Features/Characteristics of Primary Groups
1. Dominance of primary or face-to-face relationships: Primary groups are characterized by close and intimate relationships. There exists a face-to-face relationship among the members. In primary groups, everyone knows everyone else: one’s name and fame, one’s status, wealth, occupation, and level of education.
2. Small size: Primary groups are generally small in size because they consist of few members. The size of primary groups should be small if the relations among members are to be close, personal and intimate.
3. Physical Proximity or Nearness: Face-to-face relations can be found only when members reside in particular area more or less permanently. Seeing and talking with each other facilitates the exchange of ideas, opinions and sentiments.
4. Durability of the groups: Primary groups are relatively permanent groups. Other things equal, the longer the groups remain together, the more numerous and deeper the contacts between its members.
5. Similarity of Background: The members of the primary groups may have more or less the same background. There must be some approximations in their levels of experience. Each must have something to contribute to give as well as to take.
6. Shared Interest: The shared interests of the groups also hold them together. Any interest becomes focused and enriched in the group process. Since all are working for a common cause, each acquires stimulation and a heightening of the emotional significance of the interest.
7. Limited self-interest: Members of the primary group subordinate their personal interests to the group’s interests. The common interest of the group is strong enough to control individual interests. The commonness of interests provides mental pleasure and contentment to the members.
8. Communication: Communication in the case of primary groups like family or children’s play groups, for example, is very quick and effective. Direct or face-to-face contact helps easy communication between the members.
From the above characteristics of primary groups, we learned that primary groups play a significant role in fostering deep and meaningful social connections among their members.
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