PHILIPPINE INTEGRATED SCHOOL FOUNDATION, INC.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Bangon, Marawi City 9700
School ID: 478012
email add: nadjamoh16@[Link] , FB account: Pis FI
2ND Semester School Year 2020 - 2021

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE
SOCIETY AND POLITICS 12

MODULE 4
(HOW A SCOIETY IS ORGANIZED)
(Atienza, Maria Ela et al. Understanding Culture Society and Politics. C
& E Publishing, Inc. 2016)

NAME:

GRADE/STRAND/SECTION:

TEACHER: Hamida D. Ansary, LPT

GRADE 12 – UCSP Page 1|9

 What I Need to Know

At the end of the chapter, the students will be able to:

1. Understand and discuss the composition of society based on the various groups that
compose it;

2. Identify and define the different types of groups in society;

3. Explain the role that social groups play in the formation of identities, values, attitudes, and
beliefs; and
4. Describe the organized nature of social life and the rules governing behavior in society.

What I Know

Before we proceed to our lesson proper let us check first your prior knowledge about this lesson
by answering the following questions below. Rest assured that your scores for this test will not be
recorded, but this serves as basis for the teacher to determine your prior knowledge about the
topic.

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE

Directions: Read and analyze each item carefully. Choose the letter of the best answer and write
it on the last page of your module (THE ASESSMENT PAGE).

1. A collection of individuals who have relations with one another that make them
interdependent to some significant degree.
A. Social group
B. Peer group
C. Primary group
D. Secondary group
2. A group is a small, intimate, and less specialized group.
A. Secondary group
B. Primary group
C. Family
D. Friends
3. The first groups where an individual experience his or her initial encounter with social
affinity and belonging.
A. Peers
B. Primary group
C. Family
D. Network
4. A group to which one belongs and with which one feels a sense of identity.
A. Out-group
B. Primary group
C. Secondary group
D. In-group
5. A group to which an individual compares himself or herself.
A. Reference group
B. In-group
C. Out-group
D. Network

GRADE 12 – UCSP Page 2|9

 Lesso
Groups within society
n 1
Society is an entity that allows individuality yet provides space for other individuals and
groups to pursue mutual goals and aspirations. This chapter focuses on society as a diverse and
coherent set of groups and explains how itis organized, highlighting the particular groups
composing it. As we analyze the different aspects of social organization, you will be able to
identify your role in the various social groups and networks within society. Also, you will
appreciate the fact that despite being unique from other individuals, there are multiple things
ideas, opinions, beliefs, principles, and values—that you share with others.
You share certain similarities with your classmates, just like individual members of society
have commonalities with other members. These similarities could be the initial basis for
individuals to be drawn together and interact more closely. These similarities could also be the
basis for the establishment of deeper and more meaningful relationships.

Beyond the individual, groups are the smaller units that compose society. Societies can be
as big as the members of a particular religious organization, such as the Filipino Catholic Church
or Muslim community, or as small as a household, regardless of size, however, membership in
groups constitutes a fundamental aspect of our social existence and being. Groups have been
responsible for the development and advancement of cultures, economies, politics, and other
aspects of human civilization.

The ancient philosopher Plato believed that man is a social animal. This means human
beings are naturally equipped with tools such as language and reason that enable them to
engage others in meaningful interaction. This desire and ability to interact is seen in various
ways. People spend a great deal of their time with various groups. Young people meet their
barkada in restaurants to catch up with one another’s lives; they play sports or engage in
different hobbies with their classmates and neighbors; they attend schools, churches, and all
sorts of community activities within the neighborhood; and they use social media to
communicate with their peers. It is quite impossible to imagine human existence without social
groups.

A social group is a collection of individuals who have relations with one another that
make them interdependent to some significant degree. Interdependence is a necessary condition
that exists within social groups because it is what enables its members to pursue shared goals or
promote common values and principles. This notion is recognized by different social and
behavioral scientists. Sociologists, anthropologists, educators, psychologists, criminologists,
economists, and social workers have devoted a lot of attention studying the dynamics within and
between social groups. These experts define and analyze social groups based on their particular
perspective. Some put emphasis on groups as units of interaction while some focus on the
structural relations within groups.

Interdependence is also what differentiates a social group from an aggregate, or a mere

collection of people within a particular place and time. In the context of our social groups, our
thoughts, actions, and behavior are defined by our interaction with people to whom we share
certain degrees of interdependence. Aggregates, on the other hand, do not necessarily influence
our social actions as there might be no direct interaction and interdependence with the people
composing it. For example, a group of friends decided to hang out in a mall. While this group of
friends is considered a social group, the same cannot be said about the rest of the people in the
mall. The group of friends interacts with one another but not necessarily with the rest of the
people in the mall. Furthermore, the group of friends may depend on one another in various
aspects, while the rest only belong to an aggregate of people who occupy the game space at a
certain time.

Individuals assign great value to their relationships with people within their group, to the
extent that it defines their respective identities. Some individuals, for instance, take pride in their
group affiliations and often proclaim it publicly. They spend a considerable amount of time
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getting involved in the various activities of this group. Additionally, these group members also
prescribe to the preferences and ways of thinking and doing of its members. As a result, an
individual is enculturated as he or she forges a significant bond with the rest of the members of
his or her group.

However, not all groups produce positive consequences and benefits for their members.
Some groups such as criminal gangs and terrorist groups use violence and force to achieve their
objectives. For example, “doomsday” religious cults demand firm and unquestioning loyalty from
its followers to the point of physical harm. Meanwhile, there are instances when individuals
experience conflict with other members of their group (family, friends, etc.), which could drive
them away from the group. For better or for worse, our social groups profoundly define our
identity, as well as our roles in society.

Primary and Secondary Groups

Members of society belong to social groups that vary not only in size but also in the level
and depth of interaction and interdependence among its members. An individual is generally
closest to his or her immediate family (parents, siblings, first cousins, etc.) but not to his distant
relatives. He or she may have deep bonds with his or her close friends but could have cordial or
casual relations with other acquaintances. As one enters adulthood, he or she will discover that
there are some social groups that will exert a more profound impact on his or her life than
others.

Sociologists agree that not all groups are equivalent in terms of their level of importance.
A primary group is a small, intimate, and less specialized group whose members engage in face-
to-face and emotion-based interactions over an extended period of time. The interdependence
among members of a primary group is characterized by a deep and profound relationship with
each other. Examples of primary groups include the family, close friends, work-related peers,
classmates, and church groups. Every society is comprised of various primary groups that are
responsible for the continual social development of its members.

Primary groups are the first groups where an individual experience his or her initial
encounter with social affinity and belonging. It is within these groups that an individual
establishes and defines his or her identity, values, ideals, and aspirations, the other members of
the primary groups also serve as his or her first agents of socialization. The individual’s basic
ideas on the different facets of his or her society are significantly shaped by the members of his
or her primary groups.

In the Philippines, the primary group affiliation of Filipinos is based on kinship ties. Itis
through kinship that young Filipinos realize the great importance our culture assigns to the
family and its extended nature. Filipinos are among several societies that recognize bilineal
kinship which traces lineage from both parents. People are aware of this every time they answer
a question regarding their place of origin. A Filipino tends to put emphasis on the place of origin
of both his or her father and mother. This is because it is customary in Filipino culture to nurture
primary relationships on both sides of the family. This familial network is so strong that Filipinos
sometimes build instant affinity with people they do not know but either share a family name or
place of origin.

Secondary groups, in contrast, are larger, less intimate, and more specialized groups
where members engage in an impersonal and objective-oriented relationship for a limited time.
Unlike primary groups, the level of interaction and interdependence within secondary groups is
not deep and significant. Furthermore, while an individual knows every member of his or her
primary groups at the personal level, the same cannot be said about his or her secondary
groups. The impersonal nature of interaction between members of secondary groups allows one
to treat others as merely a means to achieve his or her immediate objectives. Individuals also
recognize that their membership to these groups is less intrinsic and more instrumental, for
example, employees treat their colleagues as a secondary group since they know that they need
to cooperate with one another to achieve certain goals in the workplace. Mutual benefit, rather
than emotional affinity, becomes the primary driving force that compel individuals to stay
together in a secondary group. Another example is the professional relationship between lawyers
and clients, and a corporation that has hundreds of employees, stockholders, and shareholders.

Throughout an individual’s lifetime, he or she will have different sets of primary and
secondary groups. The consensus among social scientists is that much of people’s time will be
spent with secondary groups given the continued urbanization and expansion of societies. Emile
Durkheim argued that the shift from traditional to modern society will impact how individuals
relate to one another. As the division of labor in society becomes more complex, people will have
less time to nurture and interact with their primary groups. This may have negative effects on
GRADE 12 – UCSP Page 4|9
the personal well-being of individuals, but they can adapt by building more personal and
profound relationships with the members of their secondary groups. For example, an employee
in a factory may initially consider his workplace as a secondary group but soon fosters a deep
bond with his or her colleagues after a considerable amount of time spent together. He or she
could also strengthen these relationships through certain cultural practices, such as inviting
colleagues to his or her wedding as sponsors, or be the godparents to his or her newborn baby. A
ritualistic kinship tie is therefore formed which leads to a primary relationship being established
in the workplace—a supposedly secondary group.

The pressure to form a primary relationship within secondary groups is quite high in
modern societies. This is also the reason why the notion of a family and the barkada as the two
major primary groups in a person’s life may no longer be as relevant as before. Though primary
groups are significant in the formative years of each individual, their influence may decrease
upon reaching adulthood. Street gangs and other underworld organizations, for example, may
provide the same companionship and emotional support as any other primary group. In other
words, incorporation into a group both helps people to adapt to various social processes and
attain their goals in life, but may also encourage them to commit wrongdoing or lead others to
socially deviant practices.

In-groups and Out-groups

Another relevant approach in understanding the characteristics of social groups is the self-
categorization theory. It proposes that people’s appreciation of their group membership is
influenced by their perception towards people who are not member of their groups. Basically,
people’s perceptions of other people as well as other groups are influenced whether they
perceive others as members of their group or not.

An in-group is a group to which one belongs and with which one feels a sense of identity.
An out-group, meanwhile, is a group to which one does not belong and to which he or she may
feel a sense of competitiveness or hostility. For every individual, distinguishing between his or
her in-groups and out-groups is essential in developing his or her identity and self-worth. One
usually treats members of his or her in-group more favorably than those of his or her out-group.
However, people’s shifting group memberships throughout their lives means that their notions of
in-groups and outgroups are likely to change.

Social scientists identify several characteristics of in-groups. First, members of such

groups devise ways to distinguish themselves from nonmembers. This may come in the form of
group titles, symbols that represent the group and its members, and even rituals required for
membership. These means of identification perform the role of infusing group solidarity as well
as exclusivity. Second, members within a certain in-group display positive attitudes and behavior
toward their fellow members for the most part, while they may exhibit negative attitudes and
even form negative views toward members of their out-groups. These shared feelings form
important bonds that further solidify the cohesiveness of the in-group. Lastly, as similarities and
shared experiences foster unity and cooperation among group members, differences with
nonmembers could transform into feelings of competition and even hostility. The establishment
of modern societies is often defined by the creation of boundaries between in-groups and out-
groups.

A representative example of the social dynamics between in-groups and outgroups are
university fraternities and sororities. A fraternity is an exclusive all male student organization,
while a sorority is an exclusive all-female organization. A lot of university students join these
organizations as they have an extensive list of accomplishments promoting academic
excellence, camaraderie, and community service. A fraternity or sorority is also a network that
weaves past and present members into an interconnected entity from different generations. This
enables them to become powerful groups with a nationwide reach as their older members
become influential members of society, government, the private sector, and many other
institutions.

Reference groups

Among the most significant and influential social groups for an individual are his or her
reference groups. A reference group is a group to which an individual compares himself or
herself. Such groups strongly influence an individual’s behavior, and social attitudes whether he
or she is a member of these groups. Examples of reference groups include an individual’s
primary groups (family, work colleagues, schoolmates, etc.) or his or her in-groups (church,
fellow club members, neighbor, in the community, sports team, etc.). Individuals often identify
with and emulate the traits of people they feel closest to. For instance, they seek to emulate the
career oy profession of one of their parents. In other cases, individuals may find themselves
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outside their reference group and seek to become a member in the future. In this regard,
members of the reference group provide models that shape their attitudes, beliefs, and behavior.
The reference group is considered a source of role models since the individual uses it as a
standard for self-assessment. The tendency of individuals to emulate their desired reference
group have led these groups to become powerful agents of socialization.
A reference group sets itself apart from other groups in the sense that it can mold people's in life
and inspire them to pursue greater things.

It is not necessary for an individual to engage in face-to-face interaction with his or her
reference group. He or she might not even meet the members of his or her reference group
personally in his or her lifetime. Imitation of reference group behavior can have positive and
negative consequences. For example, a young person might consider a rock band as his or her
reference group. He or she might form his or her own rock band and draw inspiration from the
said reference group in terms of singing, physical appearance, and demeanor. However, he or
she may also pick up some of their bad habits like throwing tantrums, displaying unpleasant
behavior, and engaging in bad vices such as smoking, drinking, and doing drugs. It is therefore
important to have as much information and knowledge regarding a person’s reference groups
given the critical role that they will play in the future. The social norms people follow, the
attitudes they adopt, and the behaviors they exhibit are significantly influenced by those
displayed by members of their reference group.

Networks

How people interact within their established social groups and with other groups in society
is often a complicated affair, requiring individuals to situate themselves in a complex web of
relationships. Individuals often have overlapping memberships with different social groups, and
have varying levels of interactions with each. This leads to various issues and concerns
regarding balancing loyalties and identities given the often-complex interactions among groups
in society.

Sociologists use the concept “network” to understand the complex world of social groups.
A network refers to the structure of relationships between social actors or groups. These are
interconnections, ties, and linkages between people, their groups, and the larger social
institutions to which they all belong to. In the age of the Internet, a good example of networks is
those provided by social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. One can
instantly map his or her own social network through his or her accounts in these online platforms
of communication. One can identify close friends, acquaintances, and “followers” as this
technological tool lets one envision his or her very own complex web of social interaction and
group memberships. Social media is a significant development in the twenty-first century and its
rapid evolution continues to change the way people manage the complicated nature of their
social relationships and group affinities.

Sociologist and anthropologists differentiate between the networks formed in traditional

and modern societies. In traditional or primitive societies, networks are exclusive, limited, and
mostly defined by kinship. They provide solidarity through shared identities and a simple division
of labor and social roles. Modern society, meanwhile, redefined the “safe and secure”
arrangement provided by traditional networks by allowing the individual to become part of a
more expanded and cosmopolitan network with overlapping circles of social interaction. Through
modern social networks, an individual is provided a diversity of social roles ang identities
unavailable in more traditional societies. People are more empowered to craft a more
complicated set of identities with the help of various social groups whose membership is not
based on blood relations and kinship ties. Despite a wide array of differences, individuals
become increasingly reliant on their social relationships for support and the means to achieve
mutual objectives. People’s networks enable them to appreciate and accept differences and
diversity within the society, and this mindset contributes to a more stable and intact society.

A network perspective in examining the multitude of social relationships and group

memberships entails a dynamic appreciation of their interrelated and interdependent nature. A
social network also provides an important context in understanding how various groups. Are
interrelated with one another. For example, if an individual examines his or her entire school’s
social network, he or she will realize that his or her goals, behavior, norms, attitudes, and beliefs
are shaped by how he or she is situated in these networks and his or her relationships to specific
groups. Moreover, one will also realize that his or her decisions and actions are not merely a
product of individual choice or group membership but are also influenced by one’s interaction
with his or her social network. When individuals finish their basic education and enter college,
their social networks become more complicated. Their daily lives will be significantly affected by
the addition of new group memberships and social relationships.
GRADE 12 – UCSP Page 6|9
 A social network provides a bigger pool from which people draw their possible sources of
identity, self-esteem, and self-actualization. It is the larger source where people find alternative
groups if their previous ones fail or disappoint them. They’ may find new reference groups within
their ever-growing social network. And sometimes, when they face the stress of social life or the
pressures of school and work, they retreat to the more familiar parts of their network such as
their family or immediate circle of friends. Some proactively expand their social network as they
grab every opportunity to meet new people, establish links, and make connections, Others are
more content with their existing network and will seek to expand it only when necessary. The
increasing mobility of people and the diverse opportunities brought about by improved
communication and technology are signs that the dual task of maintaining and expanding one’s
social network will soon become less of a choice but rather a necessity in the years to come.

REVIEW

 A social group is a collection of individuals who have relations with one another that make
them interdependent to some significant degree.

 The presence of mutual interdependence is what differentiates a social group from a social
aggregate. A social aggregate is a mere collection of people in the same place at the same
time and does not necessarily influence an individual’s social actions due to the lack of
direct interaction and interdependence with the people composing it.

 A primary group is a small, intimate, and less specialized group whereby members engage
in a face-to-face and emotion-based interaction and interdependence over an extended
period of time. Secondary groups, in contrast, are larger, less intimate, and more
specialized groups whereby members engage in an impersonal and objective-oriented
relationships for a limited period of time.

 An in-group is a group to which a person belongs and with which he or she feels a sense of
identity. An out-group, meanwhile, is a group to which one does not belong and to which
he or she may feel a sense of competitiveness or hostility.

 A reference group is a group to which an individual compares himself or herself. It has a

strong influence on an individual’s beliefs, values, behavior, and attitudes.

 A network refers to the structure of relationships between social actors or groups. These
are interconnections, ties, and linkages between people, their groups, and the larger social
institutions to which they all belong, Modern societies feature more expansive, diverse,
and overlapping social networks than primitive ones.

POST-TEST

A. Identification:
Directions: Identify the terms being referred to in the following statements. Write your answer on
the last page of your module (THE ASESSMENT PAGE).

______________________1. a collection of individuals who have relations with one another that
make them interdependent to some significant degree.
______________________2. a mere collection of people in the same place at the same time and does
not necessarily influence an individual’s social actions.
______________________3. a small, intimate, and less specialized group whereby members engage
in a face-to-face and emotion-based interaction and interdependence.
______________________4. a group to which a person belongs and with which he or she feels a
sense of identity.
______________________5. a group to which an individual compares himself or herself.

B. Essay
Directions: Answer the following question below and write your answer on the last page of your
module (THE ASESSMENT PAGE).

1. What are some of your reference groups? Does it have a major influence on your beliefs,
attitudes, values and behavior. Explain your answer by stating some examples.

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ACTIVITY
Directions: Create a concept map illustrating your own personal social network. Place yourself in
the center and map out all your primary and secondary relationships. Illustrate your map in a
LONG BOND PAPER either handwritten or encoded and attached it on your ASSESSMENT
PAGE on the day of submission.

PHILIPPINE INTEGRATED SCHOOL FOUNDATION, INC.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Bangon, Marawi City 9700
School ID: 478012
email add: nadjamoh16@[Link] , FB account: Pis FI

Assessment

Answer Sheet

Name: _____________________________________________ Module no. 4

Strand & Section: _____________________________
Pretest
Multiple Choice
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5.

POST-TEST

A. Identification

1.

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3.

4.

5.

B. Essay

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