The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of a case study (Case of "Maria) based on sociological notions of group functions and group membership (e.g. group culture, communication, values, norms, and conformity processes). The analysis also includes a discussion of Maria's situation in terms of membership in both reference groups and membership groups. The paper begins by first stipulating and defining key terms and processes central to the analysis. This is followed by an application of these terms and processes to the case.
Group Culture, Group Type (Membership and Reference) Group
Norms, Group Values, and Group Conformity
People identify with certain social collectives or groups. These collectives include both those membership groups to which one belongs by virtue of birth or life circumstances (e.g. ethnic groups) and one's reference groups or those groups to which one belongs or aspires to belong and which are used as a basis of judging the adequacy of one's personal behavior.
All groups have some form of "group culture" which is to say that the group has a definite and unique pattern of social interaction related not only to how to behave but also how to communicate with other members and what members are to intellectual and emotionally cherish or value.
Group culture is given by those proscriptions of group culture which stipulate acceptable and unacceptable social interaction. These proscriptions are commonly referred to as norms. Norms are specified only for those behaviors considered valuable or important to the group and their violation (because of their importance) can have serious negative consequences.
In most cases, group members conform to the social norms of those groups with which they identify. This conformity lends stability to the group culture and structure, and is believed to be reinforced by a variety of factors.
Specifically, pressure to conform is believed to be associ...