Culture: Module 2 Lesson 4 PDF

Module 2 The Individual and Society Lesson 4 How a Society is Organized Groups within Society  Groups within Society* Beyond the individual, groups are the smaller units that compose society. Societies can be a...

Module 2 The Individual and Society Lesson 4 How a Society is Organized Groups within Society  Groups within Society* Beyond the individual, groups are the smaller units that compose society. Societies can be as big as the members of a particular religious organization, such as the Filipino Catholic Church or Muslim community, or as small as a household. Regardless of size, however, membership in groups constitutes a fundamental aspect of our social existence and being. Groups have been responsible for the development and advancement of cultures, economies, politics, and other aspects of human civilization. Groups within Society The ancient philosopher Plato believed that man is a social animal. This means human beings are naturally equipped with tools such as language and reason that enable them to engage others in meaningful interaction. This desire and ability to interact is seen in various ways. People spend a great deal of their time with various groups. * Groups within Society A social group is a collection of individuals who have relations with one another that make them interdependent to some significant degree. Interdependence is a necessary condition that exists within social groups because it is what enables its members to pursue shared goals or promote common values and principles. Groups within Society Interdependence is also what differentiates a social group from an aggregate a mere collection of people within a particular place and time. In the context of social groups, our thoughts, actions, and behavior are defined by our interaction people to whom we share certain degrees of interdependence Aggregates, on the other hand, do not necessarily influence our social actions as there might be no direct interaction and interdependence with the people composing it. * Groups within Society Individuals assign great value to their relationships with people within their group, to the extent that it defines their respective identities. Some individuals, for instance, take pride in their group affiliations and often proclaim it publicly. They spend a considerable amount of time getting involved in the various activities of this group. As a result, an individual is enculturated as he or she forges a significant bond with the rest of the members of his or her group. Groups within Society However, not all groups produce positive consequences and benefits for their members. Some groups such as criminal gangs and terrorist groups use violence and force to achieve their objectives. For example, "doomsday” religious cults demand firm and unquestioning loyalty from its followers to the point of physical harm. * For better or for worse, our social groups profoundly define our identity, as well as our roles in society. Primary and Secondary Groups* Primary and Secondary Groups Sociologists agree that not all groups are equivalent in terms of their level of importance.  A primary group is a small, intimate, and less specialized group whose members engage in face-to-face and emotion-based interactions over an extended period of time. The interdependence among members of a primary group is characterized by a deep and profound relationship with each other. Ex. family, close friends, work- related peers, classmates, and church groups. * Primary and Secondary Groups In the Philippines, the primary group affiliation of Filipinos is based on kinship ties. It is through kinship that young Filipinos realize the great importance our culture assigns to the family and its extended nature. Filipinos are among several societies that recognize bilineal kinship which traces lineage from both parents. * Primary and Secondary Groups  Secondary groups, are larger, less intimate, and more specialized groups where members engage in an impersonal and objective-oriented relationship for a limited time. The impersonal nature of interaction between members of secondary groups allows one to treat others as merely a means to achieve his or her immediate objectives. Individuals also recognize that their membership to these groups is less intrinsic and more instrumental. Ex.: Employees treat their colleagues as a secondary group since they know that they need to cooperate with one another to achieve certain goals in the workplace. Mutual benefit, rather than emotional affinity, becomes the primary driving force that compel individuals to stay together in a secondary group. Primary and Secondary Groups Throughout an individual's lifetime, he or she will have different sets of primary and secondary groups. Sociologist Emile Durkheim argued that the shift from traditional to modern society will impact how individuals relate to one another. As the division of labor in society becomes more complex, people will have less time to nurture and interact with their primary groups. This may have negative effects on the personal well-being of individuals, but they can adapt by building more personal and profound relationships with the members of their secondary groups. In-groups and Out-groups  In-groups and Out-groups Another relevant approach in understanding the characteristics of social groups is the self-categorization theory. It proposes that people's appreciation of their group membership is influenced by their perception towards people who are not members of their groups. Basically, people's perceptions of other people as well as other groups are influenced whether they perceive others as members of their group or not. In-groups and Out-groups An in-group is a group to which one belongs and with which one feels a sense of identity. An out-group, meanwhile, is a group to which one does not belong and to which he or she may feel a sense of competitiveness or hostility. For every individual, distinguishing between his or her in- groups and out-groups is essential in developing his or her identity and self-worth.* In-groups and Out-groups Social scientists identify several characteristics of in-groups: First, members of such groups devise ways to distinguish themselves from nonmembers. * Second, members within a certain in-group display positive attitudes and behavior toward their fellow members for the most part, while they may exhibit negative attitudes and even form negative views toward members of their out-groups. * In-groups and Out-groups A representative example of the social dynamics between in-groups and out-groups are university fraternities and sororities. A fraternity is an exclusive all male student organization, while a sorority is an exclusive all- female organization. A lot of university students join these organizations as they have an extensive list of accomplishments promoting academic excellence, camaraderie, and community service. * In-groups and Out-groups There are still remaining questions that continue to challenge the dynamics of different groups within a society. Some of these include the extent to which individuals are willing to go on behalf of their in-group as well as the question of how to attain a harmonious coexistence with their out-groups. Reference groups  Reference groups A reference group is a group to which an individual compares himself or herself. Such groups strongly influence an individual and social attitudes whether he or she is a member of these groups. Examples of reference groups include an individual's primary groups (family, work colleagues, schoolmates, etc.) or his or her in-groups (church, fellow club members, neighbors in the community, sports team, etc.). Individuals often identify with and emulate the traits of people they feel closest to. The reference group is considered a source of role models since the individual uses it as a standard for self-assessment. The tendency of individuals to emulate their desired reference group have led these groups to become powerful agents of socialization.* Reference groups On a more positive note, individuals are provided with an opportunity for self-evaluation and identity formation by having a reference group. For instance, a lawyer exhibiting eloquence and wit during a trial can make a lasting impact on a certain individual's career choice. An articulate and intelligent politician can be a decisive factor for a young person to study political science and engage in politics. A reference group sets itself apart from other groups in the sense that it can mold people's aspirations in life and inspire them to pursue greater things. Reference groups It is not necessary for an individual to engage in face-to-face interaction with his or her reference group. He or she might not even meet the members of his or her reference group personally in his or her lifetime. Imitation of reference group behavior can have positive and negative consequences. For example, a young person might consider a girl group band as his or her reference group. He or she might form his or her own band and draw inspiration from the said reference group in terms of singing, physical appearance, and demeanor. However, he or she may also pick up some of their bad habits..* Networks* Networks Sociologists use the concept "network” to understand the complex world of social groups. A network refers to the structure of relationships between social actors or groups. These are interconnections, ties, and linkages between people, their groups, and the larger social institutions to which they all belong to. In the age of the Internet, a good example of networks are those provided by social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. One can instantly map his or her own social network through his or her accounts in these online platforms of communication. * Networks Sociologist and anthropologists differentiate between the networks formed in traditional and modern societies. In traditional or primitive societies, networks are exclusive limited and mostly defined by kinship. They provide solidarity through shared identities and a simple division of labor and social roles. Modern society redefined the "safe and secure” arrangement provided by traditional networks by allowing the individual to become part of a more expander and cosmopolitan network with overlapping circles of social interaction. Through modern social networks, an individual is provided a diversity of social roles and identities unavailable in more traditional societies.* Networks A network perspective in examining the multitude of social relationships and group memberships entails a dynamic appreciation of their interrelated and interdependent nature. A social network also provides an important context in understanding how various groups are interrelated with one another. For example, if an individual examines his or her entire school's social network, he or she will realize that his or her goals, behavior, norms, attitudes, and beliefs are shaped by how he or she is situated in these networks and his or her relationships to specific groups. * Networks A social network provides a bigger pool from which people draw their possible sources of identity, self-esteem, and self-actualization. It is the larger source where people find alternative groups if their previous ones fail or disappoint them. They may find new reference groups within their ever- growing social network. And sometimes, when they face the stress of social life or the pressures of school and work, they retreat to the more familiar parts of their network such as their family immediate circle of friends. Some proactively expand their social network as grab every opportunity to meet new people, establish links, and make connections.*   Understanding Culture , Society, and Politics ACTIVITY No. 3 Instruction: Identify examples of social groups and find out the advantage and disadvantage of joining them. Write the information in the table below. Type of Group Examples Advantage Disadvantage Primary Secondary In-group Out-group Reference Group