GROUPS AND NORMATIVE PATTERNS

INTRODUCTION Groups vary in sizes, forms, functions. Sociologists are interested in both small and large groups. Sociologists and Anthropologists have established the common characteristics of groups. The largest social group to which people belong is the society. Relationships are different in groups and societies by their sizes. Each group develops expectations and reward compliance. While some expectations are seriously monitored others are allowed to just exist. This unit gives details on these pertinent issues about groups and normative patterns The Size of Groups. Sociologists also consider groups from the standpoint of their size. Small groups such as the family, a circle of close friends, a clique within a large organization, and a committee formed for a specific problem solving share several common characteristics: i. Relations among members are usually on a face-to-face basis. ii. In general, members share common values iii. The group is usually durable iv. Members exhibit feelings of identification with the group and group loyalty v. In general, members accept one another vi. Members perceive the group as a separate entity vii. Members perceive the group as striving to fulfill definite goals viii. Small groups usually value stable membership ix. The difficulty of joining them enhances memberships x. They greatly influence the behaviour of their members and xi. Within them, democratic leadership is effective than it is within large groups. Large groups or formal organizations of necessity, have characteristics that differ from those of small groups. These are as follows; (a) They tend to be more highly organized. (b) They often assume the proportion of formal organizations (c) They usually possess some kind of definite structure (d) Their goals, programmes and the roles of their personnel are fairly specific (e) When these formal organizations reach large-scale dimensions (such as complex co-operations, state and federal governments, university complexes), their form of organization is called bureaucratic. A bureaucracy is a formal organization characterized by: · Job specialization or division of labour · A set of rigid rules and standards designed to promote uniformity · An attitude of impersonal impartiality · A hierarchical arrangement of officials · The use of rationality in reaching organizational objectives (f) They give opportunity for the formation of primary groups that are vital to organizational success (e.g. labour or workers unions, cooperative societies, ethnic associations, among others). Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Societies The largest group to which people belong is the society. In general, societies are examined from the standpoint of their attributes – whether urban or rural, traditional or modern, Gemeinschaft or Gesellschaft. German sociologist, Ferdimand Tonnies, in examining different kinds of societies arrived at the concepts similar to those of primary and secondary groups. He noted that in small, homogeneous (made up of people with similar lifestyle) societies, members interacted with one another on an informal, personal, face-to-face basis, and that tradition dictated behaviour. Tonnies called this kind of society a “Gemeinschaft”, which is roughly translated from German as “a communal or traditional society”. Relationships are very different in societies that are large and heterogeneous, (made up of people with diverse lifestyles) such as modern industrial societies. In these societies, relationships among members are impersonal, formal, functional and specialized. Furthermore, there are often contractual-dealings are spelled out in legal contracts rather than being governed by tradition. Tonnies called these societies “Gesellschaft” or “associational societies”. In modern world, there has been an easily observable shift from Gemeinschaft to Gesellschaft societies. The large size of the societal group and complexities of a technological economy require secondary groups, which are dedicated to efficiency rather than sentiments. Therefore, in Gesellschaft societies, many of the tasks of primary groups, such as education and economic transactions, have passed to secondary groups. Values, Norms and Sanctions To learn a culture is to learn people’s “values”, their ideas of what is desirable in life. When we uncover people’s values, we learn a great deal about them, for values are the standards by which people define good and bad, beautiful and ugly. Values underlie our preferences, guide our choices and indicate what we hold worthwhile in life. Every group develops expectations concerning the right way to reflect its values. Sociologists use the word “norms” to describe those expectations or rules of behaviour that develops out of a group’s values. They use the term “sanctions” to refer to positive and negative reactions to the ways in which people follow norms. A positive sanction expresses approval for following a norm, while a negative sanction reflects disapproval from breaking a norm. Positive sanctions can be material, such as monetary reward, a prize, or a trophy, but in everyday life, they usually consist of hugs, smiles, a pat on the back, soothing words, or even handshakes. Negative sanction can also be material – a fine is an example – but they too, are more likely to consist of facial expressions or gestures, such as frowns, shares, harsh words or raised fists. Being awarded a raise at work is a positive sanction indicating that the norms clustering around work values have been followed, while being fired is a negative sanction, indicating the opposite. Folkways and Mores Norms that are not strictly enforced are called “folkways”. We expect people to comply with folkways, but we are likely to shrug our shoulders and not make a big deal about it if they don’t. If a student uses a left hand to collect an item from a colleague, and would not follow correction, the item may be given to him/her if it is a necessity with adirty look from his/her colleague. Other norms, however, are taken more seriously. We think of them as essential to our core values, and we insist on conformity. These are called “mores” (pronounced MORE-rays). A person who steals, rapes, or kills has violated some of the society’s most important mores. A student who dresses improperly on campus has violated folkways, if he/she walks nakedly on campus he/she has violated society’s most important mores, the requirement that people should cover their nakedness in public places. It should be remembered that one group’s folkways may be another groups mores. Men’s folkways may be women’s mores. A taboo refers to a norm so strongly ingrained that even the thought of its violation is grated with revulsion. Eating human flesh and having sex with one’s parent are example of such behaviours. CONCLUSION While groups vary in sizes, relationships between them also vary by closeness or intimacy. Society eventually becomes the largest social groups to which an individual belongs, whether simple or complex, rural or urban societies have within them values, norms and sanctions. Compliance is expected from group members without which the group goals or purposes will be jeopardize. This unit made clear distinction between the components of the normative system. SUMMARY In this unit the size of groups has been considered in terms of closeness of relationship between members, duration of groups and emergence of leadership. Small groups are compared to the large groups. The input of the German Sociologists, Ferdinand Tonnies in examining different kinds of societies was considered. The place of values, norms and sanctions in the society was considered.