Lecture Notes on Social Groups

Flashcards covering key concepts related to social groups, including in-groups, out-groups, reference groups, primary and secondary groups, manifest and latent functions, Thomas Theorem, self-fulfilling prophecy, and stereotypes.

In-groups

Groups to which an individual belongs and feels loyalty towards.

Out-groups

Groups to which an individual does not belong and feels antagonism towards.

Reference groups

Groups that individuals use as a standard for evaluating themselves.

Primary groups

Small, intimate groups with close relationships.

Secondary groups

Larger, less intimate groups with more formal relationships.

Manifest functions

The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern

Latent functions

The unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern

Thomas Theorem

If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.

Stereotypes

A generalized belief about a particular category of people.