Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A group in sociology is a collection of individuals who interact with one another and share similar characteristics or a sense of unity. Groups play a pivotal role in shaping an individual's behaviors, beliefs, and social identity.
Related terms
Primary Group: A small, tightly-knit group characterized by long-term, intimate, face-to-face interaction and cooperation.
Secondary Group: Larger and more impersonal groups that are task-focused and time-limited.
In: group - A group to which an individual feels she or he belongs, often marked by a strong sense of identity