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Questions and Answers
What is a social group?
What is a social group?
People who share attributes and interact with one another.
Which of the following are types of social groups?
Which of the following are types of social groups?
What defines a primary group?
What defines a primary group?
People who engage in direct interaction over an extended period of time.
What characterizes a secondary group?
What characterizes a secondary group?
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What are ideal types?
What are ideal types?
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Identify each as a primary or secondary group:
Identify each as a primary or secondary group:
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What are in-groups?
What are in-groups?
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What characterizes out-groups?
What characterizes out-groups?
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What are reference groups?
What are reference groups?
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What is a dyad?
What is a dyad?
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What is a triad?
What is a triad?
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What are the types of group leaders?
What are the types of group leaders?
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What characterizes an authoritarian leader?
What characterizes an authoritarian leader?
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What is a democratic leader?
What is a democratic leader?
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What is a laissez-faire leader?
What is a laissez-faire leader?
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What did Solomon Asch's research demonstrate?
What did Solomon Asch's research demonstrate?
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What were the results of Stanley Milgram's research?
What were the results of Stanley Milgram's research?
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What did Philip Zimbardo's prison research emphasize?
What did Philip Zimbardo's prison research emphasize?
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What is groupthink?
What is groupthink?
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What is a social network?
What is a social network?
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What are formal organizations?
What are formal organizations?
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What are the types of formal organizations?
What are the types of formal organizations?
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What is a utilitarian organization?
What is a utilitarian organization?
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What characterizes a normative organization?
What characterizes a normative organization?
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What defines a coercive organization?
What defines a coercive organization?
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What are bureaucracies?
What are bureaucracies?
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What are limitations of bureaucracies?
What are limitations of bureaucracies?
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What do hawthorne studies conclude?
What do hawthorne studies conclude?
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What are self-managing work teams?
What are self-managing work teams?
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What is calibration in management?
What is calibration in management?
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What perspective do functionalists have on organizations?
What perspective do functionalists have on organizations?
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What does the feminist perspective emphasize?
What does the feminist perspective emphasize?
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What is the glass ceiling?
What is the glass ceiling?
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What is the glass escalator?
What is the glass escalator?
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What does the symbolic interactionist perspective focus on?
What does the symbolic interactionist perspective focus on?
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What needs of society are met by the family?
What needs of society are met by the family?
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What needs of society are met by educational institutions?
What needs of society are met by educational institutions?
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What needs of society are met by sports?
What needs of society are met by sports?
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What impact does media have on societal weight issues?
What impact does media have on societal weight issues?
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Study Notes
Social Groups
- Comprised of individuals sharing attributes and interactions, fostering a sense of belonging.
- Identification with specific groups enhances personal connection, including friends, family, and workgroups.
Types of Social Groups
- 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.
Social Networks
- 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.
Importance of Social Institutions
- 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.
Essential Needs Met by Social Institutions
- 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.