5.2 Types of Groups
While we may use the word “group” in everyday life to mean numerous things, sociologists define groups specifically. A group is any collection of at least two people who interact with some frequency and who share some sense of aligned identity (figure 5.2).
A group, at minimum, must include at least one other person besides yourself. However, there are limits to a group’s size. At some point, if there are too many people involved in the group, it becomes impossible to coordinate activity (Flamino et al. 2021) and recognize that people are part of the group (Fine 2012). To be part of a group, we have to identify with each other in some way. This identity could be based on our social position, such as our race, class, or gender. Or it could be based on our shared cultural interests, say if you are a fan of a particular sports team, like the Portland Timbers, or television show. Interactions, in person or virtual, are also crucial in determining whether a collection of people is a group. If people are not interacting with some frequency, it is hard to argue they are a group.
How is a group different from a crowd? Crowds are people who happen to be in the same place at the same time but who do not interact or share a sense of identity. An example could be walking down the street or riding public transportation in a busy city. We may be sharing the same spaces, but we don’t share an identity or even verbally interact with other people in the setting. In public settings, it is quite typical for us to engage in civil inattention. Civil inattention is when we unobtrusively acknowledge other people in a setting, while simultaneously preventing more personal forms of attention.
Sociologists have identified different types of groups we may belong to. These include primary and secondary groups. Primary groups are small, intimate groups whose members share face-to-face contact and emotional connections. Primary groups are typically small, informal groups of the people who are closest to us. This includes our families, close friends, and significant others. Primary groups contrast with secondary groups, which are larger and more impersonal groups that are task-focused and time limited. Rather than serving our emotional needs, secondary groups help us get things done. They can help us complete big projects or assignments. This might include your co-workers or classmates.
In-Groups and Out-Groups
As we explored earlier, groups can define who is accepted and who is not, determining access to valuable resources. Thinking about this, social psychologists identify in-groups and out-groups.
An in-group is one to which we belong and toward which we hold favorable opinions (figure 5.3). The tendency to favor our in-groups develops from a young age. This favoritism develops quickly in young children, increasing up to about six years of age, and almost immediately begins to influence our behavior (Aboud 2003; Aboud and Amato 2001). Young children show