1. Chapter Preview · Section 3
Types of Social Interaction (pages 181–189)
Five types of social interaction are basic to group life: cooperation, conflict, social exchange, coercion, and conformity.
Chapter Preview 3

2. Five Types of Group Social Interaction
Do 6-3 Interaction 1
Write this sentence on the board: Social interaction takes place at all times, and humans can’t help but interact. Students will likely say that it’s not true because people (strangers) can sit in a room and not interact. Ask: How might nonverbal communication be a form of interaction? (It’s possible that remaining silent is a form of interaction. In this case, each person is showing his or her uneasiness with others and is thus interacting.)
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3. Section 3-Polling Question
How often do you interact with your neighbors?
A. Often
B. Occasionally
C. Never A B C
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4. Five Types of Group Social Interaction
The five types of social interaction basic to group life:
Cooperation
Conflict
Social exchange
Coercion
Conformity
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5. Five Types of Group Social Interaction (cont.)
Some encourage stability and some encourage change.
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6. Which of the following social interactions is based upon reciprocity?
A. Cooperation
B. Conflict
C. Social exchange A B C C
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7. Cooperation
Cooperation is a form of interaction in which individuals or groups combine their efforts to reach some goal.
Works best when resources are limited
survivors of a plane crash, victims of a flood (think of Pilger tornado)
Couples sharing household duties
List three examples of interactions you have had in which you cooperated with others. (Sample answer: playing games, working on a class project, helping a sibling with homework.)
Non-crisis examples of cooperation include establishing rules for recreational games, sharing the duties within a family, or working with a group to complete a task.
Without some degree of cooperation, social life could not exist.
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8. Which is an example of cooperation? A. Stealing a car
B. Donating a kidney
C. Riding a bus
D. Staying at home with the family A B C D B
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9. Conflict
Groups or individuals that work against one another for a larger share of the rewards are in conflict.
In conflict, defeating the opponent is considered essential.
Although conflict is usually considered disruptive, it can be beneficial, depending on how it is handled.
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10. Conflict (cont.) The positive effects of conflict are that it:
promotes cooperation and unity within the opposing groups.
draws attention to social inequalities.
changes norms, beliefs and values.
Acceptance of Slavery was questioned Slavery was outlawed
Women’s participation in society was gradually accepted th amendment to the Constitution
Racism was comdemned by more people Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed
Student protests accelerated the end of the U.S. involvement No laws were changed a s a direct result of the Student Antiwar protests I the 1960’s
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11. Conflict (cont.) Section 3
Revolutionary War drew the colonists together. Labor unions is another ex
Norms and values are reexamined during conflict and can bring about change- Civil Rights Movement
Protests of the 60’s and 70’s on college campuses’
Positive ways to handle conflict include persuasion, compromise, debate, and negotiation; these techniques allow each side to gain something from the conflict rather than having only a single winner.
One of the major benefits of conflict is the promotion of cooperation and unity within opposing groups.
Another positive effect of conflict is the attention it draws to social inequities, causing norms, beliefs, and values to be reexamined and even changed.
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12. In this photo, labor activists march on May Day, a holiday that celebrates workers; rights in most countries. Conflict is not always negative or harmful. Many great advances in human rights, civil rights, and social justice had their origins in conflict. While nonviolent protests, frequently receive more contemporary support, many great social changes have been accomplished with some amount of violent conflict as well.
Instruct students to hold a debate over the use of protests to create social change. Allow students to organize the debate themselves. The only instruction to give them is that they will have three rounds of exchanges and that one side should argue for the proposition that protest is useful for creating social change while the other side arguesagainst it. On their own, students should divide into two groups, formulate their arguments, lay out some simple rules (such as three-minute speeches and responses), and flip a coin to see who goes first. Remind students that debates are won on the strength of evidence rather than opinion, so students should come up with as many examples as they can to support their argument. At the end, declare a winner and tell them the basis of your judgment.
Have students research the current Occupy movement and prepare a report about how it uses conflict and the changes its adherents hope to make in society. In their reports, students should assess whether changes the group seeks are positive or negative for society.
Describe one interaction in which you have been involved when conflict had a positive effect and one in which it had a negative effect. (Sample answer: Helping get school rules changed with a demonstration is an example of conflict having a positive effect; fighting with my best friend until we did not like each other as much is an example of conflict having a negative effect.)
Mention that sometimes there are positive outcomes to conflicts, such as the establishment of the United Nations after World War II. Have students write a short summary of the conflict and its consequences

13. What is a benefit of conflict? A. It draws attention to inequities.
B. It promotes cooperation and unity within opposing groups.
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A or B A B C D C
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14. Social Exchange
Social exchange is a type of social interaction in which one person voluntarily does something for another person, expecting a reward in return.
Reciprocity involves doing for others what they have done for you.
In an exchange relationship, the benefit to be earned rather than the relationship itself is key.
Do you ever do things for others “just because” with no thought of what they can do for you in return?
Consider doing a Random Acts of Kindness Day (Have students share what they did and how it made them feel)
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15. Social Exchange (cont.)
Cooperation is different than social exchange because nothing is expected in return.
Exchange relationships are often apparent in political and legislative maneuvering.
A common Latin phrase describing this type of exchange behavior is quid pro quo, or “this for that.”
Discuss with students how the economic system in the United States—often called the free market system—is based in part on competition. The company with the best product should win the most customers; the movie with the most appeal should get the biggest audience; the restaurant with the best food should get the most customers. Competition is so valued in the U.S. economy that there are even laws to promote it (e.g., the Sherman Antitrust Act). Not all aspects of the United States are built on competition, though. For example, the following functions in the United States are not modeled on competition but are instead funded by taxpayers: food inspections, the military, and public schools. Have students create a graphic organizer that lays out the competition- and cooperation-based functions of the United States.
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16. Which is considered a social exchange? A. Donating blood
B. Volunteer work
C. Doing homework with a friend
D. All of the above A B C D
C- If one person is more knowledgeable than the other, that person will probably find an area where the other person is more skilled and try to get some “payback”
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17. Coercion
Coercion is social interaction in which individuals or groups are forced to give in to the will of other individuals or groups.
This is the opposite of social exchange.
Prisoners of war forced to reveal information
Parents control children by taking away privileges
Governments enforce laws through legalized punishments
Whereas social exchange involves voluntary actions for mutual benefit, coercion is a one-way street.
Social exchange occurs between groups or individuals roughly equal in power, while in coercion, one party is clearly dominant.
Conflict theory best describes this type of social interaction.
Coercion is a one-way street and the central element is domination.
This can also be expressed through social pressure, redicule, rejection, withdrawal of affection.
Many of our social interactions exist to solve problems. In cold-weather climates, a frequent problem that people wake up to is snow-covered sidewalks. Responsible property owners usually shovel their sidewalks the morning after a heavy snow. Not everybody does this. City sidewalks are vital transportation avenues and these sidewalks can become dangerous if not shoveled. Ask: If property owners cannot be relied upon to shovel their sidewalks, what is the best method for addressing the problem: cooperation or coercion? List scenarios for both (i.e., how both would work) and brainstorm benefits and drawbacks for both. Tell students that some communities have passed laws that mandate snow removal. (Using cooperation, property owners could pool their resources and hire a service or rotate who shovels each time, among other possibilities. The benefits of cooperation would include stronger community bonds and a sense of empowerment. The drawbacks to using cooperation include the fact that not everyone has to participate. Using coercion, the community could pass a law and impose a penalty on property owners who do not shovel their sidewalks. The benefits of coercion would include a high rate of compliance and clean, safe sidewalks. Drawbacks to using coercion include the fact that property owners would dislike being forced to do something and that the penalty would be a difficult burden on some property
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18. Do you think coercion has any positive aspects? A. Yes B. No
C. Not sure A B C
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19. Conformity Conformity is behavior that matches the group expectations.
Solomon Asch’s line experiment demonstrates conformity.
Discuss: Beyond adolescence and into adulthood, is there a lessening or increasing need to conform?
-those who believe conformity needs remain the same may say adults conform to the workplace,
dressing and behaving as expected; adults conform at home, moving their lawns and raking leaves.
adults conform at home by mowing their lawns and raking leaves. Some students may argue that adults conform less because they have already established their identities, chosen their careers, and are independent of supervision.) 
- others may argue that adults have established identities and may conform less. They choose their
own careers, are are independend of home- adult supervision.
Cards for Asch’s Experiments
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20. Cards for Asch’s Experiments
Figure 6.1

22. Section 4-End

23. Conformity (cont.)
Groupthink exists when thinking in a group is self-deceptive, based on conformity to group beliefs, and created by group pressure.
Bay of Pigs Invasion is a good example of group think. President Kennedy asked everyone in the room whether or not the invasion should proceed. Arthur Schlesinger wrote a book, A Thousand Days, that not one man in the room dared to say that the invasion was doomed to fail, even through many felt it would. They were all afraid they would be viewed as “soft on communism”
What are the ramifications of not speaking up when one believes something is wrong?
Do photo p. 185-
In groupthink, pressures of uniformity discourage members from expressing their concerns.
Research shows that groupthink can be avoided when leaders or group members make sure everyone participates in the discussion and when members know that disagreement will be tolerated.
The “bystander effect” is when people in groups are hesitant to react differently than others.
Illustrating Types of Social Interaction
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25. Can you name a time when you conformed despite your true beliefs?
A. Yes
B. No A B
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26. Section 4-End

27. Figure 6.2

28. Transparency 2

29. cooperation conflict social exchange coercion conformity groupthink
Section 3-Key Terms

30. cooperation
interaction in which individuals or groups combine their efforts to reach a goal
Vocab 12

31. conflict
interaction aimed at defeating and opponent
Vocab 13

32. social exchange
a voluntary action performed in the expectation of getting a reward in return
Vocab 14

33. coercion
interaction in which individuals or groups are forced to behave in a particular way
Vocab 15

34. conformity
behavior that matches group expectations
Vocab 16

35. groupthink
self-deceptive thinking that is based on conformity to group beliefs, and created by group pressure to conform
Vocab 17