ABSTRACT
The concept of “reference groups” has always been central in interactionist theory, although it did not gain currency among social psychologists until Herbert Hyman used the term in a study published in 1942. It refers to the sources of values selected by an individual for the guidance of his behavior, especially in cases when a choice has to be made. Reference groups may be groups of which the individual is a member, but sometimes they may not. In all cases they provide direction for the behavior of the individual concerned, and so constitute important sources of social control. Dr. Shibutani pursues further the question broached in the preceding chapter — “What Other?” While continuing to employ the more generally accepted term “reference group” Shibutani’s discussion indicates the many reasons why the term is not entirely satisfactory (and why Rose, in his introductory chapter to this volume, prefers to substitute the term “reference relationship”). In relating reference groups to social control, the author implicitly suggests a seminal approach to the study of social values. He points out the manner in which the reference-group concept has been employed to refer to different 129kinds of social processes, and he defines it in such a way as to be consistent with the general orientation of this volume.
