Society: Interactions Groups and Organizations 5 c h a p t e r

We spend our lives both trying to fit in and trying to stand out. Sociology is interested in how we decide and how we go about both.

Society: Putting Things in Context –contextualizing –society organized collection bounded by space same political authority shared sets of values/expectations –structured social interaction –identity construction –social structure

The Social Construction of Reality –social interaction Cooley and the Looking-Glass Self –imagine how we appear –conclusions/reactions of others –develop self identity

The Social Construction of Reality

–“I” and “me” (Mead) Goffman and the “Dramaturgical” Self –presentation of self to others –impression management –dramaturgy –face work

The Social Construction of Reality Nonverbal Communication –body movements –gestures –facial expressions –placement in relation to others –laughter Verbal Communication –ethnomethodology “conversational shortcuts”

The Social Construction of Reality Patterns of Social Interaction –Exchange –Cooperation –Competition –Conflict –Coercion superordinate subordinate

The Elements of Social Structure Status –Ascribed Status –Achieved Status –Master Status Roles –expectations and performance –role strain –role conflict –role exit 1.Doubt 2.Search for alternatives 3.Departure 4.New role

Groups –group formal or informal –dyad –crowd –group cohesion Groups and Identity

Groups Types of Groups –Primary and Secondary expressive and instrumental –In-Groups and Out-Groups in-group heterogeneity out-group homogeneity –Reference Groups –Cliques “... when in-groups and out-groups are divided on the basis of race, nationality, gender or other ascribed status, relations become more severe and violent”

Groups Group Dynamics –size matters leader hardcore members –Conformity –Diffusion of responsibility –Stereotyping  prejudice

Social Networks –network lasting influence (Domhoff) looser and denser web (Simmel) Networks and Social Experience –support in times of stress or illness –“strength of weak ties” (Granovetter) Networks and Globalization “... online we can adopt new roles and statuses, changing not only our skills and interests, but our age, ethnicity, gender and sexuality at will.”

Networks Claude Fischer (1975) –Sub-cultural Theory of Urbanism “critical masses” that foster unconventional behavior (next slide) Attracts those with special talents and interests –density increases “unconventionality” and pathology but not from crowding

Networks and Mental Health Leo Srole (1980) –Mental Health in New York City life does not produce mental illness urban mental health is better than rural social networks Mark Granovetter (1973) –The Strength of Weak Ties primary secondary acquaintences

Organizations –organizations size purpose efficiency Types of Organizations –Normative Organizations –Coercive Organizations total institutions –Utilitarian Organizations

Organizations Are We a Nation of Joiners? –Democracy in America (de Tocqueville) –decrease in normative organization participation Organizations: Race and Gender Inequality? –rules favor some groups over others –criteria is not necessarily “neutral”

Organizations Bureaucracy: Organization and Power –Division of labor –Hierarchy of authority –Rules and regulations –Impersonality –Career ladders –Efficiency Figure 3.3

Organizations Problems with Bureaucracy –Overspecialization –Rigidity and inertia –Ritualism –Suppression of dissent –The bureaucratic “Catch-22”

Organizations –bureaucratic personality –Bureaucracy and Accountability –Bureaucracy and Democracy –The “Iron Cage” of Bureaucracy Globalization and Organizations Groups ‘R’ Us: Groups and Interactions in the 21 st Century