Chapter 6,Interaction in Groups The Importance of Groups Interaction in Groups Formal Organizations and Bureaucracy Groups in complex Societies
Characteristics of Social Groups Group identity Attachment between group members Membership criteria, awareness and boundaries, cohesion, norms and goals
Types of Groups Primary groups Communities Networks Reference groups
Principles of Group Interaction Pleasure principle Rationality principle Reciprocity principle Fairness principle
Characteristics of Bureaucratic Organizations Positions with clearly defined responsibilities. Positions ordered in a hierarchy. Rules and precedents.
Characteristics of Bureaucratic Organizations Impersonality and impartiality. A career ladder. The norm of efficiency.
Effects of Bureaucratization More freedom for individuals. Individuals are overwhelmed by the choices and find it difficult to make decisions.
Effects of Bureaucratization Individuals are less likely to take full responsibility for their actions. Rebellion against authority is more likely when individuals who rebel have the support of others.
Complex Societies As a society becomes larger, tends to have more secondary groups and organizations. Society becomes more efficient, but causes confusion and unhappiness.
Complex Societies Durkheim: complex societies provider greater freedom but can cause individuals to be overwhelmed. Weber: individual comes to feel like a tiny cog in a huge organization.
Democratic Theory When people are given freedom of association, they will form a complex civil society. Americans joins religious and self-help groups in large numbers.