According to Jandt, "the term reference group refers to any group to which one aspires to attain membership (Sherif & Sherif, 1953). (Jandt, pg. 28)" Jandt describes this behavior as the "wanna-be" personality and what I believe this to be is like someone, who for example, claims to be a black belt in Karate, yet they harness the skills of a white belt. I watch a show on Nick at Nite called 'The Nanny' and in season two episode nine, Fran Fine needs to enter a club for gentlemen and no women are allowed in this club. The reason she needs to do this is because her date nearly bluffs to her boss, Maxwell Sheffield, into $100,000 to get back into the stock market. So here is a clip to demonstrate that she is a wanna-be man to get into this club. Play this clip starting at the 5:56 minute mark. You can watch the entire clip if you like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygGvwzC5zXU&playnext=1&list=PL61471C6C2F210CE4
How this term relates to my life is that there have been many times where I wish I was another race or ethnicity (other terms used in this book). There have been times where I would like to identify myself as white or even Asian, but I am what I am and that is Latino. Also, there have been times where I "wanna-be" a part of a group of new friends and that itself is wrong because I have been told I cannot be them, but I can be me and only me.
That video was a great example of the term "reference group." I would have to say that i agree with you chris, to sum it all up a reference group is pretty much portaying to be someone your not or a something you want to be. I've never wanted to identify myself as another race but there have been times in high school where i wanted to be friends with certain people. However as i got older i realized that poeple will except you for who you are. You can go a long way in life being yourself rather then pretending to be someone your not.
ReplyDeleteReference Group reminds me of myself in elementary, I wanted to fit in with the cool kids. A great example of reference group is all of these so-called reality celebrities, they aren't really famous but they try so desperately to be. Like Sheree said its more rewarding if you can just be yourself.
ReplyDeleteExactly!!! It makes life much more easier! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I have come to realize that being myself is all that I can truly be and that by being someone else that you are not, only hurts your psychological well being as well as those around you who truly love you for just being yourself.
ReplyDelete