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Chapter 6: Groups and Organizations

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group, people who identify and interact with one another

social groups, two or more individuals connected by common bonds and shared social relations,

dyad, a group of two people. At the other end of the spectrum, 

triad, a group of three members,

social category, a collection of individuals with similar characteristics who may never have met or interacted 

social aggregate, a collection of individuals in the same geographic location who do not share common characteristics 

FORMING

Socializing

Displaying eagerness

Asking questions

Focusing on group identity and purpose

STORMING

High emotions

Competition among members

Lack of participation by some members

Conflict among members

NORMING

Members are engaged and supportive

Less emotion and anxiety

Reconciliation among members

Developing cohesion

PERFORMING

Interdependent

Productive

Balance of workload among members

Efficient workflow and systems

ADJOURNING

Sadness about the group dissolving

Awards distributed to recognize members and team

Concern about change

Primary groups are small-scale, intimate, face-to-face long-lasting associations

secondary groups are large-scale, impersonal, task-focused, and time-limited associations

reference group, a collection of people used for comparison and identification 

in-group, a social unit in which an individual belongs and feels a sense of “we,”

out-group, individuals who do not belong or are excluded from one’s group

social clique, a small, close-knit, and exclusive group of individuals 

group conformity, aligning attitudes and behaviors with group norms 

Groupthink, the tendency of group members to yield the desire for consensus rather than expressing individual or alternative ideas

Pressure for Conformity

Dissenters are pressured not to express their opinions

Self-Censorship

Dissenters choose to withhold their counterarguments

Illusion of Unanimity

The majority view and judgements are assumed to unanimous

Mindguards

Self-appointed members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s views.

Illusion of Invulnerability

Members ignore dangers, take excessive risks, and are overly optimistic

Collective Rationalization

Members discount and explain away warning signs

Belief in Inherent Morality

Members believe their decisions are morally correct and ignore ethical considerations

Stereotypes Views of Out-groups

Out-groups are labeled with negative stereotypes and considered as rivals

organization, a structured, purposeful, and goal-oriented collection of people

 formal organizations, structured and bureaucratic systems regulated by clearly stated norms and rules

Normative organizations, groups of people based on shared interests and the intangible rewards of membership

Utilitarian organizations, groups of people based on contractual obligations that seek tangible benefits such as monetary compensation

coercive organization, groups of people whose membership is primarily forced and must abide by strict rules and regulations.

resocialization, an identity transformation in which social norms and roles are altered or replaced. 

total institutions, isolated groups with strict rules and regulations to control every aspect of members’ lives 

rationalization, wherein traditional modes of thinking are replaced with end/means analysis

bureaucracies, a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality

ideal type, logical or consistent traits of a given social phenomenon

 red tape, adherence to excessive regulations and conformity that prevents decision-making and change

Peter Principle, the notion that workers in a bureaucratic organization will continue to be promoted until they reach their level of incompetence 

spoils system, the practice of politicians awarding jobs to friends and supporters based on liking and not skill.

iron law of oligarchy, a system in which the concentration of power in a democracy rests in the hands of a few elite leaders.

McDonaldization, the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society and the of the rest of the world 

leaders, individuals or groups who help facilitate, guide, and be the representative voice of its members.

instrumental leadership, is one in which the leadership is very task-oriented.

expressive leadership, leadership endeavors to establish more personal or primary connections with the group members as they work toward accomplishing the task

Authoritarian: A leadership style that is based on orders and directives.

Democratic: A leadership style based on increasing harmony and reducing conflict between group members.

Laissez-faire: A leader who takes a hands-off approach to leadership.

transformational leader causes individuals, groups, and social systems to change.

 transactional leader acts as a manager by keeping the group functioning smoothly.

nepotism, the practice of favoritism directed toward family members

social capital, the network of links that develop between people, which may result in a personal, social, and professional advantage.

Meritocracy, a system that fosters and rewards personal effort, ability, and talent through competition to determine social standing

cyberslacking, when workers spend excessive time online for personal reasons that do not benefit their employer 

telecommuting or remote working, working from someplace other than the office on a full- or part-time basis,