Understanding Groups in Society

Study Notes

Groups are essential to human life for various reasons, like protection, religious purposes, celebrations, and more.
Most people belong to various groups that share common qualities, creating a psychological bond.
Groups can be formed in different sizes with specific purposes, but their impact is universal.

A group is defined as two or more individuals connected by and within a social relationship.
The 'commonality' shared among members creates a psychological link.
Group size can be an important factor in interaction and influence.

Primary Groups are small, intimate groups like families or close friends that deeply influence members' behaviors, emotions, and social development.
Social (Secondary) Groups are larger, more formally organized groups like work teams or clubs, with less emotional intensity than primary groups.
Collectives are temporary groups formed around a common event or activity. They usually dissolve after the event, and members may not have strong ties to each other.
Categories are collections of individuals who share a common attribute, such as race, gender, or religion.

Group Composition refers to the individual qualities of members, including talents and experiences.
Boundaries can be clear or ambiguous, and they can change over time but depend on the group.
Size influences interaction. Smaller groups are more intimate, while larger groups are more complex.
Interaction can be either task-focused or relationship-focused.
Interdependence means that members rely on each other and influence each other's outcomes.
Structure refers to the roles and norms that organize the group, creating challenges.

Planned Groups are deliberately formed with specific purposes (e.g., study groups, teams).
Emergent Groups arise spontaneously (e.g., people waiting in line).
Planned groups typically have clear rules and structure, while emergent groups develop more informally with unwritten norms.

Group Cohesion refers to how tightly a group holds together.
Entitativity is the perception of a group as a single, unified entity.
Factors contributing to group cohesion and entitativity include similarity among members, physical proximity, and shared goals.