CHAPTER 6: Groups and Organizations

Question 1

aggregate

Answer 1

a collection of people who exist at the same time at the same place, but do not interact or share a sense of identity

Question 2

Authoritarian Leader

Answer 2

a leader who issues orders and assigns tasks

Question 3

Bureaucracies

Answer 3

formal organizations that are characterized by a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality

Question 4

Category

Answer 4

people who share a characteristic but who are not connected in any way

Question 5

Clear division of labor

Answer 5

the fact that each individual in a bureaucracy has a specialized task to perform

Question 6

Coercive Organizations

Answer 6

organizations that you do not wish to join; membership is required; corrective benefits are taken away from them; examples are rehabilitation center or a mental institution

Question 7

Conformity

Answer 7

the extent to which an individual complies with group or societal norms

Question 8

Democratic Leader

Answer 8

a leader who encourages group participation and consensus-building before moving into action

Question 9

Dyad

Answer 9

a two-member group

Question 10

Explicit Rules

Answer 10

the rules in bureaucracy that are outlined, recorder, and standardized

Question 11

Expressive Function

Answer 11

a group function that serves an emotional need

Question 12

Expressive Leader

Answer 12

a leader who is concerned with process and ensuring everyone’s emotional wellbeing

Question 13

Formal Organizations

Answer 13

large, impersonal organizations

Question 14

Group

Answer 14

any collection of at least two people who interact with some frequency and share a sense of aligned identity

Question 15

Hierarchy of Authority

Answer 15

a clear chain of command in a bureaucracy

Question 16

Impersonality

Answer 16

the removal of personal feelings from a professional situation

Question 17

In-Group

Answer 17

a group a person belongs to and feels is an integral part of his identity

Question 18

Instrumental Function

Answer 18

being oriented toward a task or a goal

Question 19

Instrumental Leader

Answer 19

a leader who is goal-oriented with a primary focus on accomplishing a task

Question 20

Iron Rule of Oligarchy

Answer 20

the theory that an organization is ruled by a few elites rather than through collaboration;
it states that, no matter how democratic the organization starts out, eventually and inevitably the organization will become oligarchic

Question 21

Laissez-Faire Leader

Answer 21

a hands-off leader who allows members of an organization to make their own decisions

Question 22

Leadership Function

Answer 22

the main focus or goal of a leader

Question 23

Leadership Style

Answer 23

the style that a leader uses to accomplish a goal or elicit action from group members

Question 24

McDonaldization of Society

Answer 24

the increasing presence of the fast food business model in common social institutions

Question 25

Meritocracy

Answer 25

a bureaucracy where membership and advancement is based on merit: proven and documented skills

Question 26

Normative or Voluntary Organizations

Answer 26

organizations that individuals choose to join because of a shared affinity or intangible rewards

Question 27

Out-Group

Answer 27

a group that an individual is not a member of; with whom he might even compete

Question 28

Primary Groups

Answer 28

small, informal groups of people that are closest to us

Question 29

Reference Groups

Answer 29

groups to whom a person usually compares herself/himself to

Question 30

Secondary Groups

Answer 30

larger and more impersonal groups that are more task-oriented and time limited

Question 31

Total Institution

Answer 31

an organization in which individuals live controlled lifestyles and in which total resocialization occurs

Question 32

Triad

Answer 32

a three-member group

Question 33

Utilitarian Organization

Answer 33

an organization that an individual joins to meet a specific material need