SOCIAL GROUPS AND SOCIAL GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS

After studying this chapter, you should After studying this chapter, you should be able to do the followingbe able to do the following::

Explain the functions of groups.Explain the functions of groups. ◗ ◗ Distinguish between primary and Distinguish between primary and

secondary groups.secondary groups.◗◗ ◗ ◗ Understand the role of reference groups.Understand the role of reference groups. ◗ ◗ Know the influence of group size.Know the influence of group size. ◗ ◗ Understand the characteristics of Understand the characteristics of

bureaucracy.bureaucracy. ◗ ◗ Know what the concept of “the iron law Know what the concept of “the iron law

of oligarchy” isof oligarchy” is..

THE THE NATURENATURE OF GROUPS OF GROUPS

In everyday speech the term is used for In everyday speech the term is used for almost any occasion when two or more almost any occasion when two or more people come together. people come together.

In sociology In sociology we use several different terms we use several different terms for various collections of people, not all of for various collections of people, not all of which are considered groups. which are considered groups.

DEF:DEF: Social groups interact according Social groups interact according to established statuses and rolesto established statuses and roles

SOCIAL GROUP - SOCIOLOGYSOCIAL GROUP - SOCIOLOGY

A social group consists of a number of A social group consists of a number of people who have:people who have:

Common identityCommon identity Some feeling of unitySome feeling of unity Certain common goals Certain common goals Shared norms Shared norms

SOCIAL GROUPSOCIAL GROUP

A social group has a A social group has a purposepurpose and is and is therefore important to its members, who therefore important to its members, who know how to tell an “know how to tell an “insiderinsider”” from an from an

““outsider.”outsider.”

HOW DO SOME GROUPS IDENTIFY HOW DO SOME GROUPS IDENTIFY INSIDERS?INSIDERS?

SOCIAL GROUPSSOCIAL GROUPS Six Six characteristicscharacteristics of social groups:of social groups:

1. Permanence beyond the meetings of 1. Permanence beyond the meetings of members, that is, even when members are members, that is, even when members are dispersed dispersed

2. Means for identifying members2. Means for identifying members 3. Mechanisms for recruiting new members3. Mechanisms for recruiting new members 4. Goals or purposes4. Goals or purposes 5. Social statuses and roles, that is, norms for 5. Social statuses and roles, that is, norms for

behaviorbehavior 6. Means for controlling members’ behavior6. Means for controlling members’ behavior

PRIMARY VS SECONDARY PRIMARY VS SECONDARY GROUPSGROUPS

The difference between primary and The difference between primary and secondary groups is based on the secondary groups is based on the kinds of kinds of relationships relationships their members have with one their members have with one

another. another.

PRIMARY GROUPSPRIMARY GROUPS

DEF: DEF: Involve interaction among members Involve interaction among members who have an who have an emotional investment emotional investment in one in one another and in a situation, who another and in a situation, who know one know one another intimatelyanother intimately, and who interact as , and who interact as total individuals rather than through total individuals rather than through specialized roles. specialized roles.

EX: FAMILY - OTHER EXAMPLES??EX: FAMILY - OTHER EXAMPLES??

SECONDARY GROUPSSECONDARY GROUPS

A secondary groupA secondary group Is characterized by much less intimacy Is characterized by much less intimacy

among its members. among its members. Usually has specific goalsUsually has specific goals Is formally organized and is Is formally organized and is impersonalimpersonal..

EX: WORKPLACE EX: WORKPLACE - OTHER EXAMPLES?????- OTHER EXAMPLES?????

FUNCTIONS OF GROUPSFUNCTIONS OF GROUPSTo function properly, all groups, To function properly, all groups, both primary and both primary and

secondarysecondary, must, must

Define BoundariesDefine Boundaries Choose Leaders Choose Leaders Make Decisions Make Decisions Set Goals Set Goals Assign Tasks Assign Tasks Control Members’ Behavior Control Members’ Behavior

Defining BoundariesDefining Boundaries

A method for determining who belongs to the group and who does not (symbols, rituals, language, etc)

Choosing LeadersChoosing Leaders A leader is someone who occupies a A leader is someone who occupies a

central role or position of dominance and central role or position of dominance and influence in a group. All groups must influence in a group. All groups must grapple with the issue of leadership.grapple with the issue of leadership.

LEADERSHIP ROLESLEADERSHIP ROLES

Two types Two types

Both types are crucial to the success of a group.Both types are crucial to the success of a group.

LEADERSHIP ROLESLEADERSHIP ROLES

Instrumental leadershipInstrumental leadership

In which a leader actively proposes tasks In which a leader actively proposes tasks and plans to guide the group toward and plans to guide the group toward achieving its goals.achieving its goals.

Expressive leadershipExpressive leadership A Leader works to keep relations among A Leader works to keep relations among

group members harmonious and morale group members harmonious and morale highhigh

SOCIAL AGGREGATESOCIAL AGGREGATE

DEF: DEF: A social aggregate is made up of A social aggregate is made up of people who temporarily happen to be in people who temporarily happen to be in physical proximity to each other, but share physical proximity to each other, but share little else. little else.

What else does a social aggregate lack, What else does a social aggregate lack, that a social group possesses?that a social group possesses?

REFERENCE GROUPREFERENCE GROUP DEF: DEF: A group that an individual uses to A group that an individual uses to

help define beliefs, attitudes, and values help define beliefs, attitudes, and values and to guide behavior. and to guide behavior.

Provides a comparison point against which Provides a comparison point against which people measure themselves and others.people measure themselves and others.

Is often a category we identify with, rather Is often a category we identify with, rather than a specific group we belong to. than a specific group we belong to.

SMALL GROUPSSMALL GROUPS Many kinds of social groups, such as Many kinds of social groups, such as

families, peer groups, and work groups, families, peer groups, and work groups, that actually meet together and contain that actually meet together and contain few enough members few enough members so that all members so that all members know one another.know one another.

As a group grows larger, the number of As a group grows larger, the number of

relationships within it increases, which relationships within it increases, which often leads to the often leads to the formation of subgroupsformation of subgroups..

DYAD AND TRIADDYAD AND TRIAD DYAD - DYAD - DEF: DEF: A group of A group of twotwo. This is the . This is the

smallest possible groupsmallest possible group

TRIAD - TRIAD - A group of A group of threethree The addition of a third member, creates The addition of a third member, creates

uncertainty because it introduces the uncertainty because it introduces the possibility of two-against-one alliances.possibility of two-against-one alliances.

LARGE GROUPS/ LARGE GROUPS/ ASSOCIATIONSASSOCIATIONS

DEF: Groups which are purposefully created interest groups that have clearly defined goals and official methods

Because of their size associations need to break up work into tasks which can be assigned to individuals.

They also have a formal and informal structure

Mechanical and Organic SolidarityMechanical and Organic SolidarityDurkheimDurkheim

Every society has a Every society has a collective conscience, collective conscience,

DEF: a system of fundamental beliefs and system of fundamental beliefs and values. values.

Social solidarity Social solidarity emerges from the people’s emerges from the people’s commitment and conformity to the society’s commitment and conformity to the society’s collective consciencecollective conscience..

Mechanical and Organic Solidarity Mechanical and Organic Solidarity DurkheimDurkheim

A A mechanically integrated mechanically integrated society society is one in is one in which a society’s collective conscience is which a society’s collective conscience is strongstrong and there is a great commitment to that and there is a great commitment to that collective conscience.collective conscience.

Organically integrated society Organically integrated society social solidarity social solidarity depends on the cooperation of individuals in depends on the cooperation of individuals in many different positions who perform specialized many different positions who perform specialized tasks. tasks.

SIMILAR TO DURKHEIM’S SOLIDARITY SIMILAR TO DURKHEIM’S SOLIDARITY TONNIES VIEW OF SOCIAL RELATIONSTONNIES VIEW OF SOCIAL RELATIONS

GEMEINSCHAFTGEMEINSCHAFT

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

RELATIONSHIPS ARE RELATIONSHIPS ARE INTIMATE, PERSONAL INTIMATE, PERSONAL AND COOPERATIVEAND COOPERATIVE

SIMILAR TO SIMILAR TO MECHANICALMECHANICAL SOLIDARITYSOLIDARITY

GESELLSCHAFTGESELLSCHAFT

SOCIETYSOCIETY

RELATIONSHIPS ARE RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPERSONAL AND IMPERSONAL AND INDEPENDENTINDEPENDENT

SIMILAR TO SIMILAR TO ORGANIC ORGANIC SOLIDARITYSOLIDARITY

BUREAUCRACYBUREAUCRACY

A formal, rationally organized, social A formal, rationally organized, social structure with clearly defined patterns of structure with clearly defined patterns of activity.activity.

Ideally every series of actions is Ideally every series of actions is functionally related to the purposes of the functionally related to the purposes of the organization.organization.

Weber’s Bureaucracy: Weber’s Bureaucracy: An Ideal TypeAn Ideal Type

IDEAL TYPE IDEAL TYPE is a simplified, exaggerated is a simplified, exaggerated model of reality used to illustrate a model of reality used to illustrate a concept. concept.

For bureaucracy Weber identified six ideal For bureaucracy Weber identified six ideal

characteristics by which it could be characteristics by which it could be identifiedidentified

SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF BUREAUCRACIESBUREAUCRACIES

THE IRON LAW OF OLIGARCHYTHE IRON LAW OF OLIGARCHY

OligarchyOligarchy OrganizationsOrganizations that were originally idealistic that were originally idealistic

and democratic eventually come to be and democratic eventually come to be dominated by a small self-serving group dominated by a small self-serving group of of people who achieved positions of power people who achieved positions of power and responsibility. and responsibility.

More likely in large organizations because More likely in large organizations because decision making becomes centralized and decision making becomes centralized and the heirarchical structure stifles dissent.the heirarchical structure stifles dissent.

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONSSOCIAL INSTITUTIONSDifferent societies have different ways of

doing things, although the same social needs are met.

Social institutions are the vehicle (means) for doing these things.

Social Institutions Social Institutions DEF: DEF: The The ordered social ordered social relationshipsrelationships that grow out of the values, that grow out of the values, norms, statuses, and roles that organize norms, statuses, and roles that organize the activities that fulfill society’s needs. the activities that fulfill society’s needs.

Social Institutions meet social Social Institutions meet social needs in five basic areas:needs in five basic areas:

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONSOCIAL ORGANIZATION

Social organization Social organization DEF: DEF: TThe relatively he relatively stable pattern of stable pattern of social relationships social relationships among individuals and groups in society.among individuals and groups in society.

Social Relationships Social Relationships are based on are based on systems of statuses, social roles, norms, systems of statuses, social roles, norms, and shared meanings that provide and shared meanings that provide regularity and predictability during social regularity and predictability during social interaction. interaction.