Groups and Organizations
A group is a set of two or more people who share common identity, interact regularly, and have shared expectations (roles), and function In their mutually agreed upon roles. Non-sociologists use the word "group" even if the cluster of people they are referring to don't even know each other (like 6 people standing at the same bus stop).
Aggregates describe a collection of people in the same place at the same time with no sense of interdependence. For example, people in the same movie theater, at the same bus stop, or even at a sporting event are considered in aggregates, not groups.
A category is a number of people who share common characteristics. Brown-eyed people, people who wear hats, and people who vote for a specific political party are categories - they don't necessarily share the same space, nor do they have shared expectations. Remember that in order to be considered a group, the collection of people must have some sense of belonging, deeper than standing in line together or having something in common.
A primary group is a small, less specialized group in which members engage in face-to-face, emotion based interactions over an extended period of time.
A secondary group is a larger, more specialized group in which members engage in more impersonal, goal-oriented relationships for a limited period of time.
Primary groups usually last long term, such as your family. Secondary groups are usually formed for some sort of purpose or goal and are considered somewhat short term. Sociologist Charles Cooley stated that primary groups tend to be smaller, less formal, and more intimate (such as family and friends). Secondary groups tend to be larger, more formal, and much less personal (such as you and your doctor, mechanic, accountant, or fellow students).
More people in groups typically means more secondary-like relationships.
Primary Groups:
- Total Personality Involvement
- Emotional Warmth
- Spontaneity
- Informality
- Smaller in Size
- Values as an End
Secondary Groups
- Segmented Personality Involvement
- Emotional Coolness
- Patterning
- Formality
- Larger in Size
- Values as a Means to an End
Typically with your closest friends, your primary groups, you can be much more informal. On Friday night you can hang out where you want, change your plans as you want, and experience the fun as much as you want. You primary groups allow for more spontaneity.
Contrary to that would be the relationship you most likely have with your doctor. This is considered a secondary group. You have to call someone else to get an appointment, wait if the doctor is behind schedule, call him or her "Doctor," pay for the services, and make another formal appointment if you need another visit.
Another example of a secondary group is a high school class. Most high school classes are large and secondary. Consider your high school classes. You may have a few friends in your classes, but for the most part, you interact with everyone based on direction from your teacher with whom you refer to as "Mr.," "Mrs.," or "Ms."
Another example is to consider the workplace. The workplace is an example of a secondary group. You go to your workplace to earn a wage and when that goal is achieved, you go home. Ultimately, without the goal or purpose, it is difficult to maintain secondary groups. It is likely that you will form primary groups among a secondary group; you will meet friends at school or work. However, once you leave that job or graduate from school, many of those relationships disintegrate because the secondary group is no longer intact.
Another example is to consider the workplace. The workplace is an example of a secondary group. You go to your workplace to earn a wage and when that goal is achieved, you go home. Ultimately, without the goal or purpose, it is difficult to maintain secondary groups. It is likely that you will form primary groups among a secondary group; you will meet friends at school or work. However, once you leave that job or graduate from school, many of those relationships disintegrate because the secondary group is no longer intact.
Social solidarity, cohesion, relates to a group's ability to maintain itself in the face of obstacles. Social solidarity exists when social bonds, attractions, or other forces hold members of a group in interaction over a period of time. For example, if a local church is destroyed by fire and congregation members still worship together in a makeshift setting, they have a high degree of social solidarity.
