Chapter 4

1. Chapter 4 Section 2: Structures of Groups and Societies

2. What is a group? • a set of two or more people who interact on the basis of shared expectations and who possess some degree of common identity. • can be very small or very large • can be very intimate or very formal

3. Four requirements for a group • There must be two or more people • There must be interaction • The members of the group must have shared expectations • The members must possess some degree of common identity • The last three of the above requirements are the factors that distinguish a group from an aggregate or a social category.

4. Three of the most common ways in which groups differ are in terms of: • Time • Organization • Size: • Dyad: two members, smallest group possible • Triad: three members • Small group: no more than fifteen members

5. Types of groups • Primary: direct and personal • Secondary: impersonal and temporary • Reference: with whom you identify with and whose attitudes and values you often adopt • Ingroup: the group you belong to and identify with • Outgroup: any group you do not belong to or identify with

6. What are your Ingroups & Outgroups? • With your group make a list of the “names” given to the various groups that exist within Paulding High School: • Jocks • Preps • Band Geeks, Choir Q’s • Pot Heads, Druggies • Skaters • Emo • Goth • Gangster Wunnabes

7. Symbols that separate groups: • With your group discuss and list the various symbols used to distinguish each of these groups from one another: • Name given • Clothing style • Hair and Make-up • Jewelry • Vocabulary used

8. An illustration of ingroup/outgroup relations:

9. Most ingroups exhibit three characteristics • Group members tend to separate themselves from other groups through the use of symbols • Members view themselves in terms of positive images, while they view outgroups in negative terms • Ingroups generally compete with outgroup

10. Social Networks • Web of relationships that is formed by the sum total of a person’s interactions with others • Includes both direct and indirect relationships • Do not have clear boundaries • Do not give rise to a common sense of identity • Provide us with a feeling of community and with opportunities for career and social advancement.

11. Types of Societies • Most common way sociologists classify societies: • By their Subsistence Strategy • Simple------------------------------Complex • Division of Labor increases along the continuum • Used as the basis to classify societies as either Preindustrial, Industrial, or Postindustrial

12. Preindustrial Societies • Hunting and Gathering • Pastoral • Horticultural • Agricultural • Barter replaced by actual money exchange

13. Industrial Societies • Use of machines increases production • Can support more people • Reduces the need for farm labor • Increases the industrial work force • Production moves from home to factories • Urbanization • Goal is efficiency… reduces the level of skill • Mandatory education • Religious competition • Status competition

14. Postindustrial Societies • Production of information • Provision of services • Standard of living increases • Wider range of job opportunities • Increased emphasis on education • Future dependent on technological advances • Emphasis on social equality and democracy

15. Contrasting Societies • Durkheim: • Mechanical solidarity……….preindustrial • Organic solidarity…………….industrial • Tonnies: • Gemeinschaft…………………preindustrial • Gesellschaft……………industrial/postindustrial