Groups & Organizations

1. Groups & Organizations

2. Part 1: Social Structure

3. Social Structure: Status • DEFINITION: socially defined position within a group or society • Status Set: • Refers to EVERY status that an individual holds at any given point in time

4. Ascribed v. Achieved Status • Ascribed Status: • A status assigned according to standards that are beyond a person’s control • Achieved Status: • A status acquired by an individual on the basis of some special skill, knowledge or ability

5. Ascribed v. Achieved Status?

6. Master Status • DEFINITION: a social position that holds exceptional importance for identity, often shaping a person’s entire life • What is your master status right now?

7. Social Structure: Role • DEFINITION: the behavior expected of someone occupying a particular status • The dynamic expression of status • Role Conflict: • The incompatibility among roles corresponding to two or more statuses

8. Part 2: Social Groups

9. Types of Social Gatherings • Social Group • Social Category • Social Aggregate

10. Types of Social Gatherings • Social Group: collection of people who interact, share similar characteristics and have a sense of unity • Social Category: collection of people who do not interact, but who share similar characteristics • Social Aggregate: at any given time, a collection of people who are together but who interact very little

11. Primary & Secondary Groups • Primary Group: • Small social group whose members share personal & enduring relationships • Secondary Group: • Large & impersonal social group whose members pursue a specific interest or activity

12. Social Networks • Social Network: • The web of relationships that is formed by the sum total of a person’s interactions with other people • Includes direct & indirect relationships

13. Six Degrees of Separation? • Experiment by Stanley Milgram in 1967 • Study has been questioned, but theory is interesting…randomly select 2 people in different parts of country and see how many connections would it take to link them • 2011 Facebook study – average number of links 4.74 (less in US – 4.37)

14. Part 3: Group Dynamics

15. Size Matters! • Dyad: Group of 2 • Most intimate • Each member has direct control over group existence • Triad: Group of 3 • No one person can disband group • Easier decision-making

16. Size Matters! • What is happens to groups as they get larger?

17. In-Groups v. Out-Groups • Characteristics of In-Groups: • Titles, external symbols & dress • Competition with members of the out-group; strengthens unity within each group • Apply positive stereotypes to the in-group; negative stereotypes to the out-group

18. Conformity within Groups • Conformity: • a change in beliefs or actions that results in adherence to group norms • How susceptible are individuals to group pressure?

19. Conformity within Groups • Pressure to Conform: • Strength of social pressure • Immediacy of social pressure • Number of people involved in the source of social pressure

20. Conformity within Groups • Asch Experiment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYIh4MkcfJA • WYFFT Elevator Clip: • http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/video/fall-elevator-19922451

21. Compliance in Groups • Compliance: a change in behavior prompted by a direct request rather than social norms; obedience • 6 Primary Factors: • Friendship, commitment, scarcity, reciprocity, social validation, authority…

22. Compliance in Groups • Milgram Experiment: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwqNP9HRy7Y

23. Group Leadership • Expressive Leaders: • Affiliation motivated • Cooperative style of management • Instrumental Leaders: • Achievement motivated • Directive style of management

25. Part 4: Performance in Groups

26. Group Behavior • Group-Think: • When members of a cohesive group endorse a single explanation or answer, usually at the expense of ignoring reality • No toleration of dissenting opinions

27. Group Behavior • Group-Think happens when there is: • A strong, persuasive group leader • A high level of group cohesion • Intense pressure from the outside to make a good decision

30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYpbStMyz_I

31. Loafing & Compensation • Social Loafing: • The tendency to work less when responsibility for an outcome is spread throughout several members of a group

32. Loafing & Compensation • Social Compensation: • The tendency to work harder when one is part of a group, rather than when he or she is alone

33. Pro-social Behavior • DEFINITION: acting to benefit others • More likely to help if: • Have a high need for approval • Personal and social responsibility • Sense of empathy

34. Pro-social Behavior • More likely to be helped by others if: • Perceived as a potential leader • Not responsible for predicament • Member of helper’s group • Bystander Effect: • The more people present, the less likely each individual is to help someone in distress

36. Part 5: Formal Organizations

37. Formal Organizations • Utilitarian Organizations: • An organization that provides material benefits in exchange for labor

38. Formal Organizations • Normative Organizations: • An organization that pursues what they believe to be a morally worthwhile goal

39. Formal Organizations • Coercive Organizations: • An organization that serves as a form of punishment & treatment