Social Groups:

Reference Group
BY: ARNON ROGEL F. ARRADAZA
What are reference groups?

 People do not live in isolation. They live in

groups: social groups, these consist of two
or more people who identify with one
another and regularly interact as a result
of shared norms, values, expectations.
Being in a group entails realization of
activities and events in one’s life that help
people build and define their stories,
interests, and contributions to society.
What are reference groups?

Reference groups serve a

purpose of setting your norms and
values, these are normative
reference groups. These groups
directly influence the behavior of
a person, serving as a role model,
standard, or base point.
What are reference groups?

A reference group is a collection of people

that we use as a standard of comparison for
ourselves regardless of whether we are part
of that group. We rely on reference groups to
understand social norms, which then shape
our values, ideas, behavior, and
appearance. This means that we also use
them to evaluate the relative worth,
desirability, or appropriateness of these
things.
What are reference groups?

 The concept of a reference group is one

of the most basic of sociology. How we
relate to reference groups is central to
how social groups and society exert social
force on us as individuals.
What are reference groups?

 By looking to reference groups — be they

those of race, class, gender, sexuality,
religion, region, ethnicity, age, or localized
groups defined by neighborhood or school,
among others – we see norms and dominant
values, and we choose to either embrace
and reproduce them in our own thoughts,
behavior, and interactions with others; or, we
reject and refute them by thinking and
acting in ways that break from them.
What are reference groups?

 Some reference groups exist to

provide people with means of
comparison for behavior, style, and
achievement. Such as comparative
reference groups whose norms and
values serve as points of comparison
for certain behaviors.
Different forms and classifications
of Reference Groups
 Aspirational reference groups refers
to people or groups of people with
whom we want to be compared
with. Celebrities and athletes are fine
examples of this group. People think
that by supporting their favorite
celebrity, they become associated
with them.
Different forms and classifications
of Reference Groups
 Associative reference groups refers to
groups we belong and take part in.
These people include our neighbors,
coworkers, club members, or church
members. People have a tendency
to confine with what is on trend in
their immediate community.
Different forms and classifications
of Reference Groups
 Dissociative reference groups refers
to groups that people have no
interest in being associated with. This
group of people includes those with
whom we share conflicts in interests,
attitude, or behavior.
Keypoints

 Social groups consists of two or more people

who identify with one another and regularly
interact.
 Reference groups serve as our standards in
setting and evaluating our own behaviors and
attitudes.
 Normative reference groups sets a person’s
norms and values
Keypoints

 Comparative reference groups are group whose

norms and values serve as a point of comparison for
certain behaviors.
 Aspirational reference groups are groups of people
with whom we want to be compared with
 Associative reference groups are groups where we
belong and take part in our immediate life
 Dissociative reference groups are groups of people
we have no interest in being associated with