Chapter 6 – Groups and Formal Organizations Group – at least two people who have one or more goals in common and share common ways of thinking and behaving

Social category – people who share a social characteristic example: high school seniors example: high school seniors Social aggregate – people temporarily in the same place at the same time example: students waiting in line for concert tickets example: students waiting in line for concert tickets

Primary group – people who are emotionally close, know one another well, and seek one another’s company characterized by: characterized by: primary relationship – interactions that are intimate, personal, caring, and fulfilling primary relationship – interactions that are intimate, personal, caring, and fulfilling

How do primary groups develop?  small size – easier to establish close ties  face-to-face contact – nonverbal communication – facial expressions, tone of voice  continuous contact – repeated social contact  proper social environment – seeing someone every day does not create a primary relationship

What are the functions of primary groups?  Emotional support – strong emotional support  Socialization – children = the family is the primary group that teaches them how to participate in social life – adult primary groups promote socialization as they prepare for college, new jobs, change social classes, marry, and retire  Encourage conformity – teach new members the appropriate norms & values

Secondary group – people who share only part of their lives while focusing on a goal or task examples: work groups, volunteers during disasters, environmental groups, examples: work groups, volunteers during disasters, environmental groups, - members act impersonally = secondary relationships - members act impersonally = secondary relationships

Reference group – used for self- evaluation and the formation of attitudes, values, beliefs, and norms examples: families, teachers, classmates, student government leaders, social organizations, professional hockey teams examples: families, teachers, classmates, student government leaders, social organizations, professional hockey teams

In-group – exclusive group demanding intense loyalty Out-group – group targeted by an in-group for opposition, antagonism, or competition

Types of Social Interaction Cooperation – interaction in which individuals or groups combine their efforts to reach a goal examples: emergencies, children agree to set rules for games, couples agree to share household chores examples: emergencies, children agree to set rules for games, couples agree to share household chores

Conflict – interaction aimed at defeating an opponent Conformity – behavior that matches group expectations Groupthink – self-deceptive thinking that is based on conformity to group beliefs, and created by group pressure to conform