Sociology Chapter 6 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a social group?

People who share attributes and interact with one another.

Which of the following are types of social groups?

Secondary (correct)

Primary (correct)

Quaternary

Tertiary

What defines a primary group?

People who engage in direct interaction over an extended period of time.

What characterizes a secondary group?

People who pursue a specific goal or activity. Signup and view all the answers

What are ideal types?

General traits that describe a social phenomenon. Signup and view all the answers

Identify each as a primary or secondary group:

Single mom and her child = Primary Sociology class = Secondary Married couple = Primary McDonald's = Secondary Signup and view all the answers

What are in-groups?

People who share a sense of identity and exclude outsiders. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes out-groups?

They are viewed and treated negatively for having different values, beliefs, and features. Signup and view all the answers

What are reference groups?

People who shape behavior, values, and attitudes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a dyad?

A group with two members. Signup and view all the answers

What is a triad?

A group with three members. Signup and view all the answers

What are the types of group leaders?

Democratic Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an authoritarian leader?

Gives orders, assigns tasks, and makes all major decisions. Signup and view all the answers

What is a democratic leader?

Encourages group discussion and includes members in decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

What is a laissez-faire leader?

Offers minimum or no guidance to the members. Signup and view all the answers

What did Solomon Asch's research demonstrate?

The effect of groups on the individual. Signup and view all the answers

What were the results of Stanley Milgram's research?

A majority of ordinary people obeyed an authority figure's instructions. Signup and view all the answers

What did Philip Zimbardo's prison research emphasize?

The influence of groups on behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is groupthink?

A situation where group members avoid disagreements. Signup and view all the answers

What is a social network?

Links individuals or groups to one another. Signup and view all the answers

What are formal organizations?

Secondary groups designed to achieve specific goals efficiently. Signup and view all the answers

What are the types of formal organizations?

Normative Signup and view all the answers

What is a utilitarian organization?

An organization that provides an income or specific material reward. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a normative organization?

Joined by people with shared interests for pursuing rewarding goals. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a coercive organization?

Contains involuntary membership, where people are forced to join due to punishment. Signup and view all the answers

What are bureaucracies?

Organizations that accomplish goals rationally and efficiently. Signup and view all the answers

What are limitations of bureaucracies?

Weak reward systems and rigid rules discourage creativity. Signup and view all the answers

What do hawthorne studies conclude?

Informal groups are vital for an organization's functioning. Signup and view all the answers

What are self-managing work teams?

Groups that gather, interpret, and act on information with collective responsibility. Signup and view all the answers

What is calibration in management?

Managers ensuring review processes are similar in criteria and scoring. Signup and view all the answers

What perspective do functionalists have on organizations?

Organizations are composed of interrelated, mutually dependent parts. Signup and view all the answers

What does the feminist perspective emphasize?

Women lag behind in leadership roles across all social classes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the glass ceiling?

Workplace biases that prevent women from advancing to leadership positions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the glass escalator?

Men in female-dominated occupations receive higher wages and faster promotions. Signup and view all the answers

What does the symbolic interactionist perspective focus on?

Interpersonal relationships and individuals' perceptions of situations. Signup and view all the answers

What needs of society are met by the family?

Reproduction and sexual control. Signup and view all the answers

What needs of society are met by educational institutions?

Transmitting knowledge and providing childcare. Signup and view all the answers

What needs of society are met by sports?

Entertainment and economic benefits for a community. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does media have on societal weight issues?

Broadcasts results of obesity and their negative health outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Comprised of individuals sharing attributes and interactions, fostering a sense of belonging.
Identification with specific groups enhances personal connection, including friends, family, and workgroups.

Primary Groups: Characterized by close, personal interactions over time; crucial for social identity and personal development.
Secondary Groups: Formed for specific goals or activities that are more structured and fulfill instrumental needs.

Ideal Types

General traits describing social phenomena, offering insight into variations from common societal realities.

In-Groups and Out-Groups

In-Groups: Share identity, promote solidarity, often excluding outsiders.
Out-Groups: Viewed negatively due to differing values or beliefs compared to the in-group.

Reference Groups

Influence behavior, values, and self-identity without personal support; examples include role models and professional groups.

Group Dynamics

Dyads: Groups of two, inherently unstable but highly cohesive.
Triads: Groups of three, more stable, with less frequent interaction among members.

Leadership Styles

Authoritarian: Directive, focusing on task completion, effective under time constraints but limits creativity.
Democratic: Encourages participation and expressive needs; less effective in crises.
Laissez-faire: Minimal guidance, relies on member expertise; can lead to inefficiency and low motivation.

Research on Conformity and Authority

Solomon Asch's research highlighted peer pressure inducing individuals to conform.
Stanley Milgram demonstrated obedience to authority even amidst ethical concerns.
Philip Zimbardo’s study showed group dynamics could lead to harmful behavior under peer pressure.

Decision Making

Irving Janis warned against groupthink, emphasizing the need for external input to mitigate biased group decisions.

Systems connecting individuals or groups, often organized around shared interests through digital platforms.

Formal Organizations

Secondary groups aimed at achieving specific goals efficiently, characterized by structured roles, hierarchies, and established norms.

Organizational Types

Utilitarian: Focus on material rewards; includes agencies and corporations.
Normative: Join for shared interests and rewarding ambitions; includes civic and religious organizations.
Coercive: Membership is involuntary, with punishments for non-compliance; includes total institutions.

Bureaucracies

Efficient, rational structures with defined roles, hierarchies, and written rules; however, they may hinder creativity and lead to alienation and inefficiency.

Limitations of Bureaucracies

Rigid rules and poor reward systems can diminish creativity and lead to communication issues, as well as the "iron law of oligarchy" where power consolidates among a few.

Hawthorne Studies

Found informal group dynamics vital for organizational effectiveness, revealing a complex relationship between formal and informal structures.

Self-Managing Work Teams

Also called post-bureaucratic organizations; these collectives take responsibility for their results, emphasizing goal commitment and collaboration.

Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

Functionalist Perspective: Describes organizations as interrelated parts that, despite dysfunctions, fulfill societal roles.
Feminist Perspective: Highlights women’s underrepresentation in leadership across all social classes.
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective: Focuses on interpersonal relationships, individual perceptions, and group dynamics affecting behavior and identity.

Vital for societal needs, shaping norms and behaviors; understanding institutions is key to grasping societal operations.

Impact of Institutions on Weight Issues

Research links obesity to health concerns; various societal sectors influence health and behaviors, from families to political systems.

Family: Reproduction and sexual control.
Sports: Entertainment and community economics.
Education: Knowledge transmission and childcare.
Science: Medical advancements and resource efficiency.

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Description

Test your knowledge on social groups with these flashcards from Sociology Chapter 6. You'll explore definitions, types of social groups, and their characteristics through engaging terms and examples. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of sociology concepts.