These people are considered a category, and as an example all children born from approximately 1980–2000 are referred to as “Millennials.” Why are Millennials a category and not a group? Because while some of them may share a sense of identity, they do not, as a whole, interact frequently with each other. Another example of a nongroup is people who share similar characteristics but are not tied to one another in any way. People who exist in the same place at the same time but who do not interact or share a sense of identity-such as a bunch of people standing in line at Starbucks-are considered an aggregate, or a crowd. A rally is usually a one-time event, for instance, and belonging to a political party doesn’t imply interaction with others. Of course, every time people are gathered it is not necessarily a group. In short, the term refers to any collection of at least two people who interact with some frequency and who share a sense that their identity is somehow aligned with the group. The term group is an amorphous one and can refer to a wide variety of gatherings, from just two people (think about a “group project” in school when you partner with another student), a club, a regular gathering of friends, or people who work together or share a hobby. So how can we hone the meaning more precisely for sociological purposes? Defining a Group In everyday conversation, there isn’t a clear distinguishing use. We might say that a group of kids all saw the dog, and it could mean 250 students in a lecture hall or four siblings playing on a front lawn. Often, we might mean different things by using that word. Moreover, the concept of a group is central to much of how we think about society and human interaction. In everyday use, it can be a generic term, although it carries important clinical and scientific meanings. Most of us feel comfortable using the word “group” without giving it much thought. Recognize in-groups and out-groups as subtypes of primary and secondary groups.Understand primary and secondary groups as the two sociological groups.By the end of this section, you will be able to: