Chapter 5Chapter 5

Social Groups and OrganizationsSocial Groups and Organizations

Social GroupsSocial Groups

A A social groupsocial group is defined as is defined as two or more people who identify two or more people who identify and interact with one another.and interact with one another.

Social groups fall into 2 basic Social groups fall into 2 basic categories: primary and categories: primary and secondary groups.secondary groups.

Primary GroupsPrimary Groups Primary groupsPrimary groups are small social are small social

groups whose members share personal groups whose members share personal and enduring relationships and enduring relationships They have intimate, face-to-face They have intimate, face-to-face

contact (families and close personal contact (families and close personal friends are in your primary group). friends are in your primary group).

Families are primary groups in that they Families are primary groups in that they are the first groups we experience in life are the first groups we experience in life and because they are of central and because they are of central importance in the socialization process. importance in the socialization process. Members think of the group as an Members think of the group as an

end in itself rather than as a means end in itself rather than as a means to other ends. to other ends.

Members view each other as unique Members view each other as unique and irreplaceable.and irreplaceable.

Secondary GroupsSecondary Groups Secondary groupsSecondary groups are large and are large and

impersonal social groups devoted to impersonal social groups devoted to some specific interest or activity (like some specific interest or activity (like people you go to school with).people you go to school with). They involve weak emotional ties and are They involve weak emotional ties and are

commonly short term (like for a semester-commonly short term (like for a semester-when the class is over, you don’t always when the class is over, you don’t always keep in touch with them). keep in touch with them).

They are goal oriented and typically They are goal oriented and typically impersonal.impersonal. For example study groups: everyone wants For example study groups: everyone wants

to pass the test so they study collectively as to pass the test so they study collectively as a group, helping others within that group to a group, helping others within that group to understand key terms, etc.understand key terms, etc.

Group LeadershipGroup Leadership

There are typically 3 different There are typically 3 different types of group leaders: types of group leaders: Instrumental Instrumental Expressive Expressive Laissez-faire Laissez-faire

Group leaders tend to fall into Group leaders tend to fall into one of these categories but one of these categories but maymay have all three parts in their own have all three parts in their own leadership style.leadership style.

Instrumental LeadershipInstrumental Leadership Emphasizes the completion of tasks. Emphasizes the completion of tasks.

These are bosses that usually say “Let’s get These are bosses that usually say “Let’s get to work!” to work!”

They are more worried about getting the They are more worried about getting the job done than the well being of their job done than the well being of their workersworkers

They operate under an They operate under an authoritarian authoritarian leadershipleadership that focuses on instrumental that focuses on instrumental concerns, takes personal charge of concerns, takes personal charge of decision-making, and demands strict decision-making, and demands strict compliance from subordinates. compliance from subordinates.

Expressive LeadershipExpressive Leadership Emphasizes collective well-being and Emphasizes collective well-being and

concerned for the members well-being. concerned for the members well-being. Employees tend to like this type of leader Employees tend to like this type of leader

because they show empathy and make sure because they show empathy and make sure they have everything they need to complete they have everything they need to complete their tasks.their tasks.

Expressive leaders practiceExpressive leaders practice democratic democratic leadership leadership whichwhich is more expressive and is more expressive and tries to include everyone in the decision tries to include everyone in the decision making process (like asking the person making process (like asking the person who actually answers the phone if the who actually answers the phone if the new phone system they are planning to new phone system they are planning to install will help or hinder their job).install will help or hinder their job).

Laissez-faire LeadershipLaissez-faire Leadership French for “let do”, this type of French for “let do”, this type of

leader allows the group to function leader allows the group to function more or less on its own. more or less on its own. Basically, if the job gets done, it gets Basically, if the job gets done, it gets

done; if it doesn’t, who cares? done; if it doesn’t, who cares? These types of leaders are very These types of leaders are very

laid back and the workers usually laid back and the workers usually have to fend for themselves with have to fend for themselves with little supervision or support.little supervision or support.

Group Types: Group Types: Reference, In-groups, Out-groupsReference, In-groups, Out-groups

A A reference groupreference group is a social is a social group that serves as a point of group that serves as a point of reference for people making reference for people making evaluations or decisions.evaluations or decisions. For example, For example, hero worshiphero worship is a type is a type

of reference groupof reference group, like, like ccomparing omparing yourself to a professional athleteyourself to a professional athlete

In-groups and Out-groupsIn-groups and Out-groups An An in-groupin-group is a social group is a social group

commanding a member’s esteem and commanding a member’s esteem and loyalty. loyalty. This is a group we are generally a member This is a group we are generally a member

of but is also a group we have esteem for, of but is also a group we have esteem for, like the Shriner’s. They do a lot more for like the Shriner’s. They do a lot more for humanity than ride around on scooters and humanity than ride around on scooters and in dune buggies at Mardi Gras. in dune buggies at Mardi Gras.

An An out-groupout-group is a social group toward is a social group toward

which one feels competition or which one feels competition or opposition. opposition.

Formal OrganizationsFormal Organizations

These are large secondary groups, These are large secondary groups, organized to achieve goals efficiently; organized to achieve goals efficiently; 3 primary types:3 primary types: UtilitarianUtilitarian: Material rewards for : Material rewards for

membersmembers NormativeNormative: Voluntary organizations; : Voluntary organizations;

People pursue goals they believe People pursue goals they believe are morally worthwhileare morally worthwhile

CoerciveCoercive: Involuntary membership; : Involuntary membership; Punishment or treatment; total Punishment or treatment; total institutionsinstitutions

BureaucracyBureaucracy

Formal organization designed to Formal organization designed to perform tasks efficiently. perform tasks efficiently.

Max Weber identified six key Max Weber identified six key characteristics of bureaucracy:characteristics of bureaucracy: SpecializationSpecialization Hierarchy of officesHierarchy of offices Rules and regulationsRules and regulations Technical competenceTechnical competence ImpersonalityImpersonality Formal, written communicationsFormal, written communications

PROBLEMSPROBLEMS OFOFBUREAUCRACIESBUREAUCRACIES

Bureaucratic alienationBureaucratic alienation Potential to dehumanize individualsPotential to dehumanize individuals

Bureaucratic inefficiency and Bureaucratic inefficiency and ritualismritualism Preoccupation with rules, interferes Preoccupation with rules, interferes

with meeting goalswith meeting goals Bureaucratic inertiaBureaucratic inertia

Perpetuation of the organizationPerpetuation of the organization OligarchyOligarchy

Rule of the many by the fewRule of the many by the few

George Ritzer:George Ritzer:McDonaldization of SocietyMcDonaldization of Society

Four principles of McDonaldization: Four principles of McDonaldization: Efficiency: We want things in society fast Efficiency: We want things in society fast Calculability: Do things according to planCalculability: Do things according to plan Uniformity and predictability: We want Uniformity and predictability: We want

things to be the same everywherethings to be the same everywhere Control through automation: Humans are Control through automation: Humans are

the most unreliable factorthe most unreliable factor

The main premise of the book is that The main premise of the book is that rationality, although efficient, may be rationality, although efficient, may be irrational and highly dehumanizing. irrational and highly dehumanizing.