People cannot live alone; they live while belonging to various groups. The groups in which we participate, such as families, local communities, schools, and workplaces, are diverse. Understanding the characteristics of each group and its influence on individuals is the first step toward social participation.
Basic Knowledge
Human beings are inherently social animals and live while belonging to several groups at the same time. The most basic group is the family, which functions as a place of affection, upbringing, and cultural transmission. A local community (community) is a group in which nearby residents share the foundations of daily life and provide mutual assistance while sustaining local culture. Organizations such as unions, NPOs, and religious groups that exist between the state and individuals are called intermediate groups; they serve as a buffer that protects individuals from excessive power. The sociologist Tönnies classified groups into Gemeinschaft (community), based on natural bonds, and Gesellschaft (association), based on interests or purposes. Within groups, individuals take on social roles (roles) and participate in society while responding to expectations for those roles.
Intermediate group (an organization between the state and individuals, such as an NPO, union, or religious group)
Gemeinschaft (Tönnies’s term for a community based on natural and emotional bonds, such as a family or village)
Gesellschaft (Tönnies’s term for an association based on purposes and interests, such as a company or city)
Social role (the behavior expected within a group; roles based on positions such as parent, student, or member)
Role conflict (a state in which multiple roles are required at the same time and collide)
Social participation (active involvement in local communities, politics, volunteer activities, and so on)
Further Exploration (Background and Significance)
In modern society, the bonds of local communities tend to weaken because of the growth of nuclear families, the declining birthrate and aging population, and urbanization. While the mutual-support functions once provided by Gemeinschaft-like bonds are being lost, new intermediate groups such as NPOs and volunteer organizations have begun to take on substitute roles. In addition, the spread of the internet has created online communities that transcend geographical limitations, giving rise to new forms of social participation. Although experiencing role conflict is unavoidable when individuals belong to several groups, participating in diverse groups also broadens perspectives and enriches human relationships. Social participation is also a foundation of democracy.
- The family is the most basic social group and greatly influences the formation of an individual’s personality.
- Tönnies classified the nature of groups as Gemeinschaft or Gesellschaft.
- Intermediate groups have a buffering function that protects individuals from excessive state intervention.
- Social roles are not fixed; they change depending on the situation, and several may exist at the same time.
- Role conflict is a social phenomenon that modern people experience in daily life.
- New intermediate groups, such as NPOs, are becoming more important as they compensate for weakened local communities.
- Social participation is essential for individual growth and the realization of democracy.
Points to Note (Easily Confused Concepts)
① Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft are contrasting concepts, but real groups often have characteristics of both. ② An intermediate group does not mean “a group in a junior high school”; it means an organization located between the state and individuals. ③ A social role does not mean acting or performance; it refers to the pattern of behavior that society expects from an individual. ④ Role conflict does not mean all forms of “personal conflict”; it specifically refers to the collision of multiple roles.
Practice
- Explain the difference between Tönnies’s Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft, giving specific examples.
- Explain why intermediate groups are said to “protect individuals.”
- List three social roles you take on in daily life and consider situations in which those roles conflict.