Social Groups and Formal Organizations Chapter 5

Chapter Overview I.Introductory “Quiz” II.Social Groups III.Bureaucracies IV.Working for the Corporation V.Group Dynamics VI.Leadership VII.Classic Experiments VIII.Review

I. Introductory Quiz

1. Groups, aggregates, and categories are one and the same. False

2. Democratic organizations are usually dominated by an elite group that passes leadership from one clique member to another. True

3. The Neo-Nazis, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Fresno High Marching Band do not serve the same sociological function. False

4. Most unaddressed letters to a perfect stranger can be passed from one acquaintance to another and be delivered in five steps. Not according to my research.

5. Old bureaucracies never die, they just get recycled. True

6. Corporate employees who are showcased are on the fast track to promotion. False

7. Japanese workers enjoy lifetime job security. False

8.As a group gets larger, it gets more stable and its members’ intimacy with each other increases. False

9. All groups have leaders. True

10. When told to do so by a stranger who seems to be an authority, most people will give a painful shock to another person. True

II. Social Groups A.Group = people who have something in common and who believe that what they have in common is significant.

C. In-Groups and Out-Groups or Us v. Them Mentality

D. Voluntary Groups: The backbone of America 1. So what have you done lately? 2. Why is your group important?

E. Reference Groups 1.Groups we use as standards to evaluate ourselves 2.Ex. Family, friends, neighbors, teachers

F. Net-works 1.The social ties radiating outward from the self that link people together 2.Ex. Cliques, family, acquaintances, friends of friends, and now the electronic community 3.Social Networks

Y.J.U.: Women should be allowed to join men’s clubs

Small World Phenomenon

E. Robert Michels’ “Iron Law of Oligarchy”

III.Bureaucracies or From Loyalty to the Bottom Line A.Characteristics of: 1.Hierarchical 2.Divisions of labor 3.Written rules 4.Written communications 5.Impersonality of positions 6.Top down work delegation 7.Bottom up accountability 8.Let’s make one!

B.Perpetuation of, through displacement C.Rationalization of: they’re taking over D.Coping with red tape

IV. Working for the Corporation A. Corporate culture = an organization’s traditions, values, and unwritten norms. 1. Hidden Values 2.Advancement a. Track = a career course that enhances the chance of success, accessible to those who match a corporation’s hidden values b. Those who do not match the corporate culture tend to be set on a course that minimizes their performance; they get left “out of the loop”.

V. Group Dynamics A.Definition = How an individual influences a group and how the group influences the individual. B.Small groups: intense, unstable, intimate. C.Within triads, coalitions can form.

VI. Leadership A.Leader = someone who influences others. B.Two types of leaders 1. Instrumental leader 2. Expressive leader C.Who’s who in this class?

D. Leadership Styles 1.Authoritarian leader a. One who gives orders b. More effective in emergencies c. (high internal solidarity, dependent on the leader, aggressive toward leader or passive) 2.Democratic leader a. Tries to gain a consensus b. Best in most situations c. (friendly, “group minded,” task oriented) 3.Laissez-faire leader a.Highly permissive b.Usually ineffective b. (indecisive, questioning, nonachieving)

E. Characteristics of a leader. 1.What do you think?

2. Research findings a. Strongly representing the group’s values Or Able to lead a group out of a crisis. b. Talkative c. Determined and self-confident d. BONUS: Correlate to male leadership

VII. Classic Experiments A. Dr. Solomon Asch 1. Class experiment

A B C

2. Results : Big Discussion

B. Dr. Stanley Milgram

C. So? How Do These Experiments Relate to Social Groups? 1.The Asch experiment demonstrates the power of peer pressure. 2.The Milgram experiment demonstrates the influence of authority. 3.Both demonstrate the ease of falling into “ Group Think.”

D.Groupthink 1. Groupthink = a type of collective tunnel vision. 2. Ex.: The Jonestown Massacre, etc. 3. Preventing groupthink requires free expression of contrasting ideas

groups aggregates category alienation

VIII. Review 1.Define group and tell the difference between groups, aggregates, and categories. 2.Define primary and secondary groups. 3.Define in-group and out-group. What function does an out-group serve? 4.What is a voluntary organization and why do they frequently become oligarchies?

5.How can reference group membership influence behavior? 6.What are social networks, networking, and gender networking? 7.What impact might the electronic community have on social relationships. 8.What are the five essential characteristics of bureaucracies identified by Weber? 9.How does group interaction change as group size increases? 10.What is “rationalization of society”?

11.What is corporate hidden culture and what are the implications for women and minority groups? 12.What are the two types of group leaders and the three styles of leadership? 13.What characteristics do leaders have? 14.Discuss the Asch and Milgram experiments. 15.Define groupthink and tell how to prevent it.