CHAPTER 6Groups & Formal

Organizations

Section 1:

Primary & Secondary Groups

Groups, Categories & Aggregates

They are in regular contact with one another They share some ways of thinking, feeling or behaving.They take one another’s behavior into account.

••

•• They have one

Social category is people who share a social characteristic.

or more interests & goals in common

A social aggregate is peopletemporarily in the same place

at the same time.

Group is at least twopeople who have one ormore goals in common

and share common waysof thinking & behaving

Primary Groups

Primary relationships are interactions that are

intimate, personal, caring, and fulfilling.

Primary group arepeople who are

emotionally close,know one anotherwell, and seek one

another’s company.

• What is a primary group?– Charles Horton Cooley first to use

How do primary groups develop?the term

•1.

2.3.4.

Small size

Face-to-face contactContinuous contactProper social environment

•

1.2.3.

What are the functions

Emotional supportSocializationEncourage conformity

of primary groups?

– William F. Whyte (1993)

Secondary Groups

• What are secondary relationshipslike?

Do secondary groups ever include

•primary relationships?

Secondary groups arepeople who share onlypart of their lives while

focusing on a goal or task.Secondary relationships

are impersonalinteractions involving

limited parts ofpersonalities.

Section 2:

Other Groups and Networks

Reference Groups

Reference groups are a groupuse for self-evaluation and theformation of attitudes, values,

beliefs, and norms.

In-Groups & Out-Groups

••

•

Where are these groups found?

What are group boundaries?How are group boundaries maintained?

In-groups are exclusivegroups demanding intense

loyalty.

Out-groups are groups targetsby an in-group for opposition,antagonism or competition.

In-Groups & Out Groups

Social Networks

••

Are social networks groups?

How strong are the ties innetwork?

a social

• What are thenetwork?

functions of social

Social networks are a web ofsocial relationships that join

a person to other people andgroups.

Section 3:

Types of Social Interaction

Five Types of Social Interaction

• Robert Nisbet (1988) dscribes 5 types of socialinteraction basic to group life:1.

2.3.4.5.

Cooperation

Conflict

Social Exchange Coercion Conformity

Cooperation

Cooperation is interaction inwhich individuals or groups

combine their efforts toreach a goal.

Conflict

Conflict is interactionaimed at defeating an

opponent.

• What are the social benefitsconflict?

– Georg Simmel (1858-1918)

of

Social exchange is avoluntary actionperformed in the

exception of gettinga reward in return.

Social Exchange

• Aristotle-

– All men, or most men, wish what is noble butchoose what is profitable; and while it is noble torender a service not with an eye to receiving onein return, it is profitable to receive one. Oneought, therefore, if one can, to return theequivalent of service received, and to do sowillingly.

What is the difference between cooperation and social exchange?

•

Coercion

Coercion is an interaction inwhich individuals or groups

are forced to behave in aparticular way.

• Opposite of social change

ConformityGroupthink is self-

deceptive thinking that is based on conformity to

group beliefs, and created by group pressure to

conform.

Conformity is thebehavior that matches

group expectations.

••

Do most people conform

What is groupthink?to group pressures?

Section 4:

Formal Organizations

The Nature of FormalOrganizations

How are formal organizations andbureaucracies related?

•

Formal organization is agroup deliberately created to

achieve one or more long-term goals.

A bureaucracy is a formalorganization based on

rationality and efficiency.

Major Characteristics ofBureaucracies

Power is theability to

control thebehavior of

others. 1. A division of labor based on theprinciple of specialization.

A hierarchy of authorityA system of rules and procedures. Written records of work and activitiesPromotion on the basis of meritand qualifications.

2.

3.4.

Authority isthe legitimate

or sociallyapproved use

of power.

5.

Max Weber & Bureaucracy

••

What are the advantages of bureaucracy?

Do bureaucracies undervalue people?

Rationalization is the mind-setemphasizing knowledge ,

reason, and planning.

Bureaucracy

Informal Structure WithinOrganizations

Informal organization is groups within a formal organization in which

personal relationships are guided by norms, rituals, and sentiments that are not part of the formal organization.

• When were informal organizationsfirst studies?

Why do informal organizations develop?

•

Iron Law of Oligarchy The Iron Law of Oligarchy is atheory that power

increasingly becomesconcentrated in the hands of

a few members of anyorganization.

••

What is the iron law of oligarchy?

Why does organization lead to oligarchy?– 1st organizations need a hierarchy of authority

to delegate decision making.

– 2nd the advantages held by those at the topallow them to consolidate their powers.

– 3rd Other members of the organization tend to defer to leaders– to give in to those who take charge.