Small social group. Small social group: characteristics, classification and socio-psychological processes

Small social groups are called relatively small in quantitative composition associations of people that exist in society. A small social group includes from 2-3 to 20-30 people united with each other by a common goal, joint activities aimed at achieving this goal, and having certain personal and business relationships with each other. All people, without exception, are members of some small social groups, and not just one, but several at once. Examples of small social groups are family, study groups, sports and military teams, small work teams, groups of friends, buddies, etc. A person spends most of his life as part of various small social groups, and this accounts for approximately 80-90% of his waking time. Almost all of the influence of society on the individual and the individual on society is carried out through small social groups. Among the many small social groups that make up society, the following main types of groups are distinguished: referent and indifferent, formal (official) and informal (unofficial), random (fickle or unstable in composition) and stationary (permanent, more or less stable in composition ), natural and artificial, groups of low and high levels of development. Let us consider separately each of the named varieties of small social groups.

Referent groups are those small social groups whose members act as role models for a given person, as well as those groups in whose life a person especially values ​​personal participation. The referentiality of a group psychologically means its special significance and the strongest psychological influence on a person. People master the psychology of small social groups that are their reference and become similar to the members of such groups.

However, there are small social groups that have no or almost no influence on a particular person. Such groups, in contrast to reference, significant small groups, are called indifferent, indifferent groups. Indifferent for a person, first of all, are small social groups that are alien to him, whose members have views and beliefs that are different from the person’s own views and beliefs. As a rule, these are groups to which a person does not belong and does not strive to become a member, although he has the opportunity to do so.

Formal or official are small social groups that arise and exist in society as officially registered, recognized, being, for example, structural divisions of certain organizations. There are many such groups in society; these include, for example: family, educational groups, work teams. The status (position in society), functions and composition of such groups are usually determined by some legal and regulatory acts. In contrast to formal groups, informal or informal groups are small social groups that, although they exist, do not have an official status in society. These include, for example, small groups of people formed by chance in one place or another, groups of friends and acquaintances, in general - any groups consisting of people who have agreed among themselves on something that is of personal interest to them.

Random or temporary are those small social groups that are created for a short time, in order to solve some particular problem, and then disintegrate. Such a group is, for example, a small queue, a group of people on a bus, a group of people who randomly gathered together just to watch some spectacle that interests them, etc.

A stationary, or permanent, is such a small social group that has been created and exists for a long time, on a more or less permanent basis, and which does not disintegrate even after the task assigned to it has been solved (it is assumed that there is a certain set of tasks that the group solves it over a long period of time, and the problems may change, but the group as such remains).

Natural are small social groups that arise and exist in society as its element and are necessary in order to solve certain problems in a given society. Such groups are not invented along with their functions, but appear on their own as society develops. Such a group, for example, is the family.

An artificial group is a group that is formed specifically for the purpose of solving a specific problem, and after solving this problem, such a group, as a rule, ceases to exist. This means that this group does not play any other role in society. Artificial, for example, are laboratory groups, which are sometimes created to conduct one-time scientific research. Artificial groups of people are also those that are selected on a random basis and studied so that the results obtained from their study can be extended to other groups of people.

Groups of a low level of development are usually called such small social groups, within which there are no stable and favorable relations between their members, there is no organization and order, groups where the effectiveness of joint group activities is low, where each member of the group is on his own and there is no intra-group unity.

Groups of a high level of development are small social groups that, on the contrary, are highly organized and efficient, where both personal and business relationships are well established, that is, groups that exist and act as a single, well-oiled mechanism.

The most highly developed small social groups are usually called collectives. A small group that has become a team is distinguished by the following features: responsibility, collectivism, cohesion, organization, openness, and awareness. Responsibility means serious attitude all members of the group to their work and to the tasks assigned to the group. Collectivism is the desire to solve all issues together, collectively, as a group. Cohesion is the psychological and behavioral unity of a group, that is, the unity of opinions, judgments, assessments, attitudes and actions of group members in the most important life situations for it. The organization of a small social group is understood as the desire and ability of group members to act together, clearly distribute responsibilities among themselves and skillfully interact with each other. Openness is the trust of group members to each other and their willingness to cooperate with other social groups. Finally, awareness is the presence of all group members with sufficiently complete information about what is happening in the group and outside it and concerns the members of this group.

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Society is a collection of the most different groups: large and small, real and nominal, primary and secondary. The group is the foundation of human society, since it itself is one of such groups. The number of groups on Earth exceeds the number of individuals. This is possible because one person is able to belong to several groups at the same time.

Social group

It is a collection of people who have a common social sign and performing a socially necessary function in general structure social division of labor and activity. Such characteristics may be gender, age, nationality, race, profession, place of residence, income, power, education, etc.

This concept is generic in relation to the concepts of “class”, “social layer”, “collective”, “nation”, as well as in relation to the concepts of ethnic, territorial, religious and other communities, as it captures the social differences that arise between individual groups of people. The first attempts to create a sociological theory of groups were made at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century by E. Durkheim, G. Tarde, G. Simmel, L. Gumplowicz, C. Cooley, F. Tönnies.

IN real life the concept of "social group" is given the most different interpretations. In one case, the term is used to refer to a community of individuals physically and spatially located in the same place. An example of such a community could be individuals traveling in the same carriage, located at a certain moment on the same street, or living in the same city. Such a community is called an aggregation. Aggregation

This is a certain number of people gathered in a certain physical space and not carrying out conscious interactions.

Some social groups appear unintentionally, by accident.

Such spontaneous, unstable groups are called quasigroups. Quasigroup

This is a spontaneous (unstable) formation with short-term interaction of any one type.

The significance of a social group for an individual lies primarily in the fact that a group is a certain system of activity, given by its place in the system of social division of labor. In accordance with their place in the system of social relations, sociology distinguishes large and small social groups.

Large group

This is a group with a large number members based on various types social connections, which do not involve mandatory personal contacts. There are several types large groups. First, there are nominal groups. Nominal groups

(from lat. nomen - name, denomination) - a set of people identified for analysis purposes according to some characteristic that does not have social significance. These include conditional and statistical groups - some constructions used for ease of analysis. If the characteristic by which groups are distinguished is selected conditionally (for example, blondes and brunettes), then such a group is purely conditional. If the sign is significant (profession, gender, age), it approaches real groups.

Secondly, large real groups. Real group

These are communities of people who are capable of initiative, i.e. can act as a single whole, are united by common goals, are aware of them and strive to satisfy them through joint organized actions. These are groups such as class, ethnic group and other communities that are formed on the basis of a set of essential characteristics.

Small group- this is a small group in which relationships take the form of direct personal contacts and whose members are united by common activities, which is the basis for the emergence of certain emotional relationships, special group norms, values, and ways of behavior. The presence of direct personal contacts (“face to face”) of each with each other serves as the first group-forming feature, transforming these associations into a socio-psychological community, the members of which have a sense of belonging to it. For example, a student group, a school class, a team of workers, an airplane crew.

Exist different approaches to the classification of small groups. There are primary and secondary groups. Primary group

Variety small group, characterized by a high degree of solidarity, spatial proximity of its members, unity of goals and activities, voluntariness of joining its ranks and informal control over the behavior of its members. For example, family, peer group, friends, etc. The term “primary group” was first introduced into scientific circulation by C.H. Cooley, who considered such a group as the primary cell of the entire social structure society.

Each person, regardless of his age and type of activity, belongs to several small groups - a family, a school class, a sports team. The relationship of an individual with other members of the team plays a key role in the formation of his personality. The variety of types of associations is demonstrated by the classification of small ones, which makes it particularly important to study the characteristics of small groups and their role in society.

What is a small social group

On the basis of small groups, it is possible to conduct a detailed study of the connection between an individual and his environment, and the influence of society on its members. Therefore, in sociological research, the concepts of “group”, “small group”, “classification of groups” occupy an important place. The fact is that a person spends most of his life in small groups, which have a strong influence on the formation of his values.

A social group is an association of people connected by joint activities and systems interpersonal relationships. Such groups are classified by size, that is, by the number of participants.

A small group is a small association of people connected by joint activities and in direct communication with each other. The peculiarity of such a team is that the number of its members does not exceed twenty, and therefore they can easily contact each other and establish an emotional connection.

Signs

There are a number of provisions, the presence of which may indicate that the association is a small social group:

• co-presence of people in the same territory at a certain time;
• emotional contact between team members, the presence of stable relationships;
• joint activities aimed at achieving a common goal;
• division of group roles between members;
• presence of organizational and management structure;
• formation of one’s own norms and values.

The concept and classification of small groups is based on these characteristics and the nature of their manifestation. The establishment of emotional relationships between individual members can lead to the emergence of sub-blocks and internal structure.

Types of associations

There are several aspects regarding which the classification of small groups is formed. The table below shows the types of small social associations.

The nature of internal connections

The determining factor is the classification of small social groups regarding the method of their emergence. Formal associations are created by management and have legal status. Their activities are regulated by certain documentation. Such a group is governed from the top down, and its members are determined by the organization.

Informal groups arise spontaneously based on the emotional connections of the participants. Such societies do not have official status, and their activities are directed from the bottom up. However, they also form some norms and values ​​that are shared by all members of the group and predetermine their behavior. If in formal organizations the leader has official authority, then in contact organizations he acts through the recognition of other participants.

Reference team

Another small group, the norms of which play an important role for a person, is called a reference (standard) group. A member of the team goes through her value system and forms the appropriate standards. This group is divided into two subspecies:

• Perfect. An individual is not a member of an association, but in his behavior he is guided by its norms.
• Presence group. A person is a member of this collective and shares values.

Small communities play a decisive role in the formation of the child sees the norms accepted in the family and among friends. At the same time, small social groups can also exert Negative influence on the individual - to suppress his personal qualities (inhibition), to impose incorrect ideals.

Social significance

Small organizations can play different roles in society, depending on the values ​​and goals that the small group pursues. The classification of small groups, based on the criterion of social significance, assumes the existence of three types of associations: socially oriented, asocial and antisocial. Accordingly, they play a positive, neutral and negative role. Socially oriented small groups include educational, public, and productive organizations. People do not accept various criminal associations, which nevertheless retain authority for their members.

Group leadership

Management includes a number of actions necessary to organize the activities of the association. This concept includes decision making, goal setting, plan development, control, coordination, etc. Exists conditional classification small groups regarding the method of management. The following types of relationships are distinguished:

• subordination (from above);
• coordination (horizontal system);
• reordination (bottom).

Successful organization of activities is based on the combination of these principles, the search for optimal option building internal relationships.

Head of the team

A feature of organizing small groups is the identification of a leader. This is a member of the association who has a strong influence on its activities. He is respected among other members due to his personal qualities and plays an important role in the management of the group. A leader's activities extend to both internal and external communication. It ensures the involvement of team members in joint activities, exercises control over decision making. There is a classification of small groups based on the level of intervention of the leader in the activities of the association and the degree of involvement of each member in the process of managing the community. In the most successful organizations (both contact and formal), a balance is maintained between the two extremes.

Management styles

The conditional classification of small groups, based on the involvement of members of the association in the process of its management, includes three positions presented in the table below.

There is also theory X and Y. In the first case, a person initially avoids work and prefers to be directed. Theory Y assumes that an individual has a high level of self-control and strives for responsibility. Accordingly, two apply here different ways management.

Team pressure

The norms adopted in the association influence the lifestyle of its individual member. Everyone knows the experiment conducted with a group of children, where prearranged participants incorrectly answered the question posed, and the last subject repeated the words of his peers. This phenomenon is called conformism. The opinion of the majority of members of a small group affects the individual. The opposite of this phenomenon can be independence, that is, the independence of a person’s attitudes from the opinions of his environment.

At the same time, the classification of small groups regarding the role it plays for an individual is important. The higher the referentiality of the association, the stronger the conformism.

Formation of a small social group

Each team goes through several stages of development. Psychologists G. Stanford and A. Roark developed a theory that includes 7 stages of social group formation. The study is based on a two-factor model of team development, where there are contradictions between business and emotional activity.

1. Acquaintance, first attempts at interpersonal interaction.
2. Creation
3. Conflict stage.
4. A state of balance, a sense of cohesion.
5. Forming unity - rising business activity, common goals are set.
6. The dominance is not of workers, but of interpersonal relations of individual members of the association.
7. Actualization, balance of business and emotional activity.

Social roles in a small group

Members of an association may be assigned certain modes of behavior related to solving problems or communicating with other participants. Roles manifest themselves in both the business and emotional activities of the group. For example, in the process of solving problems, the “initiator” offers new ideas, and the “critic” evaluates the work of the entire group and finds it weak sides. Roles also manifest themselves in the sphere of interpersonal relations of the team. Thus, the inspirer actively supports the ideas of other members, and the conciliator gives up his opinion and resolves conflict situations.

Small

In order of occurrence:

primary group is a collection of individuals united on the basis of direct contacts, common goals and objectives and differing high level emotional closeness and spiritual solidarity (family, group of friends, closest neighbors). It is characterized by the following symptoms:

1) small staff;

2) spatial proximity of members;

3) duration of existence;

4) commonality of group values, norms and patterns of behavior;

5) voluntariness of joining the group;

6) informal control over the behavior of members.

a secondary group is a relatively large social community, the subjects of which are not connected by intimate, close ties; social connection and interaction in the group are impersonal, utilitarian and functional in nature. The secondary group is goal-oriented (work team, school class, sports team, etc.);

By social status:

1) formal group - a group created on the basis of official documents (class, school, party, etc.) and having a legally fixed status. A formal group is characterized by clearly defined positions of members, prescribed group norms, strictly distributed roles in accordance with subordination in the power structure of the group. Between members of such a group, business relationships are established, provided for by documents, which can be supplemented by personal likes and dislikes;

2) an informal group - a real social community of people who are connected by common sympathies, similarity of views, beliefs, tastes, etc. Statuses and roles in such a group are not prescribed, there is no specified system of vertical relationships. Official documents have no meaning in such a group. A group disintegrates when common interests disappear.

According to the directness of the relationships:

1) conditional group - a community of people that exists nominally and is distinguished by some characteristic (gender, age, profession, etc.). People included in such a group do not have direct interpersonal relationships and may not know anything about each other;

2) real group - a community of people existing in a common space and time and united by real relationships (classroom, production team).

According to the level of development or formation of interpersonal relationships:

1) low development groups - communities based on asocial factors, lack of common goals and interests, characterized by conformity or non-conformity of its members (for example, an association, corporation, etc.);

2) groups of high development - communities based on common interests, social goals and values ​​(for example, a team).

By importance:

1) reference group is a real or imaginary group whose norms serve as a model. Reference groups may be real or imagined, positive or negative, and may or may not coincide with membership. They perform a normative function and a social comparison function. In the individual’s ideas, groups can be:

“positive” - groups with which an individual identifies himself and of which he would like to become a member.

“negative” - groups that cause rejection in the individual.

2) membership groups are groups where the individual is not opposed to the group, and relates himself to all other members, and they relate themselves to him.

Other types of groups:

1) permanent (exist for a long time (political party, school, institute, etc.)) and temporary (exist for a short period of time (train compartment, people in a cinema, etc.));

2) natural (family) and groups psychological and other types of similarity (classes, parties);

3) organized and spontaneous, etc.

Large social group- a quantitatively unlimited social community that has stable values, norms of behavior and social-regulatory mechanisms (parties, ethnic groups, industrial, industrial and public organizations).

Types and characteristics of large social groups

Target social groups that are created to perform functions related to a specific activity. For example, university students can be considered a formal target social group (the goal of its members is to obtain an education);

Territorial(local) social groups are formed on the basis of connections formed based on the proximity of the place of residence. A particularly important form of territorial community is ethnos- a set of individuals and groups belonging to the sphere of influence of a state and interconnected by special relations (common language, traditions, culture, as well as self-identification).

Society - the largest social group, which as a whole is the main object of theoretical or empirical research.

Among large groups, it is also customary to distinguish such social groups as the intelligentsia, office workers, representatives of mental and physical labor, the population of the city and village.

Intelligentsia is a social group professionally engaged in skilled mental work, which requires special education (in the West the term “intellectuals” is more common). Sometimes in the literature there is a fairly broad interpretation of the intelligentsia, including all mental workers, including employees- secretaries, bank controllers, etc.

The role of the intelligentsia in society is determined by its performance of the following functions:

scientific, technical and economic support of material production;

professional management of production, society as a whole and its individual structures;

development of spiritual culture;

socialization;

providing mental and physical health population.

The intelligentsia is usually divided into scientific, industrial, pedagogical, cultural and artistic (representatives of creative professions), medical, managerial, military, etc.

People of mental and physical labor, considered as separate social groups, differ markedly: in content and working conditions, in level of education, qualifications, and in cultural and everyday needs.

City population and village population, which continue to be the main types of human settlement, differ in location. Their differences are expressed in scale, population concentration, level of production development, saturation of cultural and everyday objects, transport, and communications.