Society vs Social Group
While society and social group may seem similar, they are two distinct concepts. Society refers to a large group of people who share interpersonal relationships, common values, and a norm system within a specific geographical area. Societies are characterized by patterns of relationships among individuals who may share cultural values and adhere to a particular norm system. Conversely, a social group is a collection of more than one individual who shares common characteristics and has unity among its members. In a sense, society can be thought of as a large social group.
What is a Society?
A society is a group of people living in a common territory, generally sharing a common culture and other social institutions. Members of a society typically have their own political, economic, and cultural settings, and may share ongoing interrelationships. Societies can also be diverse, with social stratifications, power dominance, and sometimes deviant groups. However, societies benefit their members in various ways, such as bringing diverse individuals together to achieve common goals. In a society, there can be different ethnicities, religions, castes, and classes, but members still share a common political, value, and norm system, as well as interdependence.
Key Takeaways
- A society is a large group of people who share interpersonal relationships, common values, and a norm system within a specific geographical area.
- A social group is a collection of more than one individual who shares common characteristics and has unity among its members.
- Society can be thought of as a large social group that consists of various smaller social groups.
What is a Social Group?
A social group consists of two or more individuals who share similar attitudes, values, and interests. There must be cohesion among the members in a social group, and they may have the same values, interests, and sometimes belong to the same ethnic, religious, and cultural groups. However, a social group may not necessarily consist of members with the same ethnicity or religion. Social groups can be formed for various reasons, such as working towards a common goal or having similar social relationships, such as power, social rank, or kinship.
What is the difference between Society and Social Group?
Both society and social groups are types of groups where members share common values and work towards common goals. Additionally, there are always interrelationships and interdependence among the members of societies and social groups. In both instances, there can be members of different ethnicities, religious groups, and so on, but sharing common values and interests.
The differences between society and social groups are as follows:
- Societies are generally larger than social groups.
- A society is a collection of various social groups.
- Within a particular society, there can be many social groups.
- Society may have members with different values, beliefs, and cultural practices, whereas social groups generally have members who share common characteristics.
