1. Ch. 4 section 4: GROUPS WITHIN SOCIETY

2.   Defined : a set of people who interact on shared expectations and possess some common identity. What is a GROUP?

3.   Have 2 OR MORE PEOPLE;  MEMBERS MUST INTERACT  MEMBERS SHARE EXPECTATIONS;  Have COMMON SENSE OF IDENTITY Groups have 4 features:

4.   Occurs when people gather at the same place and time without formal organization or lasting pattern of organization.  EX: Standing in line at the movies AGGREGATE :

5.   people who share traits or common statuses.  EX: women, men, teens, students, etc. SOCIAL CATEGORY

6.   How do these differ from a group? Aggregate + social category

7.   #1- SIZE : varies from smallest ( dyad = 2) to enormous.  The size impacts the amount of control members have.  In dyads, if one member leaves-- the group ends.  In triads (3), group is tougher to disband & decisions may be easier b/c majority rules.  When small groups exceed 45, members sort themselves into subsets. 3 major ways to differentiate groups:

8.  #2. TIME :  Participate in some groups once then never again;  Be lifelong member of a group;  Or vary time spent with the group. 3 major ways to differentiate groups

9.  #3. ORGANIZATION :  Formal – has clearly defined structure, goals and activities. Examples?  Informal – has no official structure or established rules of conduct. Examples? 3 major ways to differentiate groups :

10.   #1:PRIMARY: small group of people who interact over a long period of time on a personal basis. Relationships are intimate & face- to-face; communication is deep/intense; structure is informal. EX: Families. 2 TYPES OF GROUPS

11.  # 2 -SECONDARY: interaction is impersonal & temporary. Relationships in the group are casual & limited. Members are often easily replaced. Secondary groups are organized around specific goals. EX:? 2 TYPES OF GROUPS

12.   Reference groups: any group you identify with (join)& whose attitudes & values you adopt  EX: friends, school clubs. TYPES OF SECONDARY GROUPS

13.   In Groups/Out Groups: group you identify with; These groups have 3 characteristics… 1. use symbols to separate themselves from others; 2. see themselves positively & out-groups negatively; 3. competition exists with out-groups that may lead to conflict. TYPES OF SECONDARY GROUPS

14.   E-communities: people interact with one another regularly on the internet. TYPES OF SECONDARY GROUPS

15.   Social Networks: the different groups you belong to form the basis of your social network.  relationships may be direct and indirect.  Social networks are NOT groups…but may still serve as important parts of people’s lives. TYPES OF SECONDARY GROUPS

16.   Different types of LEADERS (people who influence the attitudes & opinions of others) include…  INSTRUMENTAL LEADERS – task oriented people help the group achieve its goals; and  ESPRESSIVE LEADERS – emotion oriented people who keep the group together and maintain morale.  Leaders help set goals, assign tasks & make decisions. Within groups conformity to norms helps it function productively. GROUP FUNCTIONS

17.   The sum total of all combined interactions forms your own personal Social Network. Today we tend to define e-communities as “social networks’ but within Sociology, the meaning of social network is quite different. Don’t confuse the two…  So this is NOT a social network by the Sociology class definition… movie clipmovie clip  This is a better example of the definition of Social Network in terms of Sociology… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_KF7TYKVc  HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOUR OVERALL SOCIAL NETWORK?? Final word on Social Networks …