Reference Groups

Reference groups are any groups that we as individuals use to compare ourselves to. We can use groups we've been a part of in the past, groups that are not a part of, and even groups we are not a part of yet as reference groups. Young girls may use women in the media to compare their bodies and physical appearances to. In a new group of friends you might think of all the things that had happened in your old group and use that as a reference in your new one. Women wanting children will probably look at their mothers or other mothers as a reference group even though they are not even a part of that group yet. Everybody uses reference groups. Reference groups help us to conform and to get a better understanding of our surroundings and how we can better fit into them.