Social cohesion as determined by the levels and types of involvement

In this paper the position is taken that all behavior is a result of individual-group interaction. The individual’s initiation and socialization into the most primary and universal of groups, the family, serves as a model for understanding the social learning process. All learning is determined by attachment to and identification with the various groups to which one belongs. This “social cohesion” is a function of the member’s levels and types of group involvement. These types are described ranked according to degree of involvement (greatest to least): (1) identification; (2) alienation; (3) autonomy; and (4) anomie. Examples for each involvement type are given to illustrate.