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Explore the definition, types, and characteristics of social groups, including primary vs. secondary groups, small vs. large groups, and reference groups. Discover the structure, status, conformity, and authority within social groups. Learn about coalition formation, social conformity, obedience to authority, role person merger, and groupthink.
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Sociology 545Social Psychology Fall 2005
Topics • Social Groups • Social Institutions • Collective Behavior / Social Movements
Social Groups • Definition • Types • Characteristics
Social Groups Definition “The emergence of three or more individuals into a pattern of goal orientation, characterized by an interrelationship of statuses and awareness of membership.”
Social Groups - Types • Primary vs. Secondary • Interpersonal vs. Instrumental • Small vs. Large • Interaction vs. Reference
Social Groups - Types small Family, gang or fraternity work groups such as a jury primary secondary Reference groups (NOW, NAACP, AARP) Bureaucracies such as Ford or Apple large
Social Groups - Characteristics • Structure • Status • Conformity / Consensus
Social Groups - Structure Structure as Networks in Primary Groups Transitive Intransitive
Social Groups - Structure Structure as Spans of Control in Secondary Groups Span of Control
Social Groups - Structure Authority Structure Friendship Structure F x S Structure 1 1 1 2 3 + 2 3 = 2 3 4 5 4 5 4 5
Social Groups - Structure Authority Structure 1 2 3 = 4 5
Social Groups - Structure Friendship Structure 1 = 2 3 4 5
Social Groups - Structure • Structure as Complex Networks Authority Structure Friendship Structure Reciprocity Structure x =
Social Groups - Status Gamson - Coalition formation Authority vs. Influence C1(5/4) C2(5/3) C3(4/3) Person 5 .55 .625 .00 Person 4 .45 .000 .57 Person 3 .00 .375 .43 C4(4/3) .00 .45 .55
Social Groups - Status Berger – Expectation States LD UD 56% 10%
Social Groups - Conformity • Asch – Social Conformity • Milgram – Obedience to Authority • Zimbardo – Role Person Merger • Janis – Group Think
Social Groups - Conformity • Asch – Social Conformity A B C 33%
Social Groups - Conformity • Milgram – Obedience to Authority 15V 450V XXXXX 51%
Social Groups - Conformity • Zimbardo – Stanford Prison Experiment 14 students randomly assigned to Prisoner and Guard Status One nervous breakdown, a minister, parents, parole hearings and guard abuse Had to stop after only six days due to extreme role person merger
Social Groups - Conformity Janis - Groupthink • Illusion of Invulnerability: Members ignore obvious danger, take extreme risk, and are overly optimistic. • Collective Rationalization: Members discredit and explain away warning contrary to group thinking. • Illusion of Morality: Members believe their decisions are morally correct, ignoring the ethical consequences of their decisions. • Excessive Stereotyping: The group constructs negative stereotypes of rivals outside the group.
Social Groups - Conformity • Illusion of Unanimity: Members perceive falsely that everyone agrees with group's decision; silence is seen as consent. • Pressure for Conformity: Members pressure any in group who argue against the group's stereotypes as disloyalty. • Self-Censorship: Members withhold their dissenting views and counter-arguments. • Mindguards: Some members appoint themselves to protect the group from adverse information that might threaten group complacency.
