Chapter 6 Interaction in Groups Key Terms

social category A collection of individuals who are grouped together because they share a trait deemed by the observer to be socially relevant. social group A set of two or more individuals who share a sense of common identity and belonging and who interact on a regular basis.

primary group A social group characterized by intimate, face-to-face associations. secondary group A social group whose members have a shared goal or purpose but are not bound together by strong emotional ties.

dyad A group consisting of two people. triad A group consisting of three people.

community A set of primary and secondary groups in which the individual carries out important life functions. territorial community A population that functions within a particular geographic area.

nonterritorial community A network of relationships formed around shared goals. in-group A social group to which an individual has a feeling of allegiance; usually, but not always, a primary group.

out-group Any social group to which an individual does not have a feeling of allegiance; may be in competition or conflict with the in-group. reference group A group that an individual uses as a frame of reference for self-evaluation and attitude formation.

ethnomethodology The study of the underlying rules of behavior that guide group interaction. dramaturgical approach An approach to research on interaction in groups that is based on the recognition that much social interaction depends on the desire to impress those who may be watching.

impression management The strategies one uses to "set a stage" for one's own purposes. informal organization A group whose norms and statuses are generally agreed upon but are not set down in writing.

formal organization A group that has an explicit, often written, set of norms, statuses, and roles that specify each member's relationships to the others and the conditions under which those relationships hold. voluntary association A formal organization whose members pursue shared interests and arrive at decisions through some sort of democratic process.

bureaucracy A formal organization characterized by a clearly defined hierarchy with a commitment to rules, efficiency, and impersonality.