Chapter 6: structure Flashcards
d: norms
A fundamental element of social structure; the group’s rules of order, and standards on how to behave.
Explain: principle of social proof
People assume that a behavior is the correct one when they see others performing it.
What are the four different types of norms?
-Prescriptive norms: define the socially appropriate way to respond in a situation.
-Proscriptive norms: define the types of actions that should be avoided if at all possible.
-Descriptive norms: describe what most people usually act, feel, and think in any given situation.
-Injunctive norm: a standard that describes how people should act, feel and think in a given situation rather than how people do act, feel and think. For example, you should help someone that needs help (injunctive norm), but you might not.
Explain: internalization of norms
Members comply with their group’s norms not because they have to but because they want to: the groups norms are many times their own, personal norms, built on values and opinions on how one should act to be morally defensible
For example: it is a proscriptive norm in my class (group) that we do not call each other stupid. However, this is not only because we risk being excluded if doing so, but because it goes against our own values, our own norms.
d: social tuning
The tendency for individuals’ actions and evaluations to become more similar to the actions and assumed evaluations of those around them. “To give in to how everyone else behaves”. (example of the light experiment, how far away the dot is, they met middleway)
Explain: pluralistic ignorance
When members of a group privately vary in outlook and expectations, but they publicly act similarly because they believe that they are the only ones whose personal views are different from the rest of the group.
d: role differentiation
An increase in the number of roles in a group, accompanied by a gradual decrease in the scope of these roles as one becomes more narrowly defined and specialized.
There are two different categories of roles. Which?
-Task role: any position in a group occupied by a member who performs behaviours that center on tasks and activities, such as initiating structure, providing task-related feedback, and setting goals.
-Relationship role: any position in a group occupied by a member who performs behaviours that improve the nature and quality of interpersonal relations among members, such as showing concern for the feelings of others, reducing conflict, and enhancing feelings of satisfaction and trust in the group.
Explain: Functional Theory of Roles
A theory that explains that leaders are responsible for making sure roles are filled, and the members are responsible for fulfilling the demands of the roles.
They think that for a group to survive, it has to meet two basic demands:
-The group must accomplish tasks.
-The relationship between members must be maintained.
d: role enactment
Displaying certain behaviours as a part of one’s role in the group.
d: replacement hypothesis (Freud)
Groups psychologically replace our first, and most basic group: our family
d: Bale’s SYMLOG model
(Systematic Multiple Level Observation of Groups). A system that explains the types of roles commonly found in groups. It is based on three dimensions.
What are the dimensions of roles commonly found in groups, according to the SYMLOG model?
-Dominance of submissiveness: Is this member active, outgoing, and talkative or passive, quiet, and introverted? (dominance is Up, submissive is Down)
-Friendliness or unfriendliness: is this member warm, open, and positive or negative and irritable? (friendliness is Positive, unfriendliness is Negative)
-Acceptance or nonacceptance of task-oriented authority: is this member analytic and task-oriented or emotional, nontraditional, and (in some cases) resentful? (acceptance of the task-orientation of established authority is Forward, nonacceptance is Backward)
Explain: Group socialization theory
A theory that explains how individuals negotiate their role assignments in groups. The theory is distinguishes between five classes of roles:
-Prospective member
-New member
-Full member
-Marginal member
-Ex-member
d: role ambiguity
Unclear expectations about the behaviours to be performed by an individual occupying a particular position within the group.
