1. Soc 101 Chapter 5: Groups and Organizations

2. Make a list of the various groups to which you belong. Make a list of the various groups to which you belong. Which groups have had the greatest impact on your development? Which groups have had the greatest impact on your development? How have your group associations changed based on the different stages in your life? How have your group associations changed based on the different stages in your life? Questions for You…

3. Social Group: A collection of two or more people who: interact frequently, share a sense of belonging, and have a feeling of interdependence. Social Group: A collection of two or more people who: interact frequently, share a sense of belonging, and have a feeling of interdependence. Aggregate: A collection of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time but share little else in common. Aggregate: A collection of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time but share little else in common. Categories: A number of people who may never have met one another but share a similar characteristic. Categories: A number of people who may never have met one another but share a similar characteristic. Groups, Aggregates, and Categories

4. Primary Group: small, less specialized group in which members engage in face- to-face, emotion-based interactions over an extended period of time Primary Group: small, less specialized group in which members engage in face- to-face, emotion-based interactions over an extended period of time Secondary Group: larger, more specialized group in which the members engage in more impersonal, goal-oriented relationships for a limited period of time Secondary Group: larger, more specialized group in which the members engage in more impersonal, goal-oriented relationships for a limited period of time Cooley’s Types of Groups

5. Ingroup: group to which a person belongs and with which the person feels a sense of identity Ingroup: group to which a person belongs and with which the person feels a sense of identity Outgroup: group to which a person does not belong and toward which the person may feel a sense of competitiveness or hostility Outgroup: group to which a person does not belong and toward which the person may feel a sense of competitiveness or hostility Reference group: group that strongly influences a person’s behavior and social attitudes, regardless of whether that individual is an actual member Reference group: group that strongly influences a person’s behavior and social attitudes, regardless of whether that individual is an actual member Sumner’s Types of Groups

6. Possible Interactions Based on Group Size

7. Instrumental leadership is most appropriate when the group’s purpose is to complete a task or reach a particular goal. Instrumental leadership is most appropriate when the group’s purpose is to complete a task or reach a particular goal. Expressive leadership is most appropriate when the group is dealing with emotional issues, and harmony, solidarity, and high morale are needed. Expressive leadership is most appropriate when the group is dealing with emotional issues, and harmony, solidarity, and high morale are needed. Group Leadership Functions

8. Authoritarian leaders - often criticized for fostering intergroup hostility. Authoritarian leaders - often criticized for fostering intergroup hostility. Democratic leaders - praised for supportive behavior and blamed for being indecisive in a crisis. Democratic leaders - praised for supportive behavior and blamed for being indecisive in a crisis. Laissez-faire leaders - do not provide active leadership. Laissez-faire leaders - do not provide active leadership. Group Leadership Styles

9. The Experiment: Studying Group Solidarity The Asch experiment The Asch experiment Used the method of experimentUsed the method of experiment Studied solidarity and conformityStudied solidarity and conformity

10. What was the hypothesis? What was the hypothesis? Group solidarity causes conformityGroup solidarity causes conformity What was the independent variable? What was the independent variable? Group solidarity (the answers given by the group)Group solidarity (the answers given by the group) What was the dependent variable? What was the dependent variable? Whether or not a subject conformed to the groupWhether or not a subject conformed to the group

11. Group 1 X Group 2 ABC

12. Group 1 X Group 2 ABC

13. Group 1 X Group 2 ABC

14. Stanley Milgram: Obedience Important points: Important points: Obedience to authority is learned from an early ageObedience to authority is learned from an early age Obedience to authority is often unquestionedObedience to authority is often unquestioned Things to think about: Things to think about: People were more likely to obey authority when:People were more likely to obey authority when: Authority is present Authority is present people can diffuse responsibility people can diffuse responsibility they are distanced from their victims they are distanced from their victims

15. Milgram’s Obedience Experiment: Results

16. Milgram: Continued What was the penalty for failing to obey?What was the penalty for failing to obey? Answer: nothing serious Answer: nothing serious Why then, didn’t more disobey?Why then, didn’t more disobey? We are taught that those in authority “know best” We are taught that those in authority “know best” We are taught to obey authority from an early age We are taught to obey authority from an early age Thus, socialization has encouraged conformity Thus, socialization has encouraged conformity Is conformity/obedience bad?Is conformity/obedience bad? Not always. A classroom cannot be run efficiently without the obedience/conformity of the class Not always. A classroom cannot be run efficiently without the obedience/conformity of the class Can be. Sometimes people don’t question authority like they should (e.g. Nazi Germany) Can be. Sometimes people don’t question authority like they should (e.g. Nazi Germany)

17. Group Think Irving Janis developed an influential theory of group decision making that he called groupthink. Irving Janis developed an influential theory of group decision making that he called groupthink. Groupthink involves an extreme form of group cohesiveness in which group members begin to think alike and do not question each other or consider alternative choices in making a decision. Groupthink involves an extreme form of group cohesiveness in which group members begin to think alike and do not question each other or consider alternative choices in making a decision.

19. Groupthink Given the Asch and Milgram experiments, how might you explain groupthink? Given the Asch and Milgram experiments, how might you explain groupthink? How does Janis explain groupthink? How does Janis explain groupthink?

20. BUREAUCRACIES They are a type of formal organization They are a type of formal organization Formal Organizations are highly structured groups formed for the purpose of completing specific tasks/goals Formal Organizations are highly structured groups formed for the purpose of completing specific tasks/goals

21. Bureaucracies are special purpose groups formed for maximum efficiency Bureaucracies are special purpose groups formed for maximum efficiency They come in different shapes and sizes, but they share certain characteristics They come in different shapes and sizes, but they share certain characteristics

22. Bureaucracies: An Ideal Type 1.Division of Labor 2.Hierarchy of Authority 3.Written Rules/Regulations 4.Impersonal 5.Meritocracies

23. Consider this… How do people use this informal “grapevine” to spread information? Is it faster than the organization’s official channels of communication? Is it more or less accurate than official channels? How do people use this informal “grapevine” to spread information? Is it faster than the organization’s official channels of communication? Is it more or less accurate than official channels?

24. Bureaucracies and Their Limitations Inefficiency & Rigidity Inefficiency & Rigidity Resistance to Change Resistance to Change Perpetuation of Race, Class and Gender Inequalities Perpetuation of Race, Class and Gender Inequalities Leads to the “Iron Law of Oligarchy” Leads to the “Iron Law of Oligarchy”