Week 8: Groups and Networks Flashcards
Describe this week’s paradox.
The strength of weak ties: it is the people with whom we are the least connected with who offer us the most opportunities.
What is a dyad?
A relationship of two.
What type of relationship is a dyad?
This is the most intimate form of social life, partly because two members of the dyad are mutually dependent on each other. The intimacy is enhanced by the fact that no third person exists to buffer the situation or mediate between the two.
Describe symmetry in a dyad.
Symmetry must exist in a dyad due to mutual dependency.
E.g. a master and servant don’t have equal power in the dyad, but there is still symmetry in the relationship. What would happen if the servant could no longer serve the master or the master no longer had the servant to carry out the deeds he couldn’t perform?
Triad
A relationship of three or more.
What type of power is there present in a triad?
The group had supra-individual power, which means one member of the group can leave and the relationship can continue, as there will still be a dyad left.
What detrimental factors can manifest themselves in a triad?
Secrets can exist. “Who left the cap off of the toothpaste?” Politics can also exist in a group of three. Instead of generating consensus between two individuals, now you have multiple points of view and preferences that need to be balanced.
What are the three basic forms of political relations?
Mediator, Tertius Gaudens, and Divide et Impera.
Mediator
Tries to resolve the conflict between the other two and sometimes is brought in for that explicit purpose. E.g. marriage counselors are a good example.
Tartius Gaudens
This individual profits from the disagreement of the other two, essentially playing the opposite role from the mediator. Someone in this position may have multiple roles.
Divide et Impera
This person intentionally drives a wedge between the other two parties. This is similar to the Teritus Gaudens, the difference between the two being a question of intent and whether the rift preexisted.
Small Group (U)
Characterized by face-to-face interaction, a unofficial perspective, lack of formal arrangements, and a certain level of equality.
Party (M)
Is characterized by face-to-face interaction but differs in that it is multifocal.
Large Group
A group characterized by the presence of a formal structure that mediates interaction and, consequently, status differentiation.
Business retreat.
Primary Groups
Social groups, such as families or friends, composed of intimate face-to-face relationships that strongly influence the attitudes and ideals of those involved.
Secondary Groups
Groups marked by impersonal, instrumental relationships (those existing as a means to an end). You may or may not know all of the members. Affiliation is contingent.
In-group
The more powerful, majority group. Hyland examples.
Out-group
less powerful group. Hyland example.
Reference groups
A group that we compare ourselves to.
Siblings, parents, celebrities.
Social Network
Is a set of relations - a set of dyads, essentially - held together by ties between individuals.
Alumni association. Facebook, and Linkedin.
Tie
Is the content/story of a particular relationship.
E.g. One way to think about “the ties that bond” is a set of stories we tell each other that explain a particular relationship.
Narrative
The sum of stories contained in a set of ties.
E.g. UWW is a narrative. Every person with who you have a relationship at your university forms a part of a network.
Social network + tie = Narrative
Embeddedness
Degree to which ties are reinforced through indirect paths within a social network.
Ties that are reinforced. STUDYING between Melissa and Rory further embeds our relationship.
Strength of weak ties
Referring to the fact that relatively weak ties, those not reinforced through indirect paths, often turn out to be quite valuable because they bring new information. The strength of a weak tie has been proven especially useful in job searches.
