Major criteria used for classification of Groups: Generally criteria like size, proximity, complexity membership, goal and means are used to classify groups.
We know very well that all groups are not alike. Everyone of us can see differences among various groups based on size, proximity, complexity, membership, goal and means.
1. Size: Some groups are small while others are large. For example, a family is generally a small group in size, while political party may be very big i.e. membership.
2. Other Major Criteria: Groups may be divided into primary, secondary, in-groups, out-groups, membership, non-membership, formal informal, etc.
3. Relationship: On the basis of an individual's orientation in relation to a group, the concept of - group has also taken shape in sociology.
4. Intimate Groups: These groups are always large in size.
5. Impersonal Groups: These groups are always large in size.
6. Primary Group: These are always small in size. It refers to small associations of people connected by ties of emotional feelings.
7. Secondary Group: Impersonal, formal and indirect relations prevail among the members of this type of group.
8. In Group: These groups are 'we groups: any individual 'Ingroup' is the group to which he belongs. The groups with which the individual identifies himself are his ingroups: family, tribe, sex, college, or occupation by virtue of one's awareness of likeness or consciousness of kind.
9. Out Group: These groups are ‘They group' or 'Others group'. An outgroup is a circle of people to which an individual feels no sense of belongingness. For example, a tiller of the soil in our country views his landlord as an outgroup. It follows that an outgroup is defined by the individual with relation to the ingroup, generally expressed in the contrast between 'we' 'they' or 'other'.
10. Formal Groups: These groups tend to be either large or a part of a large organisation. An army and a labour union are examples of formal groups.
11. Informal Groups: These are social units which have all group characteristics. They have established a system of interpersonal relations, joint activities, the feeling of belongingness to a group but they lack any legal status. For example clubs or sports sections, societies etc.
