_________ are characterised by intimate, face to face associations and informal personal relationships:

In sociology, groups are categorized based on the nature of relationships between members. These relationships can be either intimate and personal or formal and task-oriented.

• Understanding the distinction between these types of groups helps in comprehending the dynamics of social interaction and membership.

Key Points

• Primary and Secondary groups are characterized by intimate, face-to-face associations and informal personal relationships.
• Primary groups, such as families and close friends, are characterized by strong, personal, and intimate bonds, where individuals interact on a personal level.
• These groups are small and offer emotional support. Secondary groups, in contrast, tend to be larger, more formal, and goal-oriented, but they can still involve face-to-face interactions and informal relationships, though the emotional connection is typically less than in primary groups.

Hint 

• Formal and Informal groups: While informal groups have personal relationships, formal groups are organized around a specific purpose and often lack intimacy. Therefore, this option doesn't fully capture the characteristic of intimacy.
• Groups based: This option is unclear and doesn't provide a clear explanation of the types of relationships in groups.

Hence, the correct answer is Primary and Secondary groups.