Kinds of Groups

We have already found out that sociology, as one of its main objects, studies social institutions and social relations, social bodies and social groups. Sociologists were early concerned with the problem of classifying groups as well. They have proposed many different classificatory schemes for the specific groups. They make up their classifications on the basis of selecting a few properties and define “types” of groups on the principle whether these properties are present or absent.

Among the properties most often employed are size (number of members), amount of physical interaction among members, degree of intimacy, level of solidarity, focus of control of group activities and tendency of members to react on one another as individual persons. On the basis of these properties the following kinds of groups have been identified: formal – informal, primary – secondary, small – large, autonomous – dependent, temporary – permanent.

Sometimes sociologists make up their classifications of the groups according to their objectives or social settings. These are such groups as work groups, therapy groups, social groups, committees, clubs, gangs, teams, religious groups, and the like.

Exercise 7. Choose the right answer.

1. What does sociology NOT study as one of its main objects?

a) social absent;

b) social relations;

c) social bodies;

d) social groups.

2. What were sociologists early concerned with?

a) the problem of defining groups;

b) the problem of classifying groups;

c) the problem of sizing groups;

d) the problem of identifying groups.

3. Sociologists define “types” of groups on the principle whether properties are…?

a) present and absent;

b) present;

c) absent;

d) present or absent.

4. How many kinds of groups have been identified?

a) 2;

b) 3;

c) 4;

d) 5.

5. What do sociologists make up according to their objectives or social settings?

a) degree of intimacy;

b) level of solidarity;

c) classifications of the groups;

d) group activities.

Exercise 8. Fill in the gaps using the words given below, and translate the sentences into Russian.

personal formation members individuals term

lasting categorized present formal relationships

1. A primary group is a small social group whose … share personal and lasting relationships.

2. People joined in primary … spend a great deal of time together.

3. Groups based on … friendships are also primary groups.

4 Secondary groups are large groups involving … and institutional relationships.

5. Secondary relationships involve weak emotional ties and little … knowledge of one another.

6. Most secondary groups are short …, beginning and ending without particular significance.

7. The … of primary groups happens within secondary groups.

8. Primary groups can be … in secondary settings.

9 … almost universally have a bond toward what sociologists call reference groups.

10. Groups can also be … according to the number of people present within the group.

Exercise 9. Match the verbs on the left with the nouns on the right. Make up sentences with the phrases you’ve got.

1. to draw	a) to a political organization;
2. to reflect	b) in the course;
3. to provide	c) with the problem;
4. to enroll	d) in the fact;
5. to belong	e) different schemes;
6. to be reciprocated	f) up classification;
7. to be concerned	g) a distinction between;
8. to make	h) on one another;
9. to propose	i) personal benefit;
10. to react	j) in the future.

WRITING AND COMMUNICATION

Exercise 10. Write an essay on one of the given topics.

1. Group Classification.

2. Primary Groups.

3. Secondary Groups.