Psychology
Primary and Secondary Groups in Adult Socialization
Quick fact
Charles Cooley, who coined the term 'primary group,' noted that family and close friends shape our sense of self so deeply that they are 'the nursery of human nature'—yet adult socialization increasingly depends on secondary groups like workplaces and professional associations, which can sometimes override primary-group norms.
Why this is interesting
You're not the same person you were a decade ago—but how much of that change came from your family, and how much from your workplace? The answer lies in the hidden power of the groups you belong to.