The Group and the Individual

8/7/2019 The Group and the Individual

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The Group and theThe Group and the

IndividualIndividual


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yDistinguish between primary and

secondary groups, bayanihan ang

gesellschaft

y Indicate the role of heredity in

developing personality

yDiscuss ethnocentrism and xenocentrism

yDefine voluntary association

yDiscuss bureaucracy and group of

dynamics


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y

People need group associationyCorporate plans fail because

managers did not see the

importance of group life

yEvery decision a person makes is

affected by group influence


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The human group is the basic object ofThe human group is the basic object of

scientific analysis for the sociologist asscientific analysis for the sociologist as

the living organisms is to the biologist.the living organisms is to the biologist.

yTherefore, the logical way toapproach the study of sociology

is to examine the concept ofgroup from a sociologicalperspective.


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yGroup is defined as anynumber of people who

share a consciousness ofmembership and

interaction.


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y

Types of groups:Family group

Neighborhood group

Play group

School group

Etc.


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ySociology is primarily concerned

with studying humans in theirsocial relationships. Two most

important factors in social

relationships:

1) Interaction with others which take

place within the group2) Culture which is transmitted by

the group


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Nature and Character of GroupsNature and Character of Groups

yGroups have a level of consciousness

that accompanies the process of

group formation. Concept of belonging to the right

group

People sustain desirable relationships

and terminate or avoid undesirable ones


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yAnother aspect of human

consciousness as related togroup membership is the degreeto which the group is determined

by the meaning that persons havefor one another. A person may feel isolated even in a

crowd Two persons can feel close even if theyare physically apart


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Therefore,

y

People are continuously aware of eitherconforming to or deviating from the

expectations of others

y Group life is indispensable to all humans.

y One is strong or weak based on his/her

association with the members of the

group

y All people, regardless of race or culture,

find personality fulfillment through group

life.


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Kinds of Group LifeKinds of Group Life

Social groups may be voluntary or

involuntary, social or antisocial, public

or private, permanent orimpermanent can be considered

under two major headings:

Primary

Secondary


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a. Primary groupsa. Primary groups

y Primary groups are small face-to-face

groups in which contacts are direct,

personal and immediate

y Characterized by a strong we feeling

y Very effective because of their being

personal in nature: element of intimacy

y Primary groups exert a great deal ofinfluence on the individual members

Influences a persons basic ideals in life


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yExamples:

Family

Neighborhood group

Play group of children

Etc.


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2. Primary groups as2. Primary groups as

instruments of socializationinstruments of socializationy The family provides companionship andfellowship.

y The relationship is intimate, personal and

face-to-facey In the family members learn to cooperate

with one another, and to recognize thefeeling of responsibility and duty to thegroup

y In the family, kids develop feelings,attitude, and habits


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Primary groups as sources ofPrimary groups as sources of

fundamental social idealsfundamental social ideals

yA group consists of a number of

interacting personalities

y

Interaction consists of cooperationor conflict

y For example, in a family, a child learns

his/her lessons in tolerance,understanding, cooperation,

sympathy, regard and respect for

others.


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yHe/she also learns about the

basic patterns connected to sex,

parenthood, kinship.

y

He/she also learns about theideals of service, freedom, justice,

and tolerance based on his/her

experiences of family andneighborhood life.


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b. Secondary groupsb. Secondary groups

Secondary groups are those which do not

necessarily involve face-to-face

association or intimate personal relations.

Members are aware of these but theyusually do not feel bound up in them

except in times of crisis.

Members may be separated from oneanother by distance or by lack of personal

contact.


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y Examples:

Students in very large classes Professional organizations

Governmental units

Political parties Religious organizations

Athletic and social clubs

Business corporations Etc.


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Comparison and contrast:

y Primary groups existed from primitive

times while secondary groups came with

the development and emerged when

civilization was far advanced

y Primary groups are concerned withrelationships while secondary groups are

concerned with reaching goals

y

Characteristics of both types of groupssometimes overlap since many secondary

groups also have primary groups within.


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InIn--groups and Outgroups and Out--groupsgroups

y Exist whenever there is a feeling of

strangeness or enmity between groups

y In-group feeling: understanding and

sympathy towards one another

y Out-group feeling: suspicious, antagonistic

and scornful

Ex: Muslims and Christians

y Important to know because they affect

behavior and attitude


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y People of the same social class, same

religion, same political views, or enjoythe same music, sports, etc. feel

assured that they are in the same in-

groupy In-group/ Out-group feelings can be

found even in primary or secondary

group.


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EthnocentricismEthnocentricismy

Ethnocentricism is the extremepreferential feeling which individuals havefor the customs of their own group.

y Considers that ones own group is more

important than any other groupy An expression of group solidarity

combined with antagonism towardoutside groups.

Ex: Nazi government of Germany, Japanesebelief before WWII that they are achosen people to lead allAsian races


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yDoes not need any rationality but

just exaggerated on the groupsvirtues and ignores its own

weaknesses; at the same time,

ignoring the virtues of other

groups


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XenocentrismXenocentrismy X

enocentrism is the exact opposite ofethnocentricism and means a

preference for things foreign.

y Believes that what comes from far away

has a special quality or charm which the

local product can never equal and

anything indigenous is inferior.

y People pay high prices for foreign-made

goods

y It encourages colonial mentality


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y In contradiction to xenocentrism is

xenophobia which is a distrust ofanything foreign which can also be

irrational.


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Group and Pressure of IndividualsGroup and Pressure of Individuals

y Group life can be stimulating ormonotonous

y Members of the group are usually sensitive

to one anothers opinions, seek groupapproval and avoid disapproval

y Group opinion always exert pressure on theindividual

y group pressure can be direct or indirect, butit is always present

y Ex: barkada pressure


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Groups and PersonalityGroups and Personalityy To a large extent, groups determine the

personality of the individual

y Groups of composed of individuals acting

and interacting upon one another so a

continuous process of adaptation and

adjustment takes place

y Personality emerges out of the process ofinteraction and adjustment in the group.


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Two things to consider in the studyTwo things to consider in the study

of personality:of personality:A.Heredity

- heredity is said to play a larger role inexplaining human personality and

behavior- genes affect how we learn

B. Experience

- Experience plays a large role indetermining who we are and how wereact to our environment andconditioning.


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StereotypesStereotypesy

Out-groups are generally perceived in termsof stereotypes.

y A stereotype is a group-shared image ofanother group or category of people

y Ex: Ilocanos are perceived as kuripot,Kapampangan as mayabang, etc.

y People are always engaged in stereotyping

y

Maintained by selective perception andselective interpretation

y It is also maintained by selectiveidentification and by selective exception


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The Group and the Individual