Final answer:
Groups bound by unity that surpasses individuals include families, neighborhoods, and schools. Communities provide a framework for consensus on individual and collective behavior, governed by social solidarity. Modern technology has altered the dynamics of primary and secondary groups maintaining social ties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Groups that are bound by a principle of unity that goes beyond each individual in these communities encompass entities like families, neighborhoods, and schools. These communities are integral to our social fabric and often determine the behaviors and expectations of their members. Families are socially recognized groups of individuals connected by blood, marriage, or adoption, forming both an emotional bond and an economic unit in society. Our sense of identity within larger groups like a nation can be considered as an 'imagined community,' a term coined by Benedict Anderson, highlighting a constructed sense of unity through shared practices and media.
Communities may vary in size, from small neighborhoods to entire nations, leading to different levels and types of interaction and solidarity. Despite the size, communities create an environment where government and members often reach a consensus on what individual actions are permissible for the common good. The concept of social solidarity becomes vital, as it refers to the ties that bind a group of people together, including kinship, shared location, and religion. In larger communities, individuals may come together for a common cause or movement, creating both opportunities for greater impact and risks of division.
Shifts in modern society have altered the dynamics of primary and secondary groups. With technology like messaging apps, we maintain close relationships with family and friends around the globe, making them primary group members despite the physical distance. And conversely, we may have daily interactions with secondary group members nearby, with whom we share limited emotional bonds. Understanding these dynamics is essential in comprehending how communities function and evolve in our contemporary world.