INNER/OUTER DEFINITIONS OF GROUP MEANING AND IDENTITY

Definitions of what the group is like, what it does and what it values differ depending on wether you are a member and thus looking from the inside or a non-member and thus looking form the outside. How you think and feel about the group will also reflect this perspective.

The diffence between WE/THEY is important. The sense of 'we' is a feeling of comfortableness, of belonging.

Differences between groups are maximized, differences within are minimized, ignored or denied.

Membership places constraints on behavior of both dominant and subordinate groups. Both are defined by their relationship to each other. A= A and NOT B, B = B and NOT A.

Symbols are important to maintain group solidarity and definition.

WHO IS/ IS NOT A MEMBER?

Ther are three basic ways of becoming amember of a group: birth, marriage, adoption. Groups differ to the degree that they recognize all three ways of being a member. Membership is sometimes defined as being a member of a family in the society and sometimes defined by being considered a member of the state whether one is a member of a family or not. In some societies there many be differences in access to benefits depending on whether one was born into the group or joined the group as an adult. The boundaries between members and non-members is important and permission to cross those boundaries must be given and recognized.

Return to Soc 315 or Soc 315 schedule