Types of groups

“Classifying social groups may seem like a task that should be done informally, but this is not always the case. Every individual needs to understand how to classify their own social circle in order to communicate effectively with others. One perspective view the group as consisting of a hierarchical pyramid with the main group at the top, with other smaller subgroups nested beneath it. Another perspective classifies groups as being composed of members who are either in-groups or out-groups. In-groups are seen as people who share common interests and goals, while out-group members do not share these shared interests and goals.

Types of Social Group

Group-Based classification is a hierarchical system used to classify different types of social groups. In this model, all people fit into one of five different categories: in-group, out-group, primary group, secondary group, reference groups

1) In- Group: The type of the group is named in-group or primary group. In-group members are called in-group members, like George is the in-group member of the group called ‘George’. This is the best example of a first level classification.

2) Out-Group: Out-group refers to people who are not part group members, as in the case of Paul, who belongs to an out group. The second level classification is out-group or secondary group, and people belonging to these groups can be revealed by face to face conversation and reactions.

3) Primary Group: A primary group is a group whose members interact more than others because of shared goals and interests, or because they belong to a particular social class or race. The goal of these groups may be everyday needs and convenience, or to fulfil cultural needs like entertainment. Primary groups are groups of people who interact with each other according to the norm of reciprocation they have established.

4)  Secondary Groups: These groups are composed of participants who do not interact and show a passive view. This classification is done according to the convention of “who in turn plays whom”.

5) Reference Groups: The last type of group classification is reference group, which is a group of individuals, who are not involved in an individual’s social life but can serve as comparisons for them. This classification is done on the basis that they are groups which have not been classified yet, like when you meet someone in a street, you do not know if he belongs to your in-group or out-group. You can classify him by reference. A complication comes here, since the distinction between in-groups and out-groups is clear and easy to find, but with reference groups it becomes difficult to make such distinction because there is no clear-cut line for deciding who belongs to each group.

Difference between In-groups and Out-groups

The in-group and out-group phenomenon refers to the classification of people into in-groups and out-groups based on whether they are members of a certain social group. It is a form of social categorization that relies heavily on social identity and social comparison processes. There is some debate about whether people are naturally predisposed to creating groups based on the in-group/out-group distinction. Some research suggests that children as young as 3 years of age can classify others based on in-group/out-group status, which suggests that social categorization is an innate process. A major body of research on social categorization recognizes two types of categories (individual and intergroup) of which the in-group/out group distinction is an example. However, due to the fact that these two categories are defined by others and that the line between them can be blurry, those who act out of group may not always be seen as “in-group” by their peers who have categorized them as out-group.

Difference between Primary Groups and Secondary Groups in Sociology

Primary groups are groups of individuals who interact with each other on a regular basis due to common goals and interests. Primary groups are referred to as primary because they are more central to our everyday lives than secondary groups. Secondary groups, on the other hand, are not as crucial to socialization and development as primary group associations. Examples of primary group associations include family, close friends and work colleagues. Examples of secondary group associations include soccer teams or social clubs that you have joined but never actually meet up with the members outside of night or game night.

Conclusion

Sharing of ideas, emotions, myths and values is important for the development of society. In all cultures there are social groups which have a special status such as family, religion, and political parties. These groups often stand out from the rest because they have a special meaning for their members and offer them a sense of belonging. The in-group/out-group distinction is one of the most important ways to classify people into social categories on the basis that it affects how outsiders are treated by members of those groups. In-groups are more central to our everyday lives than out-groups.