Hey, its me again, Abraham Maslow! Mr. Wilson is referring to my Hierarchy of Needs again, YESSSSS! I wonder where Noam is? Each of us belongs to numerous groups; families, friends, teams/clubs & more Interaction occurs at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, etc) Belonging (as Maslow pointed out) is an essential need & element of living in society It is based off of the idea of solidarity (the ties that unite group members) Sociologists study groups to understand social behaviour I’m here Abe… but I don’t have anything to do with this lesson!

Dyad A group consisting of two members & is considered the most intimate of all (a couple or besties!) Primary Group A small group whose members have a personal/emotional relationship w/ one another (families and close friends) Typically the most influential group(s) someone belongs too Has the power to persuade members & is governed by rules/beliefs Secondary Group Larger groups joined together in order to achieve a goal or serve a purpose Less emotional connections to members (i.e. sports teams, clubs, or work) Informal Group Vaies in size but ppl are joined by something (i.e. location of residence) Relationships are not gverned by rules Virtual Community Groups that connect/communicate over the internet to share an interest May be connected to either primary or secondary groups as members can vary

All groups have behaviour expectations for each member Groups exert a great deal of influence over the individual behaviour of its members Groups rely on roles, norms, & sanctions to shape the behaviour of their members Sanctions are informal or formal penalties or rewards that ensure conformity (desired behaviours) occur w/in a group What would an example be of a FORMAL sanction in society? At school? What would an example be of an INFORMAL sanction amongst a family? Or a group of friends?

The “G” stands for GROUP! Gangs are groups like any other except they are often formed for the purpose of being antisocial or for criminal purposes Why do ppl join gangs? For a sense of belonging – love, money, respect, power, fear, safety, etc… How do gangs maintain control of their members? They use sanctions! Failure to conform is often met w/ violent punishments Conforming is met w/ financial reward (often) Types of Gangs Hedonistic: social gangs formed for the purpose of “partying” – interests lie in the consumption of drugs & alcohol Instrumental: groups that commit crimes against property (theft), not ppl – interest is in making money w/out hurting anyone Predatory: groups that commit crimes against ppl (usually rival gangs) & perform same functions as others – interest is in gaining power as well as control

Why would/do you interact w/ others? There are five reasons behind any social interaction… Cooperation: individuals/groups have the same goal Conflict: individuals/groups want to defeat an opponent Conformity: individual/group wants to belong so they demonstrate similar/same behaviours to meet expectations Social Exchange: individual/group performs a voluntary action b/c they expect to be rewarded or wish to avoid punishment in return Coercion: individual/group is forced to behave in a particular way

Is behaviour by a large group that does not reflect existing rules, institutions, or structures in society Typically occurs spontaneously after a social crisis or natural disaster & is done to accomplish a specific goal/outcome Behaviour is not typical, but isn’t out of the ordinary Examples from history; Panic after Orson Wells War of the Worlds was broadcast Riots in Vancouver after Canada won Gold in 2010 Olympics Prosocial altruism after SARS in 2003, SARS-stock (11-hour concert to inform the world travelling was safe)

Convergence Theory When a collective (large group) forms, collective action occurs as individuals act according to their own beliefs but do so w/ the protection of others behaving similarly Vancouver Riots & the Holocaust Rational Decision Theory Ppl make rational decisions to participate in a collective based on self-interests & a threshold of ppl already participating IOW, an individual joins in if they feel like they cannot be held responsible b/c many others are already doing it & benefits of participating outweigh the potential consequences Egyptian Riots (for womens rights) Prosocial Behaviour Ppl may act individually or in groups to support those they feel empathy for w/out regard of their own personal gain (or even risk of harm to onesself) Free Tibet