1. Social Groups and Formal Organizations
Michael Itagaki
Sociology 101

2. Social Groups Groups Non-groups People who share something in common
Aggregate
Category

3. Social Groups Primary Groups Secondary Groups
Intimate face-to-face interaction
Help form ideals of individuals
Secondary Groups
Larger, more formal
More anonymous, less personal

4. Social Groups Iron Law of Oligarchy Voluntary associations
Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts
Churches, VFW, AA
Leadership forms from within

5. Social Groups
In-Groups
Loyalty
Out-Groups
Antagonism

6. Social Groups In-Groups Out-Groups Can shape our identity
Stereotypes/rivalries
Favoritism, biases
De-humanizing

7. Social Groups Reference Groups Social Networks
Standards to evaluate ourselves
Social Networks
The links between our cliques,
clusters, groups of friends
500 to 2,500 acquaintances
Not as beneficial for people of color,
poor, and women

8. Social Groups Electronic Groups Class discussion
Which ones are you a part of?
How frequent is your contact?
What are advantages/disadvantages?
Is this a new way to connect?
Or is it a barrier

9. Social Groups Electronic Groups Class discussion—
Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages:
Convenience
Communicate w/those far away
Gather new information
Free of charge; ideas w/o emotions
Quiet/anonymous/secretive

10. Social Groups Electronic Groups Class discussion—
Advantages/Disadvantages
Disadvantages:
Security issues (I.D. theft)
Lies/deceit/fraud
Miscommunication, words get twisted
Makes us lazy/obese? & less sociable
Negatively impacts some businesses

11. Social Groups Electronic Groups Class discussion—Is this a new way
to connect? Or is it a barrier
Connect:
Stay connected w/people, eliminate geographical barriers
Opens up people who are shy
Can learn depth of real person, personality
Connect to real world: Travel info/Paris

12. Social Groups Electronic Groups Class discussion—Is this a new way
to connect? Or is it a barrier
Barrier:
Can’t build deeper relationships
Can meet dangerous people
Impairs growth, overcoming shyness
Can paralyze us, spend hrs. myspace
Danger of access of information
Barrier to real world/no need to go outside

13. Bureaucracy
Clear levels of assignments, flowing downward w/accountability flowing upward
Division of Labor
Written Rules
Written Communication and Records
Impersonality

14. Peer Pressure and Authority
Review of “Power of the Situation” video
Leadership styles:
Authoritarian
Democratic
Laissez-faire

15. Peer Pressure and Authority
Review of Asch and Milgram experiments
Asch and Lines
Milgram & Shocks
How would you have reacted?

16. Peer Pressure and Authority
Review of Asch and Milgram experiments
How would you have reacted?

17. Groupthink Milgram and power of authority
Tunnel vision, where group members think alike
Only one “correct” viewpoint
Disagreement, alternative explanations are signs of disloyalty
Common in military/political decisions