Primary and Secondary Social Groups

Social groups can be classified into:

• primary groups
• secondary groups

The American sociologist Charles Horton Cooley introduced these concepts in 1909 in his book Social organization – a study of the larger mind . His study focused on the sense of identity present in relationships and interactions between individuals. This led him to identify two types of social structures: primary groups and secondary groups.

Characteristics of primary and secondary social groups

Both groups present different characteristics. Next, let’s see what each entails.

primary social groups

These groups are characterized by being small and very personal, and their members relate directly and cordially. The relationships that develop in these groups have a great emotional and affective charge. They are usually ties that are maintained in the long term, and even throughout life. Some examples of these groups are family, childhood friends, couples or marriages, and some religious groups.

These relationships play a very important role in the formation of individuals and their sense of identity. The members of these groups have a great influence on the other members in areas such as the development of their values, their morals, their beliefs, their way of seeing the world and their daily behaviors. Likewise, these groups play a very important role in the process of socialization of their members in their stage of development.

secondary social groups

Secondary social groups are usually temporary and impersonal relationships. In general, there is an objective or commitment for which individuals must live and socialize. These groups have practical interests or goals, that is, they are created in order to carry out some task or achieve an objective. For example, secondary social groups are generated in the workplace or in educational institutions.

Secondary groups do not influence their members in the same way as primary groups, since the ties are not as tight. Normally, a person enters a secondary group voluntarily when they share interests with the other people involved and remains a part of it until they fulfill their objective.

Secondary groups can be large or small and can consist of students, teachers, administrators, etc.

Differences Between Primary and Secondary Groups

In addition to the closeness of the ties between its members, another important difference between primary and secondary social groups is their organization. Primary groups are not organized, while secondary groups usually have an authority that is in charge of their organization.

It is also necessary to highlight that there may be exceptions in the different types of links and that these are dynamic. In the case of secondary groups, it is possible that relationships between individuals become more intimate at a certain point. An example of this is co-workers who develop a deep friendship or start a loving relationship. This group, which was initially classified as secondary, would thus become a primary group. Also, a primary group can become a secondary group when a conflict occurs. For example, in the case of the separation of a couple who have a work project in common.

Bibliography

• Horton Cooley, C. Social organization – a study of the larger mind . (1909). USA. American Journal of Sociology.
• Glad, W. Sociology for Everyone: What Individuals and Social Groups Experience in Social Dynamics. Theories, Effects and Causes of Sociology . (2020, audiobook). Spain. Wolynn Glad.
• Macionis, JJ; Plummer, K. Sociology. (2012, 4th edition). Spain. Prentice Hall.