the key idea contained in the

theory of evolution
 Social Groups…

Structure Society The largest group

Provides guidelines for to which we
behavior, making Institutions usually belong…
everyday life
understandable and
predictable. Small Groups

Individuals

Groups, such
Action as families,
peer and
friendship
groups, etc.
Institutions are stable
patterns of group
behaviour that persist The main types of institutional groups in our society
over long periods of time are:
Family and Kinship, Government, Work and
cultural institutions such as the media,
education, and religion.
 Social Group
. A social group is defined as two or more people who identify
and interact with one another.

Basic Classification
1. A primary group= a small social group whose members share
personal and enduring relationships.
a. People in primary groups share many activities, spend a great
deal of time together, and feel they know one another well.

b. Members think of the group as an end in itself rather than as

a means to other ends.
c. Members view each other as unique and irreplaceable.
 primary vs secondary group

• Secondary groups= large and

impersonal social groups devoted to
some specific interest or activity.
• They involve weak emotional ties.
• They are commonly short term.
• They are goal oriented.
• They are typically impersonal.
 Reference group
• a social group that serves as a point of
reference for people making evaluations or
decisions.
Stouffer’s research on reference group
dynamics showed that we do not make
judgments about ourselves in isolation, nor do
we compare ourselves with just anyone.
 In-group vs out-group

An in-group is a social group commanding a

member’s esteem and loyalty

an out-group is a social group toward which

one feels competition or opposition.
 Formal vs informal

Formal- purpose and objectives are explicitly

labeled

Informal-arises spontaneously out of

interactions of two or more people
 Gemeinschaft vs gesselschaft

Gemeinschaft- relationship is close, durable

and highly valued

Gesselschaft- relationship is impersonal

 Group size
A dyad is a social group with two members.
a. Social interaction in a dyad is typically intense.
b. Dyads are typically less stable than larger
groups.
A triad is a social group with three members.
a. Triads are more stable than dyads.
b. Any two members can form a majority
coalition.
 Social diversity (race, ethnicity, class, and
gender) influences intergroup contact in four ways:
1.The larger a group, the more likely members will
maintain relationships only with other group
members.
2. The more internally heterogeneous a group is,
the more likely that its members will interact with
outsiders.
3. The greater the overall social parity within a
setting, the more likely it is that people from diverse
backgrounds will mingle and form ties.
4. Physical space affects the chances of contact
among groups.
A network is a web of social ties

Social
network
Formal organizations are large, secondary groups
that are organized to achieve goals efficiently.

Utilitarian Coercive voluntary

organizations organizations, associations,

people join in distinguished in which people

pursuit of by involuntary pursue goals
material membership. they consider
rewards morally
worthwhile.
 Bureaucracy
organizational model rationally designed to perform
tasks efficiently. Max Weber identified six key
characteristics of bureaucracy:
1.Specialization.
2.Hierarchy of offices.
3.Rules and regulations.
4.Technical competence.
5.Impersonality.
6.Formal, written communications.
 The “McDonaldization” of society.
AM

1.Four principles of McDonaldization:

a. Efficiency.
b. Calculability.
c. Uniformity and predictability.
d. Control through automation.

2. Rationality, although efficient, may be

irrational and highly dehumanizing.
 Group leadership.

1. Instrumental leadership emphasizes the completion of

tasks;
Expressive leadership emphasizes collective well-
being.
2. There are three styles of decision-making in groups:
•Authoritarian leadership focuses on instrumental
concerns, takes personal charge of decision-making, and
demands strict compliance from subordinates.
•Democratic leadership is more expressive and tries to
include everyone in the decision-making process.
•Laissez-faire leadership allows the group to function
more or less on its own.
Question?