Social Groups and Formal Organizations

1. Social Groups and Formal Organizations Michael Itagaki Sociology 101

2. Social Groups • Groups • People who share something in common • Non-groups • Aggregate • Category

3. Social Groups • Primary Groups • Intimate face-to-face interaction • Help form ideals of individuals • Secondary Groups • Larger, more formal • More anonymous, less personal

4. Social Groups • Iron Law of Oligarchy • Voluntary associations • Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts • Churches, VFW, AA • Leadership forms from within

5. Social Groups • In-Groups • Loyalty • Out-Groups • Antagonism

6. Social Groups • In-Groups • Out-Groups • Can shape our identity • Stereotypes/rivalries • Favoritism, biases • De-humanizing

7. Social Groups • Reference Groups • Standards to evaluate ourselves • Social Networks • The links between our cliques, clusters, groups of friends • 500 to 2,500 acquaintances • Not as beneficial for people of color, poor, and women

8. Social Groups • Electronic Groups • Class discussion • Which ones are you a part of? • How frequent is your contact? • What are advantages/disadvantages? • Is this a new way to connect? Or is it a barrier

9. Social Groups • Electronic Groups • Class discussion— Advantages/Disadvantages • Advantages: • Convenience • Communicate w/those far away • Gather new information • Free of charge; ideas w/o emotions • Quiet/anonymous/secretive

10. Social Groups • Electronic Groups • Class discussion— Advantages/Disadvantages • Disadvantages: • Security issues (I.D. theft) • Lies/deceit/fraud • Miscommunication, words get twisted • Makes us lazy/obese? & less sociable • Negatively impacts some businesses

11. Social Groups • Electronic Groups • Class discussion—Is this a new way to connect? Or is it a barrier • Connect: • Stay connected w/people, eliminate geographical barriers • Opens up people who are shy • Can learn depth of real person, personality • Connect to real world: Travel info/Paris

12. Social Groups • Electronic Groups • Class discussion—Is this a new way to connect? Or is it a barrier • Barrier: • Can’t build deeper relationships • Can meet dangerous people • Impairs growth, overcoming shyness • Can paralyze us, spend hrs. myspace • Danger of access of information • Barrier to real world/no need to go outside

13. Bureaucracy • Clear levels of assignments, flowing downward w/accountability flowing upward • Division of Labor • Written Rules • Written Communication and Records • Impersonality

14. Peer Pressure and Authority • Review of “Power of the Situation” video • Leadership styles: • Authoritarian • Democratic • Laissez-faire

15. Peer Pressure and Authority • Review of Asch and Milgram experiments • Asch and Lines • Milgram & Shocks • How would you have reacted?

16. Peer Pressure and Authority • Review of Asch and Milgram experiments • How would you have reacted?

17. Groupthink • Milgram and power of authority • Tunnel vision, where group members think alike • Only one “correct” viewpoint • Disagreement, alternative explanations are signs of disloyalty • Common in military/political decisions