Final answer:
Sociologically, Gen Z'ers would be defined as a category, which describes people who share similar characteristics but do not necessarily interact with each other or have a collective sense of identity.
Therefore, Category is the correct option.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sociologically, Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, would most accurately be defined as a category. A category is a collection of individuals who share certain characteristics or demographic details but do not necessarily interact with each other or share a collective sense of identity. This is similar to how Millennials, individuals born from approximately 1980-2000, are classified.
Gen Z members may share common experiences, technologies, historical events, or societal norms that impact their attitudes and behaviors; however, as a whole, they do not interact as a cohesive group. Unlike a group which consists of at least two people who frequently interact and have a sense of shared identity, or a crowd which involves individuals in close proximity who do not necessarily interact such as people standing in line at a coffee shop, a category like Gen Z spans a broader and less interactive collection of people.
The concept of emergent norm theory can be applied when talking about crowds, where social norms influence behavior in settings where individuals are in close proximity. However, because Gen Z comprises individuals from various geographic locations and does not represent a collective behavior, emergent norm theory is not directly relevant to defining Gen Z as a category.