Social Groups
“When two or people come together and influence one another, they may be called a social group.” Two or more than two people who interact with each other, share similar characteristics, share sense of belonging, and collectively have a sense of unity. This is called Social Group
Basic Types of Social Groups:
Following are two types of Social groups given by C.H. Cooley
Primary Groups:
• Primary groups play most critical role in our lives.
• Primary group is generally small.
• There is face to face and more often interaction.
• The members possess same background such as culture, language, religion etc.
• Members of primary group spend more time together
• They are interdependent
• They have more sense of responsibility.
• They are connected to each other emotionally and personally.
Example:
Family, relatives, friend and neighbors.
The most common example of primary group is family. Family is interdependent, emotionally connected, have sense of responsibility, and they spend the most time together. Family is emotionally present for each member. They support in all matters and decisions.
For instance, if mother has bounded son to go outside the house after evening time, then he is bound to follow the instructions in order to fulfil the requirements and norms of family and that group.
Secondary Groups:
• In secondary group, there is less interaction.
• The members of secondary group are impersonal and secondary.
• They are generally large in size.
• Members are not really connected emotionally and personally.
• Members are not interdependent.
• They are passionate to achieve goals and aims.
• The members are together as long as they have interest towards aim.
Example:
Relation between an advocate and client stays until the case is finished
Relation between Doctor and patient stays until the patient is treated.
Relation between Shopkeeper and buyer stays until the purchasing is done.
These are short term relations, which finishes when the task or aim achieved
Reference Group
A group with which the customer identifies in some way and whose opinions and experiences influence the customer's behavior. For example, a sports fan can buy the kit of his favorite team.