CHAPTER III

THE GROUP PHENOMENA IN SOCIETY

I

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Thus far, we have considered how individuals acquire information and form judgments. We have observed that, as a rule, man is influenced into believing beliefs, not as a result of any complete knowledge of facts scientifically determined or of any process of induction or deduction dispassionately gone through, but rather as a result of suggestion and imitation, of vague impressions and incomplete knowledge of the situation. We have observed, further, that once an individual has made a belief or set of beliefs a part of his system of "facts", his next natural move is to rationalize those beliefs and to vindicate his position.

This being the case, we shall be excused for wondering why the world goes on as smoothly as it does. With so passive and so impressionable a population, the wonder is humanity's rapid advance in all the varied phases of social, commercial and political life. But the result being what it is, our next inquiry would seem logically to be the explanation of so obvious a paradox.

1. No material on this important phase of social life is available. Mary Parker Follett's "The New State" and E. M. McIver's "Community" are two valuable books touching on the subject but Miss Follett's work treats the state as it should be rather than as it is and Prof. McIver's book does not dwell enough on the subject.

There are, it would seem, two social phenomena each

working at opposite ends, the explanation of which will reveal the true social process (1) groups within the community and (2) leadership. Within the groups, discussion of beliefs, integration of opinions and a general elucidation of vague feelings and impressions take place. Leadership uses as materials in its task of amalgamation and harmonization

both private judgments individually, impulsively or suggestively arrived at, and group opinions arrived at, as we shall see,

more or less by integration and discussion.

A healthy balance

in a community or

of the two-leadership and group-life nation should therefore be the obvious objective of any successful social reform.

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A great number of individuals in any enlightened community today belong to one or more community groups. My neighbor belongs to the country golf club, to the Lions club and to the faculty club. His wife is a member of the women's club, of the Dame's club and of the Parent-Teachers association. Another friend of mine is a member of the Kiwanis club, president of the chamber of commerce, member of the Bar association and a devout Presbyterian. My barber is a member of the Barber's union and the Saturday night club.

What is the peculiar nature of these organizations

which make them especially valuable for the community if only as organs of the community in the crystalization of public

There is, of course, a constant danger of groups developing into crowds. See the second part of this chapter.

opinion?

Of course, we must at the start be warned against

the assumption that such organizations fall categorically in only one class. For they in fact possess different constitutions, different objects and ideals, differing degree of democracy of organization and procedure, different membership obligations and responsibilities. We do not, therefore, pre

sume to discuss them exhaustively as social processes.

Rather

is it our aim to discuss only their common characteristics and especially those that bear directly or indirectly in the roundabout crystalization of public opinion.

An organization is invariably the expression of a common interest or interests or object or objects. Membership, as a rule, is voluntary. In an exclusive organization, membership is a high honor and the accompanying pride proportionally greater. There may be fees to be paid and obligations to be met. There may be rituals to undergo and secrets to be kept. All these tend to create a sense of community and loyalty among the members.

In general, such community organization may be divided into recreational, functional, professional, and civic societies. But it will be noted that the two-fold objects of "mutual advantages" and "social service" are always there. A golf club may be primarily a cooperative venture for recreational purposes, but it also renders a social service to the community by providing the means of bringing together during week-ends if not oftener, individuals of varied in