MODULE 4: THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY

(How a Society is organized)

Learning Objectives

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. discuss the composition of society based on the various group that compose it; and
2. identify and define the different types of groups in society.

Time Frame

February 15 to 19, 2021

Materials Needed

Desktop computer or laptop or tablet or mobile phone, activity sheet

Content
Content

In this module, you will learn about the composition of society based on the various group that composes
it. And also, you will learn about the different types of groups in society.
Society is an entity that allows individuality yet provides space for other individuals and groups to pursue
mutual goals and aspirations. This module focuses on society as a diverse and coherent set of groups and explains
how it is organized, highlighting the particular groups composing it. As we analyze the different aspects of social
organization, you will be able to identify your role in the various social groups and networks within society. Also, you
will appreciate the fact that despite being unique from other individuals, there are multiple things ideas, opinions,
beliefs, principles, and values that you share with others.

COMPOSITION OF SOCIETY BASED ON THE

VARIOUS GROUP THAT COMPOSE IT
 Beyond the individual, groups are the smaller units that compose society.
 Societies can be as big as the members of a particular religious organization, such as the Filipino Catholic
Church or Muslim community, or as small as a household.
 Membership in groups constitutes a fundamental aspect of our social existence and being.
 Groups have been responsible for the development and advancement of cultures, economies, politics, and
other aspects of human civilization.
 The ancient philosopher Plato believed that man is a social animal.
o This means human beings are naturally equipped with tools such as language and reason that
enable them to engage others in meaningful interaction.
o This desire and ability to interact is seen in various ways.
 People spend a great deal of their time with various groups
 It is quite impossible to imagine human existence without social groups.
 A social group is a collection of individuals who have relations with one another that make them
interdependent to some significant degree.
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  Interdependence is a necessary condition that exists within social groups because it is what enables its
members to pursue shared goals or promote common values and principles.
 Sociologists, anthropologists, educators, psychologists, criminologists, economists, and social workers
have devoted a lot of attention to studying the dynamics within and between social groups.
 These experts define and analyze social groups based on their particular perspective.
 Some emphasize groups as units of interaction while some focus on the structural relations within groups.
 Interdependence is also what differentiates a social group from an aggregate, or a mere collection of
people within a particular place and time.
 In the context of our social groups, our thoughts, actions, and behavior are defined by our interaction with
people with whom we share certain degrees of interdependence.
 Individuals assign great value to their relationships with people within their group, to the extent that it defines
their respective identities.
 Some individuals, take pride in their group affiliations and often proclaim it publicly.
 They spend a considerable amount of time getting involved in the various activities of this group.
 Group members also prescribe to the preferences and ways of thinking and doing of its members.
 As a result, an individual is enculturated as he or she forges a significant bond with the rest of the members
of his or her group.

Note:
Not all groups produce positive consequences and benefits for their members. Some groups
such as criminal gangs and terrorist groups use violence and force to achieve their objectives. For
example, “doomsday” religious cults demand firm and unquestioning loyalty from its followers to the
point of physical harm. Meanwhile, there are instances when individuals experience conflict with other
members of their group (family, friends, etc.), which could drive them away from the group. For better
or for worse, our social groups profoundly define our identity, as well as our roles in society.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUP IN SOCIETY

1. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GROUPS

 Members of society belong to social groups that vary not only in size but also in the level and depth of
interaction and interdependence among its members.
 An individual is generally closest to his or her immediate family (parents, siblings, first cousins, etc.)
but not to his distant relatives. He or she may have deep bonds with his or her close friends but could
have cordial or casual relations with other acquaintances.
 As one enters adulthood, he or she will discover that some social groups will exert a more profound
impact on his or her life than others.
 Sociologists agree that not all groups are equivalent in terms of their level of importance.
1.1 PRIMARY GROUP
o Is a small, intimate, and less specialized group whose members engage in face-to-face and
emotion-based interactions over an extended period.

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 o The interdependence among members of a primary group is characterized by a deep and profound
relationship with each other.
 Examples of primary groups include the family, close friends, work-related peers,
classmates, and church groups. Every society is comprised of various primary groups
that are responsible for the continual social development of its members.
o Are the first groups where an individual experiences his or her initial encounter with social affinity
and belonging.
o It is within these groups that an individual establishes and defines his or her identity, values, ideals,
and aspirations.
o The other members of the primary groups also serve as their first agents of socialization.
o The individual’s basic ideas on the different facets of his or her society are significantly shaped by
the members of his or her primary groups.
o In the Philippines, the primary group affiliation of Filipinos is based on kinship ties.
o Itis through kinship that young Filipinos realize the great importance our culture assigns to the
family and its extended nature.
o Filipinos are among several societies that recognize bilineal kinship which traces the lineage
from both parents.
o A Filipino tends to emphasize the place of origin of both their father and mother.
o This familial network is so strong that Filipinos sometimes build instant affinity with people they do
not know but either share a family name or place of origin.
1.2 SECONDARY GROUP
o Are larger, less intimate, and more specialized groups where members engage in an impersonal
and objective-oriented relationship for a limited time.
o Unlike primary groups, the level of interaction and interdependence within secondary groups is
not deep and significant.
o The individual knows every member of his or her primary groups at the personal level, the same
cannot be said about his or her secondary groups.
o The impersonal nature of the interaction between members of secondary groups allows one to
treat others as merely a means to achieve his or her immediate objectives.
o Individuals also recognize that their membership in these groups is less intrinsic and more
instrumental.
 For example, employees treat their colleagues as a secondary group since they know
that they need to cooperate to achieve certain goals in the workplace. Mutual benefit,
rather than emotional affinity, becomes the primary driving force that compels individuals
to stay together in a secondary group.
 Another example is the professional relationship between lawyers and clients, and a
corporation that has hundreds of employees, stockholders, and shareholders.
 Throughout an individual’s lifetime, it will have different sets of primary and secondary groups.
 The consensus among social scientists is that much of people’s time will be spent with secondary groups
given the continued urbanization and expansion of societies.
 Emile Durkheim argued that the shift from traditional to modern society will impact how individuals relate to
one another. As the division of labor in society becomes more complex
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  The pressure to form a primary relationship within secondary groups is quite high in modern societies.
 This is also the reason why the notion of a family and the “barkada” as the two major primary groups in a
person’s life may no longer be as relevant as before.
 Though primary groups are significant in the formative years of each individual, their influence may decrease
upon reaching adulthood.

2. IN-GROUPS AND OUT-GROUPS

 It proposes that people’s appreciation of their group membership is influenced by their perception of people
who are not members of their groups.
 People’s perceptions of other people as well as other groups are influenced whether they perceive others
as members of their group or not.
 An in-group is a group to which one belongs and with which one feels a sense of identity.
 An out-group, meanwhile, is a group to which one does not belong and to which he or she may feel a
sense of competitiveness or hostility.
 For every individual, distinguishing between his or her in-groups and out-groups is essential in developing
his or her identity and self-worth.
 One usually treats members of his or her in-group more favorably than those of his or her out-group.
 However, people’s shifting group memberships throughout their lives mean that their notions of in-groups
and outgroups are likely to change.
 Social scientists identify several characteristics of in-groups.
 First, members of such groups devise ways to distinguish themselves from nonmembers.
o This may come in the form of group titles, symbols that represent the group and its members,
and even rituals required for membership.
o These means of identification perform the role of infusing group solidarity as well as
exclusivity.
 Second, members within a certain in-group display positive attitudes and behavior toward their fellow
members for the most part, while they may exhibit negative attitudes and even form negative views toward
members of their out-groups.
o These shared feelings form important bonds that further solidify the cohesiveness of the in-
group.
 Lastly, as similarities and shared experiences foster unity and cooperation among group members,
differences with nonmembers could transform into feelings of competition and even hostility.
 The establishment of modern societies is often defined by the creation of boundaries between in-groups
and out-groups.
 To promote cohesion among members, a fraternity or sorority makes every effort to differentiate
themselves from their counterparts and even other student organizations.
 They have their respective names (e.g., Alpha Phi Omega, Sigma Rho, Upsilon Sigma Phi, etc.), symbols,
flagship activities, and other markers of differentiation.
 Certain fraternities, however, have become notorious for their unorthodox initiation rites that have resulted
in the deaths of several neophytes or aspiring members.

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  These rites of passage are part of their tradition and are originally intended to generate a sense of intense
group loyalty among members through the shared experience of an ordeal.
 Apart from experiencing the practice of hazing upon entry into the in-group, it is inevitable for fraternities
to engage in some competition, which may result in violence at times.
 The negative sentiments or stereotypes toward out-groups breed antagonism, hostility, or even a desire
to inflict injury by a member of the in-group.
 This is also pushed by the intention of defending the fraternity’s identity and integrity as well as reinforcing
the strength within the in-group.
 For example, in 1998, an innocent male college student was mistakenly killed in the premises of the
University of the Philippines-Diliman campus by a hired gunman of a fraternity who thought he was a
member of a rival fraternity.
 This behavior relates to the concept of self-categorization, as members of fraternities often lose their
individuality and they consider themselves more like members of an exclusive group.
 Their identity in other groups (university, family, community, etc.) may be overshadowed by their sense of
belonging to the in-group.

3. REFERENCE GROUPS

 Among the most significant and influential social groups for an individual are his or her reference groups.
 A reference group is a group to which an individual compares himself or herself.
 Such groups strongly influence an individual’s behavior ‘and social attitudes whether he or she is a member
of these groups.
 Examples of reference groups include an individual’s primary groups (family, work colleagues,
schoolmates, etc.) or his or her in-groups (church, fellow club members, neighbors in the community,
sports team, etc.).
 Individuals often identify with and emulate the traits of people they feel closest to.
 They seek to emulate the career or profession of one of their parents.
 Individuals may find themselves outside their reference group and seek to become a member in the
future.
 In this regard, members of the reference group provide models that shape their attitudes, beliefs, and
behavior.
 The reference group is considered a source of role models since the individual uses it as a standard for
self-assessment.
 The tendency of individuals to emulate their desired reference group has led these groups to become
powerful agents of socialization.
 High school students like you should already have an idea of your chosen reference group.
 Members of a reference group may indirectly apply “peer pressure” for younger or newer members to
emulate them or conform to their actions and views.
 An articulate and intelligent politician can be a decisive factor for a young person to study political science
and engage in politics.
 A reference group sets itself apart from other groups in the sense that it can mold people’s aspirations in
life and inspire them to pursue greater things
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4. NETWORKS

 Sociologists use the concept “network” to understand the complex world of social groups.
 A network refers to the structure of relationships between social actors or groups.
 These are interconnections, ties, and linkages between people, their groups, and the larger social
institutions to which they all belong to.
 In the age of the Internet, a good example of networks is those provided by social media platforms such
as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
 One can instantly map his or her social network through his or her accounts in these online platforms of
communication.
 One can identify close friends, acquaintances, and “followers” as this technological tool Jets one envision
his or her very own complex web of social interaction and group memberships.
 Social media Is a significant development in the twenty-first century and its rapid evolution continues to
change the way people manage the complicated nature of their social relationships and group affinities
 Sociologist and anthropologists differentiate between the networks formed in traditional and modern
societies
 In traditional primitive societies, are exclusive, limited, and mostly defined by kinship.
 Through, modern social networks, an individual is provided a diversity of social roles and identities
unavailable in more traditional societies.
 People are more empowered to craft a more complicated set of identities with the help of various social
groups whose membership is not based on blood relations and kinship ties.
 A network perspective in examining the multitude of social relationships and group memberships entails a
dynamic appreciation of their interrelated and interdependent nature.
 A social network also provides an important Context in understanding how various groups are interrelated
with one another.
 A social network provides a bigger pool from which people draw their possible sources of identity, self-
esteem, and self-actualization.
 Some proactively expand their social network as they grab every opportunity to meet new people, establish
links, and make connections.
 The increasing mobility of people and the diverse opportunity brought about by improved communication
and technology are signs that the cask of maintaining and expanding one’s social network will soon
become a choice but rather a necessity in the years to come.

References
Atiensa, MA, Rico, RL, et.al, (2016). Understanding Culture, Society, and Politics for Senior High
School. C & E Publishing, Inc. 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City