chapter 5

Question 1

Almost everyone wants a sense of belonging, which is the essence of group life. A social group is…

Answer 1

Two or more people who identify with and interact with one another.

Question 2

While keeping their individuality, members of social groups also think of themselves as a special…

Answer 2

“we”.

Question 3

Not every collection of individuals forms a group.

Answer 3

People all over the country with a status in common, such as women, homeowners, soldiers, millionaires, university graduates, and Roman Catholics, are not a group but a category. Though they know that others hold the same status, most are strangers to one another.

Question 4

Similarly, students in a large lecture hall interact to a very limited extent.

Answer 4

Such a loosely formed collection of people in one place is a crowd rather than a group. However, the right circumstances can quickly turn a crowd into a group. Events from terrorist attacks to policemen at Osgoode Law School in Toronto saying that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized” can make people bond quickly with strangers.

Question 5

Define primary group.

Answer 5

A small social group whose members share personal and lasting relationships.