Definition of social group
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, in Jan. 2010
Group of people who develop roles and interact in the same community
The concept that concerns us in this review has a recurring use in the field of sociology to designate with it that set of individuals who display reciprocal roles within the same community.
Essential characteristics of the social group
His structured shape and its long duration over time are the two characteristics that mainly allow us to distinguish it as such, because those who compose it, basically, operate through the same norms, values and with the same purposes, which will be those that ultimately contribute to the common welfare of the group in question.
Meanwhile, it will be a condition without equanom to form a social group that exists identity common or sense of belonging, in this it will have nothing to do with the fact that the members have the same level sociocultural in order to carry out their mission, but rather what will make them work is that common identity, working on the same project.
We integrate groups to achieve common goals
If you look closely at a society you will come to conclusion which is made up of great heterogeneity because each person is unique and unrepeatable, we can never meet two people the same, even if they grew up together and under the same conditions and models, we are all different... In the meantime, individuals as unique persons make up societies and complete them with our traits personal. In this macro context, there appear the groups that are different people but who decide to join together because they have similar characteristics that bring them closer together. Social groups tend to come together and develop activities and projects in the company of those peers with whom ideas are shared, among other issues.
The human being will always interact with the environment that surrounds him and relates to the rest, forming groups that will be more or less large and of course that will have different purposes. Now, in all the groups there is a common mission because if this did not happen it would not really be a group.
For example, an individual interacts socially with his co-workers, shares hobbies with other peers to whom they he likes the same thing, makes friends with whom he goes out to have fun, and also makes friends from high school or high school. college. All of them will make up social groups.
When what prevails and tips the balance when it comes to integrating a social group or not is an economic criterion, then, we will actually be facing a social class and not from a group.
The social group, in addition to being the main constitutive piece of the social structure, turns out to be the first space in which individuals put roles and statuses into practice. Once in the group, the norms that will regulate it will come only from the inside, that is, some will be promoted, then they will be dictated and finally they will be accepted in order to be fulfilled.
Types of groups
There are two types of groups, primary and secondary. The primary is the family and more than anything, its reason for being, will be given by the daily coexistence. The type of relationship that is established in this is personalized and its members are irreplaceable once they disappear for x reasons.
And the secondary schools, including school, work, sports teams, are characterized by being formed for affinity issues, common projects, cooperation and freedom at the time of agreement between their members.
Among the main characteristics that the group must observe to endure are the following: each member will play a role, there must be fluid communication and contact between the components, existence of standards and interests.
The importance of integrating a social group
In short, we should say that all people need to relate to their peers, it is not for nothing that we are born into a family. All social groups, from family to friends in life, provide us with various benefits that directly converge in making us feel better, love, strength and motivation when we need it, they give us sensation of belonging so that we commit even more to the group and add to our self-esteem and the recognition that we all need to feel good and loved.
When this does not happen, when a person is alone and isolated, they have no friends, no family, no group of belonging, Among others, you will feel a tremendous emptiness and pain that will isolate you from society and of course will bring you difficulties emotional In a group life is more bearable, loneliness disappears.
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