Sociology

Complete Name

Professor ____________

University

02 January 2009

A group is defined as a set of people recurrently interacting in a structured way according to shared expectations about each other 's behavior . It is being classified into primary and secondary groups

A primary group is based on intimate , face to face interaction and relatively long-lasting relationships . It is also being referred to as the intimate group of formative years . This group has a powerful influence on an individual 's personality or self-identity . My immediate family is an example of

primary group . My parents have shaped me into what I am now through the values that they have modeled and taught me from childhood to present . My siblings have also served as my sturdy supports every time I feel depressed

On the other hand , a secondary group is less cohesive , more formal and less supportive of members . They tend to be less significant in the emotional lives of people . An example of secondary group is my classmates in college

Primary and secondary groups serve different needs . Primary groups give people intimacy , companionship and emotional support , whereas secondary groups serve instrumental needs that are also referred to as task-oriented needs . Though they serve different roles and functions both primary and secondary groups are considered indispensable elements of the society

Works Cited

Andersen , Margaret L Howard , Francis Taylor . Sociology : Understanding a Diverse Society . United States : Thomson Wadsworth , 2000

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