Different Types of Groups

The concept of the social group is people coming together and having a sense of identity because of a common space, action, or any other things that can bind together people. There is several identified social groups: primary groups, secondary groups, collective groups, in-groups, and out-groups. The primary group is one that shares close and lifelong personal relationships, wherein each member shares personal space and lives and has close relations and interactions.Family and close friends are examples of primary groups, as their members are binded by strong personal ties. A sports group or an academic group that is strongly linked emotionally and physically can also be considered as a primary group. The primary groups shapes and influences a person’s identity. The secondary group relationship is characterized by being formal and temporary, instead of being closely personal and lifelong. Performance of functions is what links together people in the secondary group, and the re lationship is more fleeting and less personal.An example would be a temporary co-worker in the office, who one is constantly in contact with, but has no strong personal ties. A collective group on the other hand is one that is bonded together by a common goal or an interest that links its members. The collective group does similar things and its members have similar interests. For instance, a church group or an environmental group is an example of a collective group. The in-group is the group where the individual feels that he/she belongs in; it is where one has loyalty to or respect to.Members of the in-group shares a similar identity, like families or people of a certain ethnicity or race. Conversely, the out-group is the social group that a person is not inclined to relate, even disdains or is opposed to such group. For instance, a conservative man despising people from other races – the out-group. The different types of groups refer to the personal circles that an individ ual belongs to. These are product of his/her social environment and socialization, which then directs and determines membership to a certain group.