Reference group
A reference group is a group against which a person compares his or her behaviors, values, status, or decisions.
Definition
The reference group influences what we consider normal, desirable, shameful or valuable. It can enhance development when it provides good role models and support, but it can also trigger pressure, comparison and decisions that are inconsistent with one's own values. Awareness of reference groups helps to regain autonomy of choice.
Key ideas
- Social comparison
- Group norms
- Influence on decisions and identity
Practice and life
List three groups you compare yourself to. For each, indicate whether this influence strengthens you, weakens you, or distorts your priorities.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to assume that choices are completely independent of the environment. The second mistake is to select the reference group only by status, not by values.
> Sometimes we are not chasing our own goal, but the standard of the group we have chosen as a mirror.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- Who am I really comparing myself to?
- Does this group show direction that is consistent with my values?
- Which standards did I adopt without conscious choice?