In _______ groups it is easy to leave and join another group.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Secondary
Option (1) Primary — Incorrect. Primary groups such as family, caste and religion are pre-existing formations, usually given to the individual, with face-to-face interaction and warm emotional bonds. Their boundaries are less permeable: members do not have the option to choose their membership.
Option (2) Formal — Incorrect. A formal group, such as an office organisation or a university, has its functions explicitly stated, rules or laws behind its formation and definite roles for members. The difference with informal groups lies in structure, not in how easily one leaves.
Option (3) Ingroup — Incorrect. ‘Ingroup’ means one’s own group, the ‘we’, as against the outgroup, ‘they’. It says whose group it is, not how easy it is to leave.
Option (4) Secondary — Correct. Secondary groups are those which the individual joins by choice, such as a political party; relationships in them are more impersonal, indirect and less frequent. Unlike primary groups, in secondary groups it is easy to leave and join another group.
NCERT (2025-26): “Primary and Secondary Groups … A major difference between primary and secondary groups is that primary groups are pre-existing formations which are usually given to the individual whereas secondary groups are those which the individual joins by choice. Thus, family, caste, and religion are primary groups whereas membership of a political party is an example of a secondary group. In a primary group, there is a face-to-face interaction, members have close physical proximity, and they share warm emotional bonds. Primary groups are central to individual’s functioning and have a very major role in developing values and ideals of the individual during the early stages of development. In contrast, secondary groups are those where relationships among members are more impersonal, indirect, and less frequent. In the primary group, boundaries are less permeable, i.e. members do not have the option to choose its membership as compared to secondary groups where it is easy to leave and join another group.…” “Formal and Informal Groups … The functions of a formal group are explicitly stated as in the case of an office organisation. The roles to be performed by group members are stated in an explicit manner.…” |