Question

Make a list of the primary and secondary groups you currently belong to. Make another list of the primary and secondary groups you belonged to 5 years ago. Which groups during these two points in your life were most important in shaping (1) your view of yourself, (2) your political beliefs, (3) your goals in life, and (4) your friendships?

Answer 1

There have many many primary and secondary groups I was a part of in the years I have lived. The following is the list of Primary groups i.e. The groups that are formed by family or close associations that form the basis of social life and culture.

Current Primary groups, I am a part of are:

1. My family ( Mother, Father and elder sister)
2. My group of friends from college ( consisting of 5 people)
3. My School friend circle ( consisting of 3 friends)
4. My childhood friends ( From my neighborhood consisting of 2 friends)

5 years ago, Primary groups, I was a part of are:

1. My family ( Mother, Father and elder sister)
2. My School friend circle ( consisting of 3 friends)
3. My childhood friends ( From my neighborhood consisting of 2 friends)

The other list of the secondary groups is as follows. Secondary group is those groups which were formed for a purpose and are impersonal.

Current Secondary groups, I am a part of are:

1. College Club group (consisting of 10 people)
2. NGO for women and girls ( consisting of more than 25 members )

5 years ago, Secondary groups, I was a part of are:

1. School group project ( consisting of 6 people)
2. Basketball team
3. Event organizing team

The above-mentioned groups from the lists have had a huge impact on all aspects of my life.

The groups that shaped my view of myself were all the above-mentioned groups to some degree, but the group that impacted my view of myself the most was and still is My family and childhood friends. They have watched me grow personally and closely. They have contributed to my growth with their love and support and hence helped me have a huge impact on my self-esteem.

The group that shaped my political beliefs was from the secondary group of college clubs. My family and friends never discussed political beliefs with each other hence they had no impact on my beliefs . When I joined the college club we had discussions about the our subject and the world. Due to those discussions and point of view of others I able to critically think about politics and form my beliefs.

The groups that shaped my goals in life were again all the above mentioned to some degree. My family has always encouraged me to have clear goals. They have set examples for me to think in that direction. My basketball team had huge impact where I learned some very important life skills and developed habits that make me think in the direction of what I wanted to do in life.

The groups that shaped my friendships were all the groups except my family. The secondary groups I was part of made me find friends that now are in my primary group. The common goals and thought process of individuals I found in my secondary groups helped me form stronger bonds with people who are my friends even after all those years.