A. Comte: Law of Three Stages, Positivism, Social Statics and Dynamics, Hierarchy ofSciences.(b) H. Spencer: Organicism, Social Evolution.

📘 Social Group: Concept, Types, and Significance

Category: Sociology | Author: Subrata Majumder

🌍 Concept of Social Group

A Social Group refers to a collection of individuals who interact with each other, share common interests, norms, and goals, and develop a sense of unity. Sociologist MacIver defines a social group as "a collection of human beings who enter into and maintain a system of social relationships."

🔎 Types of Social Groups

• Primary Group: Small, intimate, face-to-face relationships (e.g., family, close friends).
• Secondary Group: Large, impersonal, goal-oriented (e.g., political parties, organizations).
• In-Group: A group where individuals feel a sense of belonging.
• Out-Group: Groups to which individuals do not belong and may feel opposition.
• Formal Group: Structured with specific roles and rules (e.g., office team).
• Informal Group: Formed naturally without official rules (e.g., friendship circle).

✨ Significance of Social Groups

• Provide identity and belonging to individuals.
• Help in socialization by transmitting norms and values.
• Contribute to social control through peer pressure and shared rules.
• Facilitate cooperation and collective activities.
• Influence behavior, attitudes, and personality development.

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📝 50 MCQs on Social Group (with Answers)

1. Who defined social group as “a collection of human beings who enter into and maintain social relationships”?
   a) Durkheim
   b) MacIver
   c) Weber
   d) Mead
   Answer: b) MacIver
2. The most basic unit of social group is:
   a) Society
   b) Family
   c) Individual
   d) Institution
   Answer: c) Individual
3. Primary groups are characterized by:
   a) Goal orientation
   b) Intimacy
   c) Formality
   d) Competition
   Answer: b) Intimacy
4. Which is an example of a secondary group?
   a) Family
   b) Peer group
   c) Trade union
   d) Friends circle
   Answer: c) Trade union
5. In-groups create:
   a) Cooperation
   b) Belongingness
   c) Rivalry with out-groups
   d) All of the above
   Answer: d) All of the above
6. Which sociologist introduced the concept of “primary group”?
   a) C.H. Cooley
   b) Parsons
   c) Marx
   d) Giddens
   Answer: a) C.H. Cooley
7. Informal groups are usually formed based on:
   a) Official rules
   b) Friendship and common interest
   c) Written laws
   d) Political power
   Answer: b) Friendship and common interest
8. The difference between primary and secondary groups is mainly based on:
   a) Size
   b) Quality of relationship
   c) Time period
   d) Age
   Answer: b) Quality of relationship
9. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a social group?
   a) Common interest
   b) Interaction
   c) Social isolation
   d) Sense of unity
   Answer: c) Social isolation
10. Formal groups operate with:
    a) Emotional attachment
    b) Written rules
    c) Informal ties
    d) Customs
    Answer: b) Written rules

Tags: Social Group, Sociology Notes, Primary Group, Secondary Group, MCQ with Answers, Sociology Study Material