Connecting Sociology and YOU!

Chapter 6: Groups and Organizations

Resource Details:

group, people who identify and interact with one another 

social groupstwo or more individuals connected by common bonds and shared social relations

dyada group of two people.

triada group of three members

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

secondary groups are large-scale, impersonal, task-focused

reference groupa collection of people used for comparison and identification

in-groupa 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 cliquea small, close-knit, and exclusive group of individuals

group conformityaligning attitudes and behaviors with group norms

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

organizationa structured, purposeful, and goal-oriented collection of people

Informal organizationsa system of the personal contacts and relationships of groupings of people

formal organizationsstructured and bureaucratic systems regulated by clearly stated norms and rules

Normative organizationsgroups of people based on shared interests and the intangible rewards of membership

Utilitarian organizationsgroups of people based on contractual obligations that seek tangible benefits such as monetary compensation

Greenwashing, the promotion of being a sustainable and green company

coercive organizationgroups of people whose membership is primarily forced and must abide by strict rules and regulations

resocializationan 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

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

ideal typelogical or consistent traits of a given social phenomenon

red tapeadherence to excessive regulations and conformity that prevents decision-making and change

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

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

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

McDonaldizationthe 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

leadersindividuals 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 leadershipleadership endeavors to establish more personal or primary connections with the group members

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

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

nepotismthe practice of favoritism directed toward family members

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

Meritocracya 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 workingworking from someplace other than the office on a full- or part-time basis