Features/Characteristics of Secondary Groups
1. A Dominance of Secondary Relations: The relationships found within secondary groups are formal, indirect, and impersonal, for example, the relationship between teacher and students.
2. Large in size: The secondary groups are generally larger than the primary groups. Secondary groups may be so large that they may have thousands of members. Trade unions, corporations, international associations, etc., are secondary groups with thousands of members.
3. No physical basis: Secondary groups are not necessarily characterized by physical proximity. Many secondary groups are open to more than any definite area. The members of such groups are scattered over vast areas.
4. Membership: Membership in the case of secondary groups is mainly voluntary. Individuals are at liberty to join or go away from the groups. For example, they are at liberty to join political parties, Trade union sports clubs, business corporations, etc.
5. Specific Ends or Interest: Secondary groups are formed to realise some specific interest ends. They are often called ‘Special interest groups’. Members are interested in the groups because they have specific ends to aim at.
6. Nature of Group Control: Informal means of social control are less effective in regulating the relations of members. Moral control is only a secondary formal means of social control, such as law, legislation, police, court, etc., used to control members’ behaviour.
7. Group Structure: The secondary group has a formal structure. A formal authority is set up with designated powers and a clear-cut division of labour in which each function is specified in relation to the function of all. Secondary groups are mostly organised groups.
8. Limited influence on Personality: Secondary groups are specialised in character. People’s involvement in them is also of limited significance. Members’ attachment to them is also very limited. People spend more of their time in primary groups than in secondary groups. Hence, secondary groups have very limited influence on the personality of the members.
From the above characteristics of secondary groups, we learned that secondary groups play a role in achieving particular objectives. Their influence on individuals’ personalities is limited compared to the more intimate and significant impact of primary groups.
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