unit 9 - lecture notes Flashcards
What are five characteristics of a group?
- Interaction among members
- Share goals that motivate to action
- Adhere to norms that guide behaviour
- Emergence of roles
- Emergence of attraction
What are two characteristics of a network?
- Consists of distant acquaintances
- Exclusion of clear boundaries
What is an example of an organization?
- universities
- sports league
What are four features of a network?
- Close v. Loose Knit network
- Patterns of attraction
- Strong v. Weak ties
- Bonding v. Bridging
How would one best describe patterns of attraction in regards to networks?
Within patterns of attraction, one can understand how a person that likes the least amount of people and is liked the least would be an isolate within the group.
What are some features of strong ties? Weak ties?
Strong - the relationship may include some intensity; the person is known very well to you.
Weak - can act as a bridge between close-knit networks; acts as a flow of information.
What is the difference between bridging and bonding in relation to networks?
Bridging- connects between groups.
Bonding- occurs with an individual networks.
What are some examples of behaviors seen within bridging in regards to networks? Bonding?
Bridging - behaviors are based on mutually agreed interests and empathies for others, people are viewed as individuals, generalized trust is strengthened.
Bonding - A behavior that’s seen is people identifying with their “in group” based on various statuses, people are viewed as “in group,” there is a weakened generalized trust.
What are three different types of groups as well as their opposition? What is a 4th type of group?
- Informal v. Formal
- Primary v. Secondary
- In-groups v. Out-groups
- Reference Groups
What is the difference between an informal and a formal group?
Informal - no clearly defined roles, statuses, or goals.
Formal - Explicit roles, goals, and rules.
What kind of groups are the most important regarding sociology?
Primary and secondary groups are the most important.
How can a primary group best be described? What are aspects seen in a primary group?
The primary group is a small group in which relationships are both personal and enduring.
Aspects are:
1. Lots of face to face interaction over an extended period Of time
2. There is an emotional attachment to each other and social identity is derived from each other.
3. There is a sense of we, loyalty, and identity.
4. People respond to each other as whole persons.
5. These act as agents of social control; promote conformity.
6. These groups exist for their own sake not for a specific purpose.
How can a secondary group best be described? What are aspects of this kind of group?
A secondary group is a large, impersonal social group based on a specific interest or activity.
Aspects are:
1. These are rational contractual groups.
2. These groups come together to pursue a particular task; to get something done.
3. There is often more role specialization.
4. Focused on the means to one specific end; instrumental.
In relation to types of groups, what are two aspects that can be seen within “in groups”?
- They exert immense influence and control.
- Ethnocentrism may arise.
What is a potential risk of “out groups” in relation to types of groups?
Xenophobia may arise.
When understanding different types of groups, what is the purpose of reference groups? What are two aspects? What is an example of a reference group?
Reference groups are used as standards to evaluate ourselves.
Aspects:
1. Individuals may not yet belong, but aspire to.
2. Acts as a form of conformity and control.
ex. occupations
In relation to aspects of group structures, what are some questions sociologies may ask in terms of the size of the group?
- “How big is the group or how small?”
- “What are the effects of size on group functioning?”
What are 4 types of groups? How can they be defined?
- Dyad - 2 members, 1 relationship.
- Triad - 3 members, 3 relationships.
- Quadrant - 4 members, 6 relationships.
- Small Groups - less than 20 members, many relationships.
What are two aspects seen in a dyad?
- They can be unstable because it requires a high commitment
- Requires emotional intensity to maintain
What are four aspects seen in a triad?
- More stable; if one member leaves, they can be replaced
- Decision making is easier
- It is subject to alliances or shifting coalitions
- Mediation can be achieved through the 3rd member
What are two aspects seen in a quadrant?
- Very stable
- Less intense, more formal
What are two aspects seen in small groups?
- There is a reasonable chance of knowing every other member
- Can exist semi informally
In understanding group structures, what is a general principle to that can be seen?
An increase in group size will result in:
- an increase in stability but
- a decrease in intensity and intimacy.
What is a universal tendency regarding leadership?
There’s a tendency for one or two members of a group to gain more influence, power, or recognition for time.
What are two kinds of leaderships? What will each kind generate?
- Instrumental leadership- will generate respect
- Expressive leadership- will generate affection
In relation to leadership, what are four types of decision making styles? Briefly explain.
- Democratic - decides according to majority
- Authoritarian - decisions are made by one individual
- Laissez Faire - uninvolved leadership; it is not a formative role.
- Consensus - attempts to get close to unanimity; a category of democratic decision making
What are three things that will happen in any group size?
- Identification
- Cohesion and Conformity
- Groupthink
What are two aspects of group identification?
- This is the primary source of one’s social identity
- Social identity is drawn from groups in which the individual belongs
When understanding group cohesion and conformity, what is a general rule?
- The more cohesive a group is,
- the more pressure there will be to conform to the social norms
What are five factors of group cohesion?
- Interdependence
- Attraction (how much an individual likes the other members)
- How strongly an individual feels about the group goals
- How norms are established and practiced
- If there’s competition present
When does groupthink occur?
It occurs when pressures for conformity and unanimity overwhelm members motivation to appraise situations realistically.
What is groupthink? Are two aspects of groupthink?
Groupthink is an excessive form of group cohesion.
Aspects:
1., Members no longer think critically or speak up in opposition to ideas presented as to not upset the group
2. There is a strong tendency of uniformity even when it’s a bad idea
What are three types of social control?
- Coercive power
- Utilitarian power
- Normative power
What are two alternatives to control?
- Selectivity
- Socialization
What are three aspects of a formal organization?
- Specialization of roles; shifting away from people and toward assigned roles.
- Secondary group
- Access to more resources; they are bigger and longer lasting than smaller groups.
What is the longest lasting formal organization seen in North America?
The Roman Catholic Church.
When understanding types of control, what are four aspects of coercive power? What are some examples?
- Membership is forced
- There is high alienation and low levels of commitment
- Officials rely on resources of coercion
- Power is often contested because it is despised
ex. prison, psychiatric institutions, military etc
When understanding types of control, what is utilitarian power? What are two aspects of this power?
It is control through offering material rewards.
Aspects:
1. Stimulates medium commitment and medium alienation
2. Leadership is spread between the officials as well as the informal leaders
When understanding types of control, what are four aspects of normative power? What are the types of rewards that can be received?
- Membership is voluntary; people are there because they want to be there
- Rewards are effective
- Stimulates high commitment and low alienation
- Leadership occurs through an individual’s persuasiveness, charm, charisma etc
Rewards can be feelings like belonging, accomplishment, love etc
In understanding different forms of social control, how is selectivity an alternative to control?
If members are selected, there is a higher chance that individuals will comply to the control.
In understanding different forms of social control, how is socialization an alternative to control?
People can be socialized into wanting to be there; if it happens, less time and effort is required to make the individuals comply
In every formal organization, there is an informal organization. Why does this happen?
People resist becoming faceless “cogs in a machine”; individuals want to be known as more than just the rule that they are performing.
What is the most predominant, powerful, biggest form of organization?
Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy is considered to be the rule of what?
The rule of rational legal authority.
What are 7 characteristics of bureaucracy?
- Specialization
- Hierarchy of positions
- Rules and regulations
- Technical competence
- Impersonal relations
- Formal written communication
- Protected careers
What are the two benefits of bureaucracy?
- Efficiency
- Objectivity
What are five problems of bureaucracy?
- Waste and incompetence
- Ritualism
- Inertia
- Alienation
- Structured inequality
The term Mcdonaldization, coined by George Ritzer, describes what?
The process by which the principles of fast food restaurants are coming to dominate ever more sectors of the world.
What are the 5 principles used by fast food restaurants that the term Mcdonaldization defines?
- Efficiency
- Calculability
- Predictability
- Control
- The irrationality of rationality
When understanding the term Mcdonaldization, what does principle 5, the “irrationality of rationality,” describe?
This principle is more of a summary or judgment of the other principles.
It is the ultimate dehumanization about the worker and the consumer because of how impersonal the product becomes.
