Social Groups andFormal Organizations

Chapter 5

Chapter OverviewI. Introductory “Quiz”II. Social GroupsIII. BureaucraciesIV. Working for the CorporationV. Group DynamicsVI. LeadershipVII.Classic ExperimentsVIII.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 America1. So what have you done lately?

2. Why is your group important?

E. Reference Groups1. Groups we use as standards

to evaluate ourselves2. Ex. Family, friends,

neighbors, teachers

F. Net-works1.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. Hierarchical2. Divisions of labor3. Written rules4. Written communications5. Impersonality of positions6. Top down work delegation7. 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 leaders1. Instrumental leader2. Expressive leader

C.Who’s who in this class?

D. Leadership Styles 1. Authoritarian leader

a. One who gives ordersb. More effective in emergenciesc. (high internal solidarity, dependent on

the leader, aggressive toward leader or passive)

2. Democratic leadera. Tries to gain a consensusb. Best in most situationsc. (friendly, “group minded,” task

oriented)

3. Laissez-faire leadera. Highly permissive b. Usually ineffectiveb. (indecisive, questioning, nonachieving)

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

2. Research findingsa. Strongly representing the group’s

valuesOr

Able to lead a group out of a crisis.b. Talkativec. Determined and self-confidentd. BONUS: Correlate to male leadership

VII. Classic Experiments

A.Dr. Solomon Asch1. Class

experiment

A B C

A B C

A B C

A B C

A B C

A B C

A B C

A B C

A B C

A B C

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

groupsaggregatescategoryalienation

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.