Lesson 6-Social institutions and Social Groups

Warm up What factors have contributed to your selection of who you hang out with outside of school? What common interests, activities, ideas do you share with your main group of friends?

Social Institutions Social institution: These are formal groups in society that perform tasks that a society needs in order to continue to exist and prosper. Family, most universal social institution, takes responsibility for raising the young and teaching them accepted norms and values. Economic institution, organizes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Political institution, is the system of norms that governs the exercise and distribution of power in society. Education, ensures the transmission of values, patterns of behavior, and certain skills and knowledge. Religion, provides a shared, collective explanation of the meaning of life.

Social Institutions-Groups The group gives organization AND meaning to the unit/social institution. A group is a set of two or more people who interact on the basis of shared expectations and who possess some degree of common identity From two on a date To 500 soldiers at boot camp

Stages of group formation Mutual acceptance

Social Institutions-Groups An aggregate is when people gather in the same place at the same time but lack organization of lasting patterns of interactions Ex: people waiting to board a plane or standing in a ticket line at the movies

Social Category A Social category/Labeling is a means of classifying people according to a shared trait or common status i.e. students, women, elderly They are NOT groups that meet in one place.   Some examples of social categories include: - left-handed people              - high school students -blondes                                - people who drive pick-up trucks -baseball fans                       - church goers -writers                                 -  conservative republicans -surfers                                 - blind people -construction workers           -  athletes

Defining a Group Size Quality Four features: Small or large Intimate or formal Four features: Two or more people Interaction occurs between members Shared expectations Must possess a sense of common identity

Social Institutions-Groups A Dyad is two people* A Triad is three people* A Small group is a group small enough that everyone can still interact face to face with one another. * A Large Group is a group that you are unable to interact face to face with one another. * Time A group can be a one-time meeting or a lifetime. Interaction is not continuous; there are breaks Organization A formal group has clearly defined structure, goals, and activities.* An informal group has no official structure or rules of conduct. *

In group vs. Out Group In group Out Group Groups with clearly defined rules of membership that we belong to. separate themselves from others using symbols badges, uniforms, hats, names, or slogans see each other positively while viewing out-groups negatively. feelings of superiority can lead to conflicts and/or competition with out-groups. groups that we do not belong to but may wish to be a part of Viewed as an outcast Goth, nerd, ethnic groups Usually it is small groups of people who do not fit in a larger social in group.

High School High School in and out groups Popular vs. unpopular Country vs. city Jocks/athletes vs. nerd/academics Seniors vs. every other class ETC….

The Simpson’s “Homer The Great” Write a response about how this video relates to in groups and out groups. Use your notes in your response. (Response should be a ½ page-1 page in length) http://www.toontube.com/video/9588/The-Simpsons-6x12-Homer-The-Great

Types of groups Primary Groups Secondary Groups Small group that interacts over long period of time on a direct and personal basis The most intimate group face-to-face Informal Communication is deep and intense, personal satisfaction is important EX: Family Group in which interaction is impersonal and temporary Importance of the individual is in the function that he or she performs in the group Casual and limited Members can be replaced EX: Work Friends

Social Institutions-Continuum

Reference Groups Reference groups: are groups people come to admire and try to imitate the attitudes and behaviors of others. Can include school friends, co-workers, or members of a certain occupation + and - effects on behavior. Examples you can think of that are either positive of negative?

Examples Positive Negative

Electronic groups Electronic groups: Having regular interaction with groups on the web. Ex: Facebook, My Space, Twitter, Instagram, etc… Sometimes, members of e-communities can show the same behaviors as members of other primary groups. argue, engage in intellectual discussions, gossip, and even flirt. Very new field to Sociologists

Social Networks Social Networking: web of relationships formed by a person's sum interaction with other people and groups contain a wide variety of groups do not have clear boundaries and can change over time. Allows us to be formal and informal Comments section, Trolling

Mature Group Characteristics Purpose and Mission May be assigned or may emerge from within the group Group often questions, reexamines, and modifies mission and purpose Mission converted into specific agenda, clear goals

Group Leadership Within a group, leaders arise and take control. Groups that meet more consistently have a more clearly defined leader Leader can be chosen or take control at any given point.

Group Leadership Instrumental Leadership Charismatic Leadership Goal oriented, and largely concerned with accomplishing set tasks. CEO, Army General, Teacher, or parents Male dominated stereotype Promotes emotional strength, health, and make sure that people feel safe. Priest, rabbi, director of youth program Women dominated stereotype

Group Leadership-Cults Cults- social group that try to keep individuals in a groups. Most Cults are viewed as negative When a member tries to leave shunned, beaten up, killed, etc Leaving a cult Hard to adjust to society. Need to be deprogrammed Cult tactics to keep people from leaving Leadership Strange or Unorthodox Beliefs Recruiting Methods Mind Control Methods Time Control Control family relationships Dependency Isolation from world Member defecation Indoctrination of Children Payment to join

Questions Was the leader an instrumental leader or charismatic leader? How could you tell? What cult tactics did the “Movementarians” use throughout the episode? Which cult tactic do you think has the most control over an individual? What are other examples of cults in recent or past time?

Famous Cults

Project You will be using the film “Mean Girls” and applying the information you have gathered on the Social Perspective. You will be creating a multimedia presentation with a partner The instructions for this assignment are on the class website called “Social Structure Project”

MEAN GIRLS WHY MEAN GIRLS???? Well… shows us great examples of: Group Social Status In-group Out-Group It also talks discusses some aspects of Culture and how they affect Suburban High Schools.