REFERENCE GROUP
A reference group in sociology is a collection of individuals with shared values and principles that serve as a standard for behavior. Individuals use reference groups to evaluate themselves and establish social benchmarks for comparison, influencing attitudes, values, and behaviors.
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REFERENCE GROUP REFERENCE GROUP By: Dr. By: Dr. Pornima Pornima Kadam Kadam
LITERAL MEANING LITERAL MEANING reference reference group noun, noun, Sociology Sociology . . a a group group with with which whose whose values values the principles principles. . group which an the individual individual accepts an individual individual identifies accepts as identifies and as guiding guiding and Sociologists Sociologists call standard standard for behavior behavior a a reference call any for evaluating evaluating themselves reference group group. . any group group that that individuals individuals use themselves and use as their own as a a own and their
SIMPLE DEFINITION SIMPLE DEFINITION Definition Definition: : A A reference reference group group is is a a collection collection of of people people that that we we . use use as as a a standard standard of of comparison comparison for for ourselves ourselves regardless regardless of of whether whether we we are are part part of of that that group group. . We We use use reference reference groups groups to to evaluate evaluate the the relative relative worth worth or or desirability desirability of of our our appearance, appearance, thoughts, thoughts, feelings, feelings, and and behavior behavior and and to to judge judge the the appropriateness appropriateness of of our our appearance appearance and and behavior behavior A A reference reference group group is is a a concept concept referring referring to to a a group group to to which which an an individual individual or or another another group group is is compared compared. .
DEFINITION DEFINITION Reference Reference groups evaluating evaluating their attitudes, attitudes, values William William Thompson Focus, Focus, 2005 2005. ., ,[ [2 2] ] groups are their [own] values and and behaviors Thompson & & Joseph are groups groups that [own] qualities, behaviors. . Joseph Hickey, that people people refer qualities, circumstances, circumstances, refer to to when when Hickey, Society Society in in Reference Reference groups contrast contrast needed group group and and personal hypothesized hypothesized that with with reference reference groups role role to to which which the groups provide needed for for comparison personal characteristics characteristics. . Robert that individuals individuals compare groups of of people people who the individual individual aspires provide the comparison and the benchmarks benchmarks and and evaluation evaluation of Robert K K. . Merton compare themselves who occupy occupy the aspires. .[ [1 1] and of Merton themselves the social social
THUS REFERENCE GROUPS ARE THUS REFERENCE GROUPS ARE used in in order order to to evaluate evaluate and nature nature of of a a given given individual individual or characteristics characteristics and and sociological sociological attributes group group to to which which the the individual individual relates relate relate himself himself or or herself herself psychologically the the individual's individual's frame frame of ordering ordering his his or or her her experiences, cognition, cognition, and and ideas ideas of determining determining a a person's person's self social social ties ties. . It It becomes becomes the making making comparisons comparisons evaluating evaluating one's one's appearance appearance and used and determine determine the or other other group's attributes. . It relates or or aspires psychologically. . It of reference reference and and source experiences, perceptions, of self self. . It It is is important important for self- -identity, identity, attitudes, attitudes, and the basis basis of of reference or or contrasts contrasts and performance performance. . the group's It is is the aspires to It becomes becomes source for perceptions, the to for for and in in in reference in and and
PEER GROUP PEER GROUP noun a group of people, usually of similar age, background, and social status, with whom a person associates and who are likely to influence the person's beliefs and behavior.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PEER GROUPS They are of two types Primary and Secondary They may be social or anti social There is inborn type of motivation which ensure good learning by all group They are formed spontaneously The age or play or other common interests bind them together There is neither external guidance nor influence in the formation of those groups
CHARACTERISTICS OF PEER GROUPS The primary associations may carry out either the constructive or destructive The secondary associations are organized in a planned manner either by the youth or an external agency like the Govt. or any voluntary organization They care for the welfare of the youth their physical, social an emotional health They programme for recreational activities They are meant to benefit the society and to be profitable to the individuals. They help in the formation of good conduct and charater They help in the development of the whlosome persnality
CLASSIFICATION OF PEER GROUPS Types of peer groups Peer groups Primary groups Secondary groups The early playgroups The cliques The gangs Youth league associations Junior red cross society Boys scout and girl guide Youth clubs NCC
Socialization Self dependence Changes in behaviour Development of study habits Development of feeling of belongingness Functions of peer groups Modification Development of healthy attitude Diffusion of new knowledge Development of creative ability of free expression Development of personality
