1. SOCIAL GROUPS AND
PROCESSES
UNIT IV
SOCIOLOGY OF NURSING

2. Social groups and Processes
The meaning and classification of groups
Primary & Secondary Group
In-group V/s. Out-group, class, Tribe, Caste
Economic, Political, Religious groups, Mob,
Crowd, Public and Audience
Social Interaction and Social Processes - Co-
operation, Competition, Conflict, Accommodation,
Assimilation & Isolation

3. Meaning of Social Groups
In its elementary sense, a group “is a number of
units of anything in close proximity to one another”.
Social group is a collection of human beings who are
brought into social relationship with one another
with a common goal under a common set of codes.
It may be a pair, number of persons or even a
collection of millions of people ex. Sports club, a
political party, a family etc.
Social relationships needs – reciprocity – mutual
awareness – consciousness of joint interaction.

4. Definition of Social Groups
William – Social group is a given aggregate of
people playing inter-related roles and recognized
by themselves or others as a unit of interactions.
Horton and Hunt – “Groups are aggregate or
categories of people who have a consciousness of
membership and of interaction”.
Ogburn and Nimkoff – “Whenever two or more
individual come together and influence one
another, they may be said to constitute a social
group”.

5. Characteristics of Social Group
Reciprocal Relations
Sense of Unity
‘We’ feeling
Common interests
Similar behaviour
Group norms

6. Characteristics of Social Group
 Reciprocal relations:

The member of a group are inter-related to each other.

A gathering of persons forms a social group when they
are interrelated.
 Sense of unity:

The members of a group are united by a sense of unity
and a feeling of sympathy.
 We-feeling:

The members of a group help each other and defend
their interest collectively.

7. Characteristics of Social Group
Common interests:
 The
interest and ideal of a group are common.
Similar Behaviour:
 The
members of a group behave in a similar way
of behaviour.
Group Norms:
 Every
group has its own rules and norms which
the members are supposed to follow.

8. Classification of Social Groups
Simmel considered size as a criterion for
classifying groups.
 Small
size group
 Large size group
Dwight Sanderson suggested a three fold
classification of social groups by structure.
 Involuntary
group
 Voluntary group
 Delegate group

9. Classification of Social Groups
Cooley classified groups on the basis of kind
of contacts.
 Primary group
 Secondary group
F.H. Giddings classified group into
 Genetic
(involuntarily. Ex: family)
 Congregate (voluntarily. Ex: union)

10. Classification of Social Groups
George Hasen classifies groups one the basis of their
relations to other group into




Unsocial group (does not participate in large society. ex: Tribe)
Pseudo-social group (mix with all for own gain. ex: common)
Anti-social group (destroys public property)
Pro-social group (welfare of the people)
Miller divided social groups into


Horizontal groups
Vertical groups

11. Classification of Social Groups
Sumner made distinction between an
 In-group



The groups with the individual indentifies himself are his ingroup, his family or tribe or sex or college or occupation or
religion.
Usually expressed in the contrast between “they” and “us”.
Every group they are communists; we are Hindu, they are
Muslims; we are Brahmians, they are others not my people
etc.,
 Out-group

Its opposite of in-group

12. Classification of Social Groups
Charles A Ellwood distinguished among.
 Involuntary and voluntary
 Institutional and non-institutional
 Temporary and permanent
Leopold classified
 Crowds
 Groups
 Abstract collectives
Park and Burgess distinguished
 Territorial
 Non-territorial

13. Primary & Secondary Groups
Cooley classifies social group into
 Primary
group and Secondary group
Primary group is a small group which a
 small
in number,
 direct
contact,
 face
to face relations,
 mutual
aim,
 common
goals and companionship.

14. Characteristics of a Primary Group
 Physical
 Small
proximity
Size
 Stability
 Similarity
 Limited
of background
self-interest
 Intensity
of Shared interests

15. Characteristics of a Primary Group
Physical proximity:

In order that relations of the people may be close, it is
necessary that their contacts also should be close.
Small size:

Relationship can be intimate and personal only in a small
group.
Stability:

To promote intimacy of relationship, the primary group should
be stable to some extent:

16. Characteristics of a Primary Group
Similarity of background:

The members of a primary group must be not only close and
near to each other but also approximately equally experienced
and intelligent.
Limited self-interest:

The restricted common interest must predominate in their
minds.
Intensity of shared interests:

In a primary group the common interest is shared by every
member and by being shared by all the interest acquires a new
significance, a new emphasis and new valuation.

17. Importance of Primary Group
For the individual:


The first things to be impressed about group is that it is a
medium through which we learn culture, use culture and
change culture.
The group is an important factor in shaping the personality of
the individual.
For the society:


Help in the socialization of the individuals and maintain social
control over them.
The attitudes of sympathy, love, tolerance, mutual help and
sacrifice which provides this cementing force.

18. Secondary Group
Secondary group is a large group like a city, nation,
political party, corporation and labour union etc.,
Here human contacts become superficial and
undefined.
He communicate with them by such indirect means
as the written word. No face to face relations.
H.T. Mazumdar – “When face-to-face contacts are
not present in the relations of member, we may call
that is secondary group”.

19. Characteristics of Secondary Group
Main Characteristics of secondary group
 Formal
and impersonal relations
 Large in size
 Option of membership
 Active and Inactive members
 Relations – no face to face
 Formal rules
 Individuals status
 Goal orientation

20. Importance of Secondary Groups
The primary group have an important place in a
simple and small society. But in modern era the
trend is towards secondary groups.
The changing trends of modern society man now
depends for his needs more on secondary groups
then primary groups.
Efficiency (the emphasis is on getting the job done).
Open Channels of Opportunity.
Wider Outlook.

21. Difference between Primary & Secondary Groups
Primary Group
Secondary Group
Meaning: Groups which
Groups which provide
Nature of Social
Social relations are
re characterized by faceto-face relations, mutual
aid are primary group.
Ex: family, friends etc.,
Relations: social
relations are face-to-face,
direct intimate, personal,
non-partisan in
character.
experience lacking in
intimacy are secondary
group. Ex: political
parties, unions etc.,
indirect, impersonal,
contractual, specialized,
and more economic
nature.

22. Difference between Primary & Secondary Groups
 Size: primary groups are
 Secondary groups are
 Physical proximity: group are
 Groups are not characterized
 Communication: its not only
 Members are spread over a
direct but also quick and
effective.
vast area direct
communication is difficult.
 Group interest: interest of
 Interest of members are more
smaller in size.
confined to a small geographic
area.
members are not specific but
general.
 Nature of co-operation: co-
operation is direct.
relatively bigger in size.
by physical area.
specific.
 Co-operation is mostly
indirect.

23. Difference between Primary & Secondary Groups
 Group structure: its very
 Group structure is formal.
 Durability: groups are
 Groups may be temporary or
 Effects on personality: the
 The impact of group on the
informal. The group is not
very much organized in the
modern sense.
relatively durable.
group has a long-lasting
influence upon the
personality.
 Nature of group control:
informal means of social
control.
The organization of the group
is carefully planned and
worked out.
permanent.
personality of the members is
rather limited.
 Formal means of control.

24. In-group V/s. Out-group
Sumner’s classification between in-group and out-
group.
The individual belong to number of groups which
are his in-groups.
All other groups to which he does not belong are
his out groups.
Family, tribe, the college are examples of ingroups.

25. In-group V/s. Out-group
In in-groups their relationships towards each other
they display:







Sense of belonging
co-operation
goodwill
mutual help
solidarity
feeling of brotherhood and
readiness to sacrifice
In-group signifies their unity by the word “we” and
their distinctions from the others by applying to
those the term “they”.

26. Crowd
The crowd may be defined as a collection of
individuals united temporarily and in close
proximity to each other.
Their objects may be diverse kinds.
It is an unorganized manifestation.
After the people collected in a garden for a picnic are
called crowd.
A crowd is quickly created and quickly dissolved.

27. Definition of Crowd
MacIver – “it as a physically compact aggregation
of human being brought into direct, temporary and
un-organized contact with one another”.
Kimball and Young – “a crowd is a gathering of a
considerable number of persons around a center or
point of common attraction”.
Lundberg – “a crowd is a temporary collection of
persons who react to a common focus of attention,
and engage in spontaneous interaction.

28. Characteristics of Crowd
Anonymity – because its large and temporary.
Narrow attention –one or two things at one time.
Suggestibility – crowd are not open to conviction.
Credulity – easily believe others words.
Low mental level – ideas not deep and wide.
Emotional – crowd are highly emotional.
Irresponsibility – crowd sense very poor of it.

29. Mob
The crowd is always a transitory and
unstable organization.
Thus a group of students recreating by the
seashore are an aggregate; if they hear a film
actor they become a crowd.
But if the actor makes insulting remarks to
the country they may become unruly and
turn into a mob.

30. Mob
Mob is a violent group it concern more
emotional people, they are creating problem
they don’t maintain a peace .
They have some struggle mind.
Ex: Caste violence and industrial
revaluation.

31. Public
The common speech the term ‘public’ is often
confused with people but in reality public is a part
of the people.
The public is merely a psychological group who
think and feel about social issues.
They are diffused, and are found in far off places.
They are psychologically united due to some social
issues.

32. Definition of Pubic
Kingsley Davis – “A dispersed group; it is a
feeling and thinking group”.
Schettler – “The public is a group of
individuals who are united together by
common interest or objectives”.
Horton & Hunt – “A public is a scattered
group of people who share an interest in a
particular topic”.

33. Characteristics of Public
Public is disposed group
It is a psychological group. It thinks, feels, and
experiences certain common things.
In public, all people do not have unanimous opinion.
The members of the public communicate each other
through mass media.
Public is an organized group.
There is no personal contact in public.

34. Audience
This is a time of audiences as there are meetings all
over, including class rooms, pubic meetings, etc.,
This is also a psychological important group.
It is a group that sees, listens, and thinks.
They follow some rules and regulations.
They don’t have any leader but the organizer control
for all the participants or people. Ex: theater,
programme etc.,

35. Definition of Audience
V.V. Akolkar – “An audience is a temporary
assembly whose members have gathered for a
definite and similar purpose, each one come to the
spot on account of his individual interest”.
Some of the important traits

It is an aggregate of people at a particular place and time.

It has a pre-determined purpose.

It has certain norms, and so, there is some sort of discipline
too.

36. Classification of Audience
Information audience: seeking audience.
e.g. class room,
TV hall etc.,
Conversational audience: discussion audience.
Recreational audience: we have cinema, sports etc.,
Religious audience: religious worship, as in
churches, temples and mosques.
Political audience: audience are addressed usually by
political leaders.

37. Social Interaction and Social Processes
 Man is a socio-cultural being and society is necessary for
man.
 They always live in various groups and associations.
 As members of this group they act and behave in a certain
manner.
 This behaviour of individual is affected by the behaviour of
others.
 This behaviour we call as a social interaction.
 This interaction is essential of social life.
 Without interaction there would be no social life.

38. Definition of Social Interaction & Processes
Dawson and Gettys – “Social interaction is the process
where by man interpreted the minds of each other”.
Eldredge and Merril – “Social interaction is the
general processes where by two or more persons are in
meaningful contact as a result of which their behaviour
in modified, however slightly”.
Ginsberg - “Social processes means the various modes
of interaction between individuals or groups including
co-operation and conflict, social differentiation and
integration, development, arrest and decay”.

39. Social Interaction and Social Processes
Social Interaction and Social Processes takes place in
the forms of

Co-operation

Competition

Conflicts

Accommodation

Assimilation

Isolation

40. Co-operation
Co-operation is an Integrating activity it generally means
that working together in the pursuit of common interest.
Merril and Eldredge – “Co-operation is a form of social
interaction wherein two or more persons work together
to gain a common interest”.
Fairchild – “Co-operation is the process by which
individual or groups combine their effort in a more or
less organized way for the attainment of common
objective”.
Green – “Co-operation is the continuous and common
endeavor (attempt) of two or more persons to perform a
task or to reach a goal that is commonly cherished”.

41. Types of Co-operation
Five Types co-operation:

Direct Co-operation: under this category are included
those activities in which co-operating individuals doing
directly like things together, that is,


Moving a pile of stones, pushing a motor car of the
mud, playing together, worshipping together etc.,
Indirect Co-operation: in this type of co-operation
individuals work towards a common end but each has his
own specialized functions too as the case, for Ex:

When carpenters, plumbers and masons co-operate to
build a house.

42. Types of Co-operation
 Primary
co-operation: In this co-operation is
found in primary groups such as the family.
 Secondary
co-operation: This type is cooperation is found in the secondary groups such
as Government, Industry, Church and Trade
union etc.,
 Tertiary
co-operation: This co-operation is found
in the interaction between the various big and
small groups to meet a particular situation. For
Ex:

When Russia and America join together to defeat China
in war.

43. Competition
Competition is the most fundamental form of
social struggle.
Struggle for existence and better life.
It is one aspects of struggle which is universal not
only in human society but also in the animal
society.
Importance – assignment of individuals to proper
places – source of motivation – conducive to
progress.

44. Definition of Competition
Sutherland – “Competition is an impersonal,
unconscious, continuous, struggle between
individuals or group which because of their limited
supply all may not have”.
Biesanz – “Competition is the struggling between
two or more persons for the same goal which is
limited so that all cannot share it”.
Characteristics of competition:



Competition is impersonal struggle.
Competition is an unconscious activity.
Competition is universal.

45. Conflict
It is the anti-thesis of co-operation.
It is a process of seeking to obtain rewards by
eliminating or weakening the competitors.
Definition of conflict
Gillin and Gillin - Conflict is the social process in
which individuals or groups seeks their ends by
directly challenging the enemy by violence or threat
of violence.

46. Characteristics & Causes of Conflicts
 Characteristics of conflict:
conscious action
 it is a personal activity
 lacking continuity
 universal one

 Causes of conflict:
Individual differences
 Cultural differences
 Clash of interests
 Social change


47. Types of Conflicts
Gillin and Gillin mentioned five types of
conflict –
Personal conflict
Racial conflict
Class conflict
Political conflict
International conflict

48. Accommodation
Accommodation is resolution of conflicts which
generally means adjusting oneself to the new
environment.
Adjustment may be to the physical or social
environment.
Accommodation denotes acquired changes in the
behaviour of individuals which enable them to
adjust to their environment.

49. Definition of Accommodation
MacIver – “The term accommodation refers
particularly to the process in which man attains a
sense of harmony with his environment”.
Sutherland and Others – “Accommodation is the
process by which those once in conflict can work
together in common enterprises”.
Ogburn and Nimkoff – “Accommodation is a term
used by the sociologists to describe the adjustment of
hostile (unfriendly) individuals or groups”.

50. Characteristics of Accommodation
Accommodation is the natural result of
conflict.
Accommodation is mainly an unconscious
activity.
Accommodation is universal.
Accommodation is a continuous process.
Accommodation is a mixture of both love and
hatred.

51. Assimilation
It is more permanent than accommodation.
Its more functional changes than
accommodation.
This is also a process of learning like
socialization – both social and psychological
process.
It is a process by which persons and groups
acquire the culture of the other group in which
they come to live by adopting its attitudes and
values .
In short, its way of life.

52. Definition of Assimilation
Bogardus – “Assimilation is a process
whereby attitudes of many persons are
united, an thus develop into a united group”.
Biesanz – “Assimilation is the social process
whereby individuals or groups come to share
the same sentiments and goals”.

53. Characteristics of Assimilation
Its not confined to single field only – its
applied two different groups.
It is a slow and gradual process – cannot
take place all of suddenly.
It is an unconscious process – we cannot see
the real things.
It is a two way process – its principle of give
and take.

54. Isolation
If the communicative interaction or social contact
is absent that condition can be called as isolation.
It occurs among individuals and groups.
Absolute isolation is impossible.
Types of Isolation: spatial & organic

Spatial isolation is external.

Organic defects of individual such as deafness or blindness.

Shyness.

Privacy.

55. Thank you