Chapter 6: Groups and Organizations

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

triad, a group of three members

 

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 (HP), and 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,” and 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 judgments 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,

Informal organizations, a system of the personal contacts and relationships of groupings 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,

Greenwashing, the promotion of being a sustainable and green company, when, in fact, sustainable practices are not the norm for the organization

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

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 

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.