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Though individuality is positive and natural, we all need other people in our lives, and we form alliances with others every day. One of the most basic ways to arrange human beings is into groups. Large or small, groups serve many functions. They give an individual a sense of identity, as well as meet individual needs such as the need for emotional intimacy. In some groups, we have close personal ties to the other members. Other groups are so large and impersonal that we might never get to meet the other members. Some groups work to accomplish a task, and others meet just because the members feel a personal connection to one another.
As societies modernize, the sizes and purposes of groups change. In non-industrialized societies, few groups exist, but in large, industrialized societies, residents commonly claim membership in a wide variety of groups. Because many types of society are so different from one another, it only makes sense that groups can differ widely in importance, purpose, and prevalence depending on the society in which they exist.
Groups, Aggregates, and Categories
Sociological study relies on the ability to classify the people being studied in order to arrive at correct conclusions. Classifications include groups, aggregates, and categories.
A group consists of two or more people who are distinct in the following three ways:
- Interact over time.
- Have a sense of identity or belonging.
- Have norms that nonmembers don’t have.
Example: A class of students is a group. Classes, by definition, consist of more than two people, meet at least a few times a week for an entire semester, and identify themselves on the basis of what classes they are taking. Students in a class must follow that professor’s class and test schedule, as well as rules for behavior and contribution in class.
Many different types of groups exist in industrialized societies, including school classes, social clubs, sports teams, neighborhood associations, religious communities, and volunteer organizations. Within any group, it is not uncommon for a few people to have an especially close relationship and form a clique, which is an internal cluster or faction within a group.
The word group is sometimes confused with the word aggregate. An aggregate is a collection of people who happen to be at the same place at the same time but who have no other connection to one another.
Example: The people gathered in a restaurant on a particular evening are an example of an aggregate, not a group. Those people probably do not know one another, and they will likely never again be in the same place at the same time.
A category is a collection of people who share a particular characteristic. They do not necessarily interact with one another and have nothing else in common.
Example: Categories of people might include people who have green eyes, people who were born in Nevada, and women who have given birth to twins.
Group Functions
In social groups, members often fulfill different roles that serve either instrumental functions or expressive functions.
Instrumental Functions: These are task-oriented roles within a group. They focus on achieving specific goals, solving problems, and ensuring that the group operates effectively. Members who perform instrumental functions prioritize practical outcomes and efficiency, often taking on leadership roles that emphasize planning, organization, and decision-making.
Example: In the workplace, an instrumental role might involve creating schedules, assigning tasks, or setting deadlines to ensure projects are completed on time. In a family, an instrumental role might involve providing financial support and ensuring basic needs are met, such as food and shelter.
Expressive Functions: These are focused on maintaining group harmony, emotional well-being, and social cohesion. Members performing expressive roles prioritize the interpersonal relationships within the group, offering emotional support, resolving conflicts, and fostering a sense of belonging among members.
Example: In a friend group, someone might play an expressive role by organizing social outings, mediating disputes, or providing encouragement and empathy to other members. In a family, a parent might take on the expressive role by nurturing their children, promoting emotional security, and creating a warm home environment.
For a group to thrive, it often requires a balance between both instrumental and expressive functions. Too much focus on instrumental goals can lead to neglect of members’ emotional needs, causing tension or burnout. On the other hand, too much focus on expressive functions might result in inefficiency or failure to achieve the group’s goals.
Example: A sports team coach might take on an instrumental role during practice by focusing on strategy and performance but switch to an expressive role after a tough loss to support and motivate the players.
