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Sociology and Social Dynamics

Sociology and Social Dynamics. Greg Bohall M.S., C.R.C., CADC-II. What is Sociology?. Sociology is: The study of society. A social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies. The study of behavior as social beings.

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Sociology and Social Dynamics

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  1. Sociology and Social Dynamics Greg Bohall M.S., C.R.C., CADC-II

  2. What is Sociology? • Sociology is: • The study of society. • A social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies. • The study of behavior as social beings. • Ranges in studying short contacts between anonymous individuals to global social processes (American Sociological Association, 2011). • Human Relations is: • The skill or ability to work effectively through and with other people (Lamberton & Minor, 2010). • (American Sociological Association, 2011; Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  3. Review of terms… • Ethnicity: categories of people who are distinctive on the basis of national origin (German, Italian, etc.). • Ethnicity attempts to capture people’s actual practices • Race: categories that encompass different ethnic groups. • White race: Italian, Irish, Swedish • Focusing only on race hides important differences • Sex: refers to males and females (chromosomal, anatomical, hormonal, physiological). • Gender: socially constructed models associated with each sex. • (Rosenblum & Travis, 2012)

  4. Review of terms… • Sexual Orientation: directionality of one’s sexual interests toward members of the same sex, the other sex, or both (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011). • Social class: seldomly discussed so definition is not well developed. We almost never speak of ourselves in society in class terms as it is not a central category in America (Rosenblum & Travis, 2012). • (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011; Rosenblum & Travis, 2012)

  5. Some culture… • “Culture provides one with generally shared understandings and models for making meaning of one’s experiences. Cultural beliefs present standards of behavior that are internalized over time, and cultural traditions offer a soothing sense of social safety. At the heart of these shared understandings are the interpersonal networks of relations in which one is embedded” • (Rosenblum & Travis, 2012)

  6. Cultural Shapings • Values: The worth or importance you attach to different factors in your life. • Tangible: something real in a physical sense. • Intangible: something not real to touch but exists in connection to something else. • Norms: A standard of behavior expected of group members. • (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  7. Gender • Gender roles: Complex clusters of ways in which males and females are expected to behave within a specific culture. • Gender Identity: One’s belief that one is male or female. • Gender Schema: A cluster of mental representations about male and female physical qualities, behaviors, and personality traits. • Gender Stereotype: A fixed, conventional idea about people based on their gender. • What are some gender stereotypes? • (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011)

  8. Groups • A group is: • Two or more people who interact, share common goals, have unspoken or formal rules, or norms, maintain stable role relationships, and form subgroups. • Group Dynamics are: • The ways in which groups operate. • The cornerstone of human relations. • The set of interpersonal relationships within a group that determine how group members relate to one another and that influences task performance. • What are some famous groups? • Occupy movement, sports teams, KKK, The Brady Bunch • (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  9. Why do people join groups? • Formal group: governed by formal structure of organization. • Informal group: forms around common interests, habits, personality traits. • Affiliation: basic need to be with other people and relate. • Attraction: tend to be attracted to other people who are like them or who they would like to become. • Activities: the group is involved in interesting activities. • Assistance: the group offers help or assistance in some area of their lives. • Proximity: form a tie with people they see frequently (Ex: work). (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  10. Some Group Dynamics • Status: The rank an individual holds within a group. • Ex: President, Vice President, Secretary, etc. • Group Process: The way group members deal with one another while working on a task. • Group Conformity: Behaving in a way that meets a specified standard in coordination with a group. • Groupthink: A problematic type of thinking that results from group members who are overly willing to agree with one another because of time pressure, stress, and low collective self esteem. • Too much conformity decreases creativity and discourages communication. • (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  11. Barriers to Group Effectiveness • We have all seen poor decisions made by ineffective groups whether it has been in work or in the news (Netflix???, Bank of America???). • One main reason for an ineffective group is due to Groupthink. • Members strive for unanimity and it overrides their motivation to speak up. • Instead of evaluating other courses of action, the group gets 100 percent agreement as soon as possible. • Bad decisions due to groupthink: • Enron collapse (2001), WorldCom bankruptcy (2002), Washington Mutual bank collapse (2008). • (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  12. Combatting Groupthink • Assign critics: reasonable objections and doubts should be encouraged. • Leaders act impartial: take impartial role. • Set up subgroups: subgroups with separate leaders. • Consider alternatives: subgroups/separate leaders/larger group reassembles after issue discussed in subgroups. • Consult with outsiders: trusted associates outside group. • Invite experts: encourage and challenge views of group. • Assign devil’s advocates: at least one member (debater) • Consider the competition: Plaintiff vs. Defense • (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  13. Diversity • Stereotypes: Your thoughts or beliefs about specific groups of people. • Prejudice: How you feel as a result of the stereotypes you believe in. • Bias: A tendency to judge people before knowing them, basing the judgment only on their membership in some group or category of people. • Discrimination: Your behavior(an action), or what you do (or intend) as a result of your stereotypes AND prejudice. • (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  14. The Ism’s • Ethnocentrism: The belief that one’s ethnic group is more normal than others; an emotional source of prejudice. • Racism: Prejudice AND discrimination based on race. • Sexism: Prejudice AND discrimination based on gender. • Ageism: Prejudice AND discrimination toward older people. • Economic Prejudice: Prejudice AND discrimination toward people who are poorer or wealthier than you are. • Other sources: • Overweight/Underweight, Homosexuality, Disability, Religious Groups, Pregnant Women. • (Lamberton & Minor, 2010)

  15. References American Sociological Association (2011). What is Sociology? Retrieved from: http://www.asanet.org/sociology.cfm Lamberton, L. H. & Minor, L. (2010). Human Relations; Strategies for Success. McGraw Hill: New York, NY. Rathus, S. A., Nevid, J. S., & Fichner-Rathus, L. (2011). Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity (8th Ed.). Allyn and Bacon: Boston, MA. Rosenblum, K. E. & Travis, T. C. (2012). The Meaning of Difference (6thEd.). McGraw Hill: New York, NY.

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