 Dear students, in this module, we are going to talk about the functions of social group. As you know that group activity is one of the key factors to understand the human behavior. So each group distinctively perform different tasks and perform different activities for its group members. So for example, providing a sense of belonging and identity for its members. Any group that exists, whether it is a primary group or a secondary group, it produces a sense of belonging and identity for its group members. The members of that group are denied from that group. For example, a university student, virtual university is the identity of its group members. Similarly, your family is also a key identity factor for yourself that to which family do you belong to. Then facilitating the socialization and transmission of cultural values and norms. This is a very important aspect of social group, very important function of social group, that they socialize or they perform the important task of socialization for its members. If there is any group, then the group members keep socializing. This is a continuous process, whether it is a primary group or secondary group, whether it is your peer group, your parents, your family, extended family, or your other formal institutions like your school or your workplace. So all these groups take part in your socialization process. So that's an important function that they facilitate you in the process of socialization and transmission of different cultural values. The language that is important to you or your ethical system, we learn that in the family institution. Similarly, your professional obligations, the work related to your skills, you learn that in educational institutions. And your different cultural values like respect for the elders or respect for your country. This is also part of your socialization. Your values are in your school or in your formal educational system or educational process. Then fostering the emotional support and having the interpersonal relationships. Since you are an emotional being, that's why you need emotional support. These are the primary groups that provide you with emotional support. So the important function is that sometimes you are depressed, you are disappointed, or you need affection, you need emotional support. So the primary groups are there for you, they are there to help you to feel better, to feel comfortable. Then regulating the behavior and enforcing the social norms and rules. You become a useful citizen of the society, for this you are taught norms and values. They regulate your behavior and reinforce the social value system. They tell you how you can behave according to the expectations of the society. How the norms and values are needed for you. For example, when you are in school, you are taught that to achieve success in the educational system, in the examination system, to achieve success, to achieve grades, you don't have to use these illegitimate or illegal means. Rather, by working hard through legal means, you can achieve success on the basis of your intellect. So the normative process is that you will give exams without cheating and you will achieve success by giving exams. Similarly, you are taught that to achieve status in the society, to be financially strong, to use the legal means, the legal means are the normative patterns on which you can achieve that value. Because money is a valuable entity in the society, so to achieve it, you can't steal, you can't cheat, you can't cheat. Rather, the legal means that the society has told you, you will work hard, you will get education, you will do a good job or you will do a good business, through which you can achieve that financial status. In Pakistan, for example, religious groups often provide a sense of belonging and identity, while families play a role in socialization and emotional support. In Pakistan, it's a food for thought for you to see how our religion or religious institution provides an emotional support or sense of belonging for you. It provides your key identity. First of all, you are called Muslims. So, how does your key identity reflect on religion? Similarly, your key socializing agent and your emotional support provides your family. So, the role of family institution and religious institution as a social group, how does it reflect? You can observe it a little and see it as a small assignment.