1.3 Family Size
In sociology, the fundamental unit of analysis is the group, which consists of two or more individuals sharing a common identity, regularly interacting, having shared expectations or roles, and functioning within these agreed-upon roles (Hammond et al. 2021). However, it’s important to note that the term “group” is often used differently in everyday language. For instance, people might refer to a collection of individuals, like those waiting at a bus stop, as a “group,” even if they don’t know each other. In sociological terms, such a collection is termed an “aggregate,” which simply denotes a gathering of people in the same place at the same time, such as those in a movie theater or at a university football game.
Additionally, sociologists discuss categories, which are classifications of people who share common characteristics. For example, individuals with brown eyes, hat-wearers, or independent voters are all examples of categories. Unlike groups or aggregates, categories do not necessarily involve shared physical space or mutual expectations. In this book, we primarily focus on analyzing trends and patterns within family groups and larger categories of family types.
Family groups are essential to society and will likely be the foundation of your own adult life. These groups can vary in size, from small units like dyads, consisting of two people, to larger units like triads, consisting of three people. The number of individuals in a group significantly impacts how the group functions structurally. Dyads, being the simplest, have only one relationship between the two members, while triads have three relationships.
The complexity of relationships increases as group size grows. For instance, a group of four individuals has six relationships, while a group of five has ten relationships, and so on. In larger families, such as one with ten siblings, the number of relationships multiplies significantly.
When a triad forms, it resembles a triangle, and managing the dynamics within such a group often requires more effort than in dyads. For example, newly married couples often experience a period of freedom and opportunity to nurture their relationship. However, when their first child is born, the dynamics shift, and the couple faces new challenges as they navigate the demands of parenthood alongside maintaining their marital bond.
As sociologists investigated group dynamics, they identified two main types of groups: primary groups and secondary groups. Primary groups, like your family and close friends, are typically smaller, less formal, and more intimate. With these people, you can be spontaneous and informal. For example, on a Friday night, you can hang out wherever you want, change plans on the fly, and just have fun without worrying about formalities. In contrast, secondary groups, such as your interactions with professionals like doctors, mechanics, or accountants, tend to be larger, more formal, and less personal. For instance, when you visit a doctor, you must make appointments, wait your turn, and address them formally as “doctor.” Your primary groups are usually limited in number and carry a sense of closeness, while secondary groups, like your sociology class, are larger and more formal in nature.
