Boundaries can be symbols (badges, clothes, or slang), actions (handshake, high five), or involve a specific place.
- New members are often taught the boundaries at formal or informal initiation ceremonies.
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