Quasi-Social Groups

Quasi-groups are the kinds of social groups that lack the essential characteristics of social groups. With this type of grouping, non functional integration between the members. There were few if any organized and patterned social relationships. This form of social interaction is common in modern industrial and complex society. It is more common in urban settings differently. They characterize individualistic society. Such groups lack of significant social structures and social interaction. There are two types of quasi groups: aggregates and categories.

1.      Social aggregate

A social aggregate quasi-social group in which two or more people are physically together at a certain time and a certain place, with physical closeness without permanent social interaction. No shared psychological identity. However, the grouping of this type may arise in a real social group. Examples of the aggregate include: two or more people in a taxi, bus, airplane, an elevator, a busy street in the city, a cafeteria, a stadium, a market, a ward of hospitals, etc. No identity between the behavior of most people usually characterizes aggregates. This situation can lead to problems the awareness of emotions, dehumanization, sense of loss, depression, social stress and other psychosocial problems. Suicide is very common in urban than rural areas, and mental illness will be further enhanced in societies characterized by anonymity, individualism and heterogeneity.

2.       Categories

It is a quasi-group, consisting of a number of corporate people who are physically dispersed but which have common characteristics and interests. It refers to a social class; or a group of people who are more or less similar lifestyles and physical and psychosocial characteristics, with little or no social interaction, social structure, social norms, etc; but there is a feeling of belonging, although people may not know each other. But slowly, a significant social group can grow in a category. Examples include a social category: all female students in higher education institutions in Ethiopia; All female engineer in Ethiopia; All students from rural backgrounds, HIV-positive individuals, etc.