A set of interconnected social communities and groups. The social structure of society is an integral set of interconnected and interacting

Labor Relations 21.05.2020

Labor Relations

The social structure of a society is a set of interrelated and interacting social communities and groups, social institutions, social statuses and relations between them. All elements of the social structure interact as a single social organism. To more clearly represent all the complexity and multidimensionality of the social structure, it can be conditionally divided into two subsystems: I) the social composition of society; 2) the institutional structure of society.

1. The social composition of a society is a set of interacting social communities, social groups and individuals that form a particular society. Each social community takes a certain place, a certain position in the social structure. Some social communities take more advantageous positions, others less advantageous. In addition, in the social community itself, individual social groups (individual individuals) also occupy different social positions and have different social statuses (Fig. 1).

2. The institutional structure of society is a set of interacting social institutions that provide sustainable forms of organization and management of society. Each institution (group of institutions) regulates relations in a certain sphere of society, for example, political institutions (state, parties, etc.) regulate relations in the political sphere, economic ones - in the economic sphere (Fig. 2).

The institutional system of society can be represented in the form of a matrix, cells (institutions, statuses) of which are filled by specific people from certain social groups and communities. Thus, the social composition of society is "superimposed" on the institutional structure. At the same time, specific people can occupy and release certain cells (statuses), and the matrix (structure) itself is relatively stable. For example, the President of Russia, in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, is re-elected every four years, and the status of the President and the institution of the presidency remain unchanged for many years; parents grow old and die, and new generations take over their status.

In a democratic society, all social institutions are formally (by law) equal to each other. However, in real life, some institutions can dominate others. For example, political institutions can impose their will on economic ones, and vice versa. Each social institution has its own social statuses, which are also not equivalent. For example, the status of the president in political institutions is central; the status of a deputy of parliament is more significant than the status of an ordinary voter; the status of a firm owner or manager in economic institutions is more preferable than the status of an ordinary employee, etc.

Even a brief analysis of the social structure of society allows us to conclude that the social structure is both the structure of society's differentiation and the resulting system of social inequality.

Differentiation (from lat. differentia - difference) - division, stratification of the whole into different parts, forms and stages according to the principle "higher-lower".

There are two main types of inequality:

1) natural inequalitydue to natural differences between people (gender, age, physical and mental data, etc.);
2) social inequality, generated by social factors (division of labor, way of life, the possession of certain goods, the level of education, power, etc.).

For a primitive society, natural inequality is most characteristic, since the distribution of statuses and roles was carried out, as a rule, taking into account the natural differences of people (female labor, male labor, child labor, etc.). In modern society, social inequality is the main one, that is, inequality caused by social factors, although natural differences also have a certain value.

Inequality is a necessary condition for the organization and functioning of social life. Any social organization, any society can function and develop only under conditions of functional differentiation, and management always presupposes the subordination of some social groups to others. Even in a small social group there is a functional (role) hierarchy, and if two members of the group claim the same group status and strive to perform the same functions, then conflicts will constantly arise between them. The reasons for such conflicts were already known in primitive society. Therefore, our distant ancestors, in the event of the birth of same-sex twins, as a rule, left only one baby alive, killing the others. They feared that twins, possessing the same natural qualities, would claim the same social status and thus have a negative impact on the entire community - community, clan, tribe.

Functionalism explains the causes of social inequality by the fact that society can develop only through the division of labor. For example, some members of society are engaged in the production of material goods, others create spiritual values, others work in the service sector, others are engaged in management, etc. Moreover, the level of differentiation of various spheres of life also indicates the level of development of the society itself.

Different types of activities are valued differently. Some activities are considered more important, others less important. Some social functions require lengthy and very complex training, while some other functions do not require such training. In accordance with the social significance of a particular social role and the level of qualifications of an individual

the species performing it, he receives a certain reward from society and is endowed with a certain social status. therefore social inequality is the inequality of status, which is due to the inequality of the abilities and capabilities of individuals.

The conflictological paradigm in sociology proceeds from the fact that in society there is a constant struggle between individuals and social groups for the possession of higher social statuses (property, power, prestige, etc.). In a democratic society and a state governed by the rule of law, the forms and rules of the struggle are regulated by the corresponding legal norms. For example, US citizens are proud to call their society a “society of equal opportunities,” meaning, first of all, the equality of citizens before the law. Unfortunately, Russian citizens cannot yet be proud of the level of observance of the rights and freedoms guaranteed by law.

Any society inevitably reproduces social inequality. For these purposes, at different times and in different countries there were institutions of social inequality. Thus, the institution of slavery existed in slave societies; in caste society - caste division of people; in class society - division into estates. In all traditional societies, class is usually determined by birth. In a democratic society, class and caste divisions are not taken into account. It has its own mechanisms, its own principles for differentiating people into different social strata and classes.

Cm.: Girard R. Violence and sacred. M., 2000.S. 73-75.

Social structure of society

1. The concept of social structure and its constituent elements.

The social structure of a society is a set of interrelated and interacting social communities and groups, social institutions, social statuses and relations between them. All elements of the social structure interact as a single social organism. In order to more clearly represent all the complexity and multidimensionality of the social structure, it can be conditionally divided into two subsystems: 1) the social composition of society; 2) the institutional structure of society.

1. The social composition of society is owl payback of interactions existing social communities, social nal groups and individuals, calling a specific society. It seems giving social communitythere is a specific place, definedposition in the social structureround. Some social communities fortake more advantageous positions, others are less profitablee. In addition, in the very socialcommunity, individual social groups (individual individuals)
also occupy different socialpositions and have different socialother statuses (fig. 1).

2. Institutional framework hurray society is a set interacting social institutions providing sustainability tive forms of organization and management of society. Every institution (group of institutions) regulates relationships in a particular area societies, such as political institutions (state, parties and others) regulate relations in the political sphere, economic - in the economic (Fig. 2).

3. The institutional system of society can be represented in the form of a matrix, cells (institutions, statuses) of which are filled by specific people from certain social groups and communities. Thus, the social composition of society is "superimposed" on the institutional structure. At the same time, specific people can occupy and release certain cells (statuses), and the matrix (structure) itself is relatively stable. For example, the President of Ukraine, in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, is re-elected every five years, and the status of the President and the institution presidencies have remained unchanged for many years; parents grow old and die, and new generations take over their statuses.

4. In a democratic society, all social institutions are formally (by law) equal to each other. However, in real life, some institutions can dominate others. For example, political institutions can impose their will on economic ones and vice versa. Each social institution has its own social statuses, which are also not equivalent. For example, the status of the president in political institutions is central; the status of a deputy of parliament is more significant than the status of an ordinary voter; the status of a firm owner or manager in economic institutions is more preferable than the status of an ordinary employee, etc.

Social community

A social community is a large or small group of people with common social characteristics, occupying the same social position, united by joint activities (or value orientations).

Society as an integral socio-cultural system consists of many individuals who simultaneously belong to large and small social communities. For example, a specific individual - a citizen of his country - can simultaneously be a member of such large social communities as ethnic, territorial, professional, etc. In addition, he, as a rule, is a member of several small social groups at once - family, work brigade, scientific department , circle of friends, etc. People of the same profession or one kind of activity (miners, doctors, teachers, metallurgists, nuclear scientists) are united in a community; with common ethnic characteristics (Russians, Tatars, Evenks); with approximately the same social status (representatives of the lower, middle or upper classes), etc.

A social community is not a sum of separate individuals, but is an integral system and, like any system, has its own sources of self-development and is a subject of social interaction.

Social communities are distinguished by a wide variety of types and forms, for example, according to the following features:

in quantitative composition - from two or three people to tens and even hundreds of millions;
by the duration of existence - from several minutes to many millennia;
by basic system-forming characteristics - professional, territorial, ethnic, demographic,
sociocultural, confessional, etc.

Social groups are the main form of social communities.

Society in its concrete life reality acts as an aggregate of many social groups. A person's entire life from birth to death takes place in these groups: family, school, student, industrial, army teams, sports team, circle of friends, girlfriends, etc. A social group is a kind of intermediary between an individual and society. This is the immediate environment in which social processes arise and develop. In this sense, it serves as a connecting link in the "personality-society" system. A person realizes his belonging to society and his social interests through belonging to a particular social group, through which he participates in the life of society. Membership in various groups determines a person's status and authority in society.

2. Social stratification.

Even Plato and Aristotle divided society (state) into three main social strata: upper, middle and lower. Subsequently, the division of social groups and individuals into categories was called the social-class structure of society.

Social-class structure of society - it is a set of interacting social classes, social strata and relations between them.

The foundations of the modern approach to the study of the social-class structure of society and the determination of people's belonging to certain social strata (strata) were laid by M. Weber. He viewed the social structure of society as multidimensional, multilevel. Without denying the importance of the economic factor in the social inequality of people, M. Weber introduced such additional criteria for determining social belonging as social prestige (social status) and attitude to power (ability and ability to use the resources of power). Social prestige, according to M. Weber, may not depend on wealth and power. For example, scientists, lawyers, priests, and public figures may have relatively small incomes, but at the same time have a higher prestige than many wealthy entrepreneurs or high-ranking officials.

P. Sorokin, T. Parsois, J. Shils, B. Barber, W. Moore, and others made a significant contribution to the development of the theory of stratification. Thus, the sociologist P. Sorokin most clearly substantiated the criteria for people to belong to a particular stratum. He identifies three main criteria: economic, professional, political.

Social stratification theory gives a more realistic idea of \u200b\u200bthe social structure of modern society than the Marxist teaching about classes. It is based on the principle of differentiation (stratification) of people into social classes and strata (strata) according to such criteria as the level of income, authority, prestige of the profession, level of education, etc. In this case, the concept of "class" is used as a collective term that unites people with approximately the same statuses.

Social stratification is the differentiation (stratification) of a certain set of people into social classes and strata in a hierarchical rank (into higher and lower ones). Strata (from lat. stratum - layer, layer) - the social layer of people with similar social indicators. The basis of the stratification structure is the natural and social inequality of people.

The social-class structure of modern society is usually divided into three main social classes: highest, middle and lower. For greater differentiation according to certain social characteristics, each class, in turn, can be divided into separate social strata-strata.

The number of divisions into classes and strata may depend on the specific tasks of sociological research. If the purpose of the study is to get a general idea of \u200b\u200bthe social structure of society, then the number of divisions will be small. If it is necessary to obtain more detailed information about certain social strata or about the structure as a whole, then the number of divisions can be increased in accordance with the objectives of the study.

When studying the social structure, it is necessary to take into account that the social composition of society (division into social communities), as a rule, does not coincide with social-class differentiation. For example, a highly skilled worker in terms of income level, lifestyle and ways of satisfying his needs can be attributed to the middle class, and a low-skilled worker - to the lower.

Every society seeks to institutionalize social inequality so that no one can arbitrarily and chaotically change the structure of social stratification. For this, there are special mechanisms (institutions) that protect and reproduce the social hierarchy. For example, the institution of property gives different chances to a rich heir and a descendant of a poor family; the institute of education makes it easier to make a career for those who have acquired the relevant knowledge; membership in a political party provides an opportunity to make a political career, etc.

In different spheres of life, an individual can occupy different social positions. For example, a person with a high political status may receive relatively little income, while a wealthy entrepreneur may not have proper education, etc. Therefore, to determine social status of a particular individual or social group in empirical research use integral indicator of social position (integral status), which is determined by the totality of all measurements.

In addition to this method, there are others, for example, the self-classification method, the essence of which is self-assessment of one's class affiliation. It cannot be considered objective in terms of assessment criteria, but to a large extent reflects the class self-consciousness of people.

3. Social mobility and marginality.

The relative stability of the social structure of society does not mean that there are no movements, changes and displacements taking place in it. Some generations of people are leaving, and their places (statuses) are taken by others; new types of activity, new professions, new social statuses appear; an individual during his life can (forced) repeatedly change his social position, etc.

The movement of people from one social group, class, stratum to another is called social mobility. The term “social mobility” was introduced into sociology by P. A. Sorokin, who considered social mobility as any change in social status. In modern sociology, the theory of social mobility is widely used to study the social structure of society.

There are the following types of social mobility:

vertical upward and downward mobility. For example, an individual occupies a higher position, significantly improves his financial position, wins elections or vice versa, loses a prestigious job, his company goes bankrupt, etc .;
horizontal mobility - movement of an individual or group within one social stratum;
individual mobility - a separate individual moves in an asocial space in one direction or another;
group mobility - whole social groups, social strata and classes change their social position in the social structure. For example, former peasants move into the category of hired workers; miners liquidated because of the unprofitability of mines become workers in other areas.

Movements of large social groups occur especially intensively during periods of economic restructuring, acute socio-economic crises, large socio-political upheavals (revolution, civil war, etc.). For example, the revolutionary events of 1917 in Russia and Ukraine led to the overthrow of the old ruling class and the formation of a new ruling elite, new social strata. Currently, Ukraine is also undergoing major political and economic changes. Socio-economic relations, ideological guidelines, political priorities are changing, new social classes and social strata appear.

Changing social positions (statuses) requires a lot of effort from the individual (group). A new status, a new role, a new sociocultural environment dictate their own conditions, their own rules of the game. Adaptation to new conditions is often associated with a radical restructuring of life orientations. In addition, the new social environment itself has some kind of filters, carrying out the selection of “friends” and the rejection of “aliens”. It so happens that a person, having lost his socio-cultural environment, cannot adapt to a new one. Then he seems to "get stuck" between two social strata, between two cultures. For example, a wealthy former small entrepreneur is trying to get into the higher strata of society. He seems to emerge from his old milieu, but he is also a stranger to the new milieu - "a hodgepodge of the nobility." Another example: a former scientist who is forced to earn his living by carriage or small business is burdened by his position; for him the new environment is alien. Often he becomes the object of ridicule and humiliation on the part of less educated, but more adapted to the conditions of their environment "colleagues in the shop".

Marginals (French that rgipa1 - extreme) - a socio-psychological concept. This is not only a certain intermediate position of the individual in the social structure, but also his own self-perception, self-awareness. If a homeless person feels comfortable in his social environment, then he is not a marginal. A marginal is one who believes that his current situation is temporary or accidental. People who are forced to change their type of activity, profession, sociocultural environment, place of residence, etc. (for example, refugees) experience their marginalization especially hard.

It is necessary to distinguish between marginality as an integral part of natural social mobility and forced marginality, emerged in a crisis society, which becomes a tragedy for large social groups. “Natural” marginality does not have a massive and long-term character and does not pose a threat to the stable development of society. “Forced” mass marginality, which takes on a protracted long-term character, testifies to the crisis state of society.

4. Social institutions.

A social institution is a relatively stable complex (system) of norms, rules, customs, traditions, principles, statuses and roles that regulate relations in various spheres of society. For example, political institutions regulate relations in the political sphere, economic - in the economic sphere, and so on.

However, it should be borne in mind that a social institution is a multifunctional system. Therefore, one institution can participate in the performance of several functions in different spheres of society, and vice versa, several institutions can participate in the performance of one function. For example, the institution of marriage regulates marital relations, participates in the regulation of family relations, and at the same time can contribute to the regulation of property relations, inheritance, etc.

Social institutions are formed and created to meet the most important individual and social needs and interests. They are the main regulatory mechanisms in all major spheres of human life. Institutions ensure stability and predictability of relations and behavior of people, protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, protect society from disorganization, and form a social system.

The social institution should be distinguished from specific organizations, social groups and individuals. The modes of interaction and behavior prescribed by institutions are impersonal. For example, the institution of the family is not specific parents, children and other family members, but a certain system of formal and informal norms and rules, social statuses and roles, on the basis of which family relations are built. Therefore, any person involved in the activities of an institution must fulfill the relevant requirements. If a person does not fulfill the social role prescribed by the institution, then he can be deprived of his status (a parent can be deprived of his parental rights, an official - his position, etc.).

To perform its functions, a social institution forms (creates) the necessary institutions within which its activities are organized. In addition, each institution must have the necessary funds and resources.

For example, for functioning of the institution of education, such institutions as schools, colleges, universities are created, the necessary buildings and structures are built, funds and other resources are allocated.

All human life is organized, directed, supported and controlled by social institutions. So, a child, as a rule, is born in one of the institutions of the institute of health care - a maternity hospital, primary socialization takes place in the institute of the family, receives an education and a profession in various institutions of institutes of general and vocational education; the safety of the individual is ensured by such institutions as the state, government, courts, police, etc .; health care and social welfare institutions support health. At the same time, each institution in its area performs the functions of social control and makes people obey the accepted norms. The main social institutions in society are:

family and marriage institutions - the need for the reproduction of the human race and primary socialization;

political institutions (state, parties, etc.) - needs for security, order and management;

economic institutions (production, property, etc.) - the need to obtain means of subsistence;

educational institutions - the need for socialization of the younger generations, transfer of knowledge, training;

cultural institutions - the need for the reproduction of the socio-cultural environment, for the transfer of cultural norms and values \u200b\u200bto the younger generations;

institutions of religion - the need for solving spiritual problems.

The institutional system of society does not remain unchanged. As society develops, new social needs arise and new institutions are formed to meet them. At the same time, the "old" institutions are either reformed (adapting to new conditions) or disappear. For example, such social institutions as the institution of slavery, the institution of serfdom, and the institution of the monarchy were eliminated in many countries. They were replaced by the institution of the presidency, the institution of parliamentarism, the institutions of civil society, and such institutions as the institutions of family and marriage, institutions of religion have significantly transformed.

5. Social organizations.

Society as a social reality is ordered not only institutionally, but also organizationally. Social organization is a certain way of joint activities of people, after which it takes the form of an ordered, regulated, coordinated, aimed at achieving specific goals of interaction. Organization as a process of establishing and coordinating the behavior of individuals is inherent in all public formations: associations of people, organizations, institutions, etc.

Social organization is a social group focused on achieving interrelated specific goals and the formation of highly formalized structures.

Formal organizations. They build social relations on the basis of the regulation of ties, statuses, norms. They are, for example, an industrial enterprise, a company, a university, a municipal structure (city hall). The basis of the formal organization is the division of labor, its specialization on a functional basis. The more developed the specialization, the more diverse and complex the administrative functions will be, the more multifaceted the structure of the organization. The formal organization resembles a pyramid in which tasks are differentiated at several levels. In addition to the horizontal division of labor, it is characterized by coordination, leadership (hierarchy of job positions) and various vertical specializations. Formal organization is rational, it is characterized by official connections between individuals; it is fundamentally impersonal, i.e. is designed for abstract individuals between whom standardized relationships are established based on formal business communication. Under certain conditions, these features of the formal organization turn it into a bureaucratic system.

Informal organizations ... They are based on companionship and personal choice of connections of the participants and are characterized by social independence. These are amateur groups, relationships of leadership, sympathy, etc. The informal organization has a significant impact on the formal and seeks to change the existing relationships in it according to its needs.

The overwhelming majority of the goals that people, social communities set themselves, cannot be achieved without social organizations, which predetermines their ubiquity and diversity. The most significant among them:

Organizations for the production of goods and services (industrial, agricultural, service enterprises and
firms, financial institutions, banks);

Organizations in the field of education (preschool, school,
higher educational institutions, institutions of additional education);

Healthcare organizations,
health protection, recreation, physical education and
sports (hospitals, sanatoriums, tourist centers, stadiums);

Research organizations;

Bodies of legislative, executive power.

They are also called business organizations that perform socially useful functions: cooperation, cooperation, subordination (subordination), management, social control.

In general, each organization exists in a specific physical, technological, cultural, political and social environment, must adapt to it and coexist with it. There are no self-sufficient, closed organizations. All of them, in order to exist, work, achieve goals, must have numerous connections with the outside world.

A person participates in public life not as an isolated individual, but as a member of social communities - a family, a friendly company, a work collective, a nation, a class, etc. His activities are largely determined by the activities of those groups in which he is included, as well as interactions within and between groups. Accordingly, in sociology, society acts not only as an abstraction, but also as a set of specific social groups, which are in a certain dependence on each other.

The structure of the entire social system, the totality of interrelated and interacting social groups and social communities, as well as social institutions and relations between them is the social structure of society.

In sociology, the problem of dividing society into groups (including nations, classes), their interaction is one of the cardinal ones and is characteristic of all levels of theory.

Social group concept

Group is one of the main elements of the social structure of society and is a collection of people united by any essential feature - common activity, common economic, demographic, ethnographic, psychological characteristics. This concept is used in jurisprudence, economics, history, ethnography, demography, psychology. In sociology, the term "social group" is commonly used.

Not every community of people is called a social group.... If people are just in a certain place (on a bus, at a stadium), then such a temporary community can be called “aggregation”. A social community that unites people only on one or several similar grounds is also not called a group; the term "category" is used here. For example, a sociologist might classify students between the ages of 14 and 18 as youth; elderly people to whom the state pays benefits, provides benefits for the payment of utilities - to the category of pensioners, etc.

Social group - it is an objectively existing stable community, a set of individuals interacting in a certain way based on several characteristics, in particular, the shared expectations of each member of the group in relation to others.

The concept of a group as an independent one, along with the concepts of personality (individual) and society, is already found in Aristotle. In modern times, T. Hobbes was the first to define a group as "a known number of people united by a common interest or common cause."

Under social group it is necessary to understand any objectively existing a stable set of people connected by a system of relationshipsregulated by formal or informal social institutions. Society in sociology is viewed not as a monolithic entity, but as a set of many social groups interacting and being in a certain dependence on each other. Each person during his life belongs to many similar groups, including a family, a friendly team, a student group, a nation, etc. The creation of groups is facilitated by similar interests and goals of people, as well as the realization of the fact that by combining actions, a significantly greater result can be achieved than by individual action. At the same time, the social activity of each person is largely determined by the activities of those groups in which he is included, as well as the interaction within and between groups. It can be argued with complete confidence that only in a group does a person become a person and is able to find complete self-expression.

Concept, formation and types of social groups

The most important elements of the social structure of society are social groups and. As forms of social interaction, they are such associations of people whose joint, solidarity actions are aimed at meeting their needs.

There are many definitions of the concept of "social group". Thus, according to some Russian sociologists, a social group is a collection of people who have common social characteristics, who perform a socially necessary function in the structure of the social division of labor and activity. The American sociologist R. Merton defines a social group as a set of individuals interacting in a certain way with each other, realizing their belonging to this group and recognized as members of this group from the point of view of others. He identifies three main features in a social group: interaction, membership and unity.

Unlike mass communities, social groups are characterized by:

stable interaction, contributing to the strength and stability of their existence;
a relatively high degree of unity and cohesion;
clearly expressed homogeneity of the composition, suggesting the presence of signs inherent in all members of the group;
the possibility of entering wider social communities as structural units.

Since each person in the process of his life is a member of a wide variety of social groups, differing in size, nature of interaction, degree of organization and many other characteristics, it becomes necessary to classify them according to certain criteria.

There are the following types of social groups:

1. Depending on the nature of the interaction - primary and secondary (Appendix, Scheme 9).

Primary group, according to C. Cooley's definition, is a group in which the interaction between members is direct, interpersonal and characterized by a high level of emotionality (family, classroom, peer group, etc.). Carrying out the socialization of the individual, the primary group acts as a link between the individual and society.

Secondary group - this is a larger group, in which interaction is subordinated to the achievement of a specific goal and is formal, impersonal. In these groups, the focus is not on the personal, unique qualities of the group members, but on their ability to perform certain functions. Organizations (industrial, political, religious, etc.) are examples of such groups.

2. Depending on the way of organizing and regulating interactions - formal and informal.

Formal group is a group with a legal status, interaction in which is regulated by a system of formalized norms, rules, laws. These groups are deliberately target, normatively fixed hierarchical structure and act in accordance with the administratively established order (organizations, enterprises, etc.).

Informal group arises spontaneously, based on common views, interests and interpersonal interactions... It is deprived of official regulation and legal status. These groups are usually led by informal leaders. Examples include friendly companies, youth associations, rock music lovers, etc.

3. Depending on the individuals belonging to them - ingroup and outgroup.

Ingroup - this is a group to which the individual feels a direct belonging and identifies it as “mine”, “our” (for example, “my family”, “my class”, “my company”, etc.).

Outgroup - this is a group to which this individual does not belong and therefore evaluates it as “alien”, not his own (other families, another religious group, another ethnic group, etc.). Each individual of the ingroup has its own scale for evaluating outgroups: from indifferent to aggressively hostile. Therefore, sociologists propose to measure the degree of acceptance or closeness in relation to other groups according to the so-called Bogardus' social distance scale.

Reference group Is a real or imaginary social group, the system of values, norms and assessments of which serves as a standard for the individual. The term was first coined by the American social psychologist Hyman. The reference group in the system of relations "personality - society" performs two important functions: normativebeing for an individual a source of norms of behavior, social attitudes and value orientations; comparative, acting as a standard for the individual, allows him to determine his place in the social structure of society, to evaluate himself and others.

4. Depending on the quantitative composition and the form of implementation of connections - small and large.

- this is a directly contacting small group of people united to carry out joint activities.

A small group can take many forms, but the original are "dyad" and "triad", they are called the simplest molecules small group. Dyad consists of two people and is considered an extremely fragile association, in triad actively interact three persons, it is more stable.

The small group is characterized by:

small and stable composition (usually from 2 to 30 people);
spatial proximity of group members;
stability and duration of existence:
a high degree of coincidence of group values, norms and patterns of behavior;
the intensity of interpersonal relationships;
a developed sense of belonging to a group;
informal control and information saturation in the group.

Large group - This is a group that is numerous in its composition, which is created for a specific purpose and the interaction in which is mainly mediated (labor collectives, enterprises, etc.). This also includes numerous groups of people with common interests and occupying the same position in the social structure of society. For example, social class, professional, political and other organizations.

A collective (Latin collectivus) is a social group in which all vital connections between people are mediated through socially important goals.

Characteristic features of the team:

combination of interests of the individual and society;
a commonality of goals and principles that act for team members as value orientations and norms of activity. The team performs the following functions:
subject - the solution of the problem for which it is created;
socio-educational - a combination of the interests of the individual and society.

5. Depending on socially significant features - real and nominal.

Real groups are groups distinguished according to socially significant criteria:

floor - men and women;
age - children, youth, adults, elderly;
income - rich, poor, prosperous;
nationality - Russians, French, Americans;
marital status - married, single, divorced;
profession (occupation) - doctors, economists, managers;
location - townspeople, villagers.

Nominal (conditional) groups, sometimes called social categories, are allocated for the purpose of conducting a sociological study or statistical accounting of the population (for example, to find out the number of privileged passengers, single mothers, students receiving personal scholarships, etc.).

Along with social groups in sociology, the concept of "quasigroup" is distinguished.

A quasigroup is an informal, spontaneous, unstable social community that does not have a definite structure and value system, the interaction of people in which is, as a rule, external and short-term.

The main types of quasigroups are:

The audience is a social community, united by interaction with a communicator and receiving information from him... The heterogeneity of this social education, due to the difference in personal qualities, as well as cultural values \u200b\u200band norms of the people included in it, determines the different degrees of perception and evaluation of the information received.

- a temporary, relatively unorganized, unstructured accumulation of people united in a closed physical space by a common interest, but at the same time devoid of a clearly perceived goal and related to each other by the similarity of an emotional state. Highlight the general characteristics of the crowd:

suggestibility - people in the crowd are usually more suggestible than outside;
anonymity - the individual, being in the crowd, as if merges with it, becomes unrecognizable, considering that it is difficult to "calculate";
spontaneity (contagion) - people in a crowd are subject to rapid transmission and change in emotional state;
unconsciousness - the individual feels invulnerable in the crowd, out of social control, therefore his actions are "saturated" with collective unconscious instincts and become unpredictable.

Depending on the way the crowd is formed and the behavior of people, the following types are distinguished in it:

random crowd - an indefinite set of individuals, formed spontaneously without any purpose (to watch a celebrity suddenly appear or a traffic accident);
conventional crowd - a relatively structured gathering of people, influenced by planned predetermined norms (spectators in the theater, fans in the stadium, etc.);
expressive crowd - a social quasigroup formed for the personal pleasure of its members, which in itself is already a goal and a result (discos, rock festivals, etc.);
active (active) crowd - a group performing some actions, which can act in the form of: gatherings - an emotionally agitated, violent crowd, and rebellious crowd - a group characterized by special aggressiveness and destructive actions.

In the history of the development of sociological science, various theories have emerged that explain the mechanisms of crowd formation (G. Le Bon, R. Turner, and others). But for all the dissimilarity of points of view, one thing is clear: to manage the command of the crowd it is important: 1) to identify the sources of the emergence of norms; 2) identify their carriers by structuring the crowd; 3) purposefully influence their creators, offering the crowd meaningful goals and algorithms for further actions.

Among quasigroups, social circles are the closest to social groups.

Social circles are social communities that are created for the purpose of exchanging information between their members.

Polish sociologist J. Schepansky identifies the following types of social circles: contact - communities constantly meeting on the basis of certain conditions (interest in sports competitions, sports, etc.); professional - gathering to exchange information exclusively on a professional basis; status - formed about the exchange of information between people with the same social status (aristocratic circles, women's or men's circles, etc.); friendly - based on the joint holding of any events (companies, groups of friends).

In conclusion, we note that quasigroups are some transitional formations, which, with the acquisition of such characteristics as organization, stability and structuredness, turn into a social group.