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Chapter Preview · Section 2
Other Groups and Networks (pages 177–180)
Reference groups help us evaluate ourselves and form
identities. In-groups and out-groups divide people into
“we” and “they”. Social networks extend our contacts
and le us form links to many other people.
Do Interactive Activity # 1
Reference Groups
• Reference groups help us to evaluate
ourselves and to acquire attitudes, beliefs,
and norms—in both positive and negative
ways.
• People use reference groups to
evaluate themselves and to acquire
attitudes, values, beliefs, norms, and
mores.
Reference Groups
• A person may consider a group to be a
reference group without being a
member.
• Reference groups do not have to be
positive models since observing the
behavior of a group you dislike may
reinforce a desire to act and feel
differently.
Do you agree that other groups help
shape your beliefs?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
In-Groups and Out-Groups
• An in-group requires extreme loyalty from
its members to the exclusion of others.
• The in-group feels opposition, antagonism,
or competition toward the out-group.
In-Groups and Out-Groups (cont.)
• These groups can be found anywhere and
display some sort of boundary that
distinguishes them.
Which could be considered a group
boundary?
A. Handshake
B. Clothing
C. Badges
D. All of the above
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Social Networks
• A social network is the web of social
relationships that join a person to other
people and groups.
Social Networks (cont.)
• A social network does not qualify as a
group, but serves many purposes.
• Functions:
– A sense of belonging and purpose
– Help and advice
– Help finding a job
Social Networks
• Since social networks include both
primary and secondary groups, the
social relationships within a network
involve both strong and weak ties.
• Social networks can provide a sense
of belonging and purpose, furnish
support in the form of help and
advice, and be a tool for entering the
labor market.
People In America With Facebook Accounts
• Interactive Map
Do you think groups are formed via
the Internet by people who have
never met one another?
A. Yes
B. No
0%
C
A
0%
B
C. Not sure
A. A
B. B
C.0%C
reference groups
group used for self-evaluation and the
formation of attitudes, values, beliefs, and
norms
in-group
exclusive group demanding intense loyalty
out-group
group targeted by an in-group for opposition,
antagonism, or competition
social network
a web of social relationships that join a person
to other people and groups