Groups are the essence of life in a society for the reason that everyone is born into one, such as to a mother and father. Your family, church congregation, faculty at a university, and sports teams whether professional or not are all examples of groups. In a general sense, ~{!0~} Groups are people who have something in common and who believe that what they have in common is significant.~{!1~} Societies are the largest and most difficult groups that are studied by social scientists. They are people who share a culture and a territory; they also contain smaller groups within itself. ~{!0~} The types of groups within a society are primary groups, secondary groups, reference groups, social networks, in-groups and out-groups.~{!1~}
             Primary groups are groups that are characterized by long term, intimate, face to face association and cooperation. Secondary groups are bigger, conformal, impersonal and relatively temporary groups. Reference groups are groups we use as standards to evaluate ourselves. Social networks are the social ties radiating outward from self-that link people together, their cliques, friends, family and acquaintances.
             The focus of this A+ sociology paper is on the in-groups and out-groups of society. ~{!0~}Factors such as race and sex or gender play a role in in-groups and out-groups.~{!1~} In-groups are groups toward which one feels loyalty. An example of an in-group, would be the Boy Scouts of America. The scouts were incorporated on February 8, 1910, under the laws of the District of Columbia. The purpose of scouting is to serve others by helping to instill values in young people, and in other ways to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetime in achieving their full potential. Councils provide professional counseling and administration, commissioner service, training for leaders, camping and outdoor facilities, program materials and literature, planning tools, and other program ...