Final answer:
The statement is true as a group's social frame is made up of the norms and behaviors that structure social relationships within the group. This includes rules and expectations dictating appropriate behavior in specific situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that "The underlying pattern of social relationships within a group constitutes that group's social frame" is true. A group's social frame is essentially the collection of rules, norms, and expectations that govern the interactions of its members and give the group structure. Framing or Frame Analysis, as developed by sociologists like Goffman, Snow, and others, helps explain how individuals perceive and participate in social events, and understand which behaviors are appropriate in a given context.
For example, cultural frames provide guides for how to behave in certain settings, such as being respectful and dressed properly in a restaurant versus relaxed and casual at a sleepover pizza party. Societal groups, from political parties to social movements, are also studied through sociological perspectives like the Functionalist, Conflict, and Symbolic Interactionist frameworks to understand the roles and dynamics of such groups within society.
Thus, social frames are foundational to the functioning of a group because they enable cohesive and predictable interactions among members and allow the group to sustain its existence within the broader society.