Final answer:
The statement that members of a group must have physical contact is false. A group can maintain connectedness and share a sense of identity, fulfilling expressive needs without physical proximity, especially in today's digital world.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: The members of a group must have contact with one another. This statement is false. In today's society, it is not necessary for group members to have physical contact to be considered part of a group. A group is generally defined as any collection of at least two people who interact with some frequency and who share some sense of aligned identity. Historically, sociologists considered primary groups to consist of people seen daily and in close physical proximity. However, with advancements in technology and communication, individuals can maintain primary group connections across great distances through various means such as instant messaging apps.
For instance, a writing group with members in Hawaii, Australia, Minnesota, and other parts of the world, who interact online and support each other's passion for writing, fulfills the definition of a group. They support and fulfill an expressive need for each other despite not having met in person. Thus, physical proximity is not a necessary condition for group membership or for the connections within that group to be meaningful and supportive.