SOCIAL

GROUPS
WITHIN THE
SOCIETY:
PRIMARY, SECONDARY
AND REFERENCE
GROUPS
The Boat Is
Sinking!!!!
 Social Groups
is two or more humans who
interact with one another,
share similar characteristics,
and collectively have a
sense of unity.
 Social Psychologist
Muzafer Sherif
formulated a
technical definition of
a social group
 It is a social unit consisting of a
number of individuals interacting
with each other with respect to:

I. common motives and goals;

II.an accepted division of labor;
III.established status relationships;
IV.accepted norms and values with
reference to matters relevant to the
group;
 It is a social unit consisting of a
number of individuals interacting
with each other with respect to:

V. the development of accepted

sanctions, such as raise and
punishment, when norms were
respected or violated.
 Social Category
is a collection of
people who do not
interact but have
similar characteristics.
 Social Aggregate
s a collection of people
i

who are in the same

place but do not interact
or share characteristics.
 Primary Groups
is typically a small social
group whose members
share close, personal,
enduring relationships.
 Primary Groups
The concept of the primary group
was introduced by Charles Cooley,
a sociologist from the Chicago
School of sociology, in his book,
“Social Organization: A Study of the
Larger Mind” (1909).
 Secondary Groups

are large groups whose

relationships are impersonal
and goal oriented; their
relationships are temporary.
 ACCORDING TO
SOCIAL
IDENTIFICATION:
 IN-GROUP
is simply any group
someone belongs to,
identifies with and feels
emotional attachment to the
members.
 OUT-GROUP

is one that a person does

not identify with and usually
feels competition and/or
hatred towards.
 REFERENCE GROUP
• refers to a group to which an individual
or another group is compared
• it does not necessarily have to be a
group you belong to
• it is a group of people draw on for the
social norms which give order and
meaning to their lives
• Robert K. Merton hypothesized
that individuals compare
themselves with reference groups
of people who occupy the social
role to which the individual
aspires.
SKIT
(count from 1-4)
I. Identification: Identify the following whether
it is a Primary, Secondary or Reference Group

1. Ai Fair is a member of a debate group for

her history class. They are only supposed to
participate in one debate.
2. Michelle admires the cheerleading squad at
her school. She frequently copies hairstyles
that she sees the cheerleaders are wearing.
3. Anthony’s closest friends surprised him with
a birthday party.
II. Define the following:

4. Reference Group
5. Primary Group
6. Secondary Group

III.

Differentiate Primary and Secondary Group

(2 pts.)