Dyad: social group of 2 people
Triad: social group of 3 people
Social aggregate: a collection of individuals in the same geographic region who do not share common characteristics
Social aggregates and categories are not social groups because they do not build a sense of belonging of its members
Primary groups: small-scale social groups
Secondary groups: large-scale social groups
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 belonging
Out-group: individuals who do not belong or are excluded from the group
Social clique: a small, close-knit, exclusive group of individuals
Group conformity: aligning attitudes and behaviors with group norms; experimenter was Solomon Asch. It was found that cross-cultural differences exist in findings, historical social setting may influence conformity (like in the US during the red scare), and the original Asch experiment did not meet current ethical standards.
Symptoms of Groupthink:
Pressure for conformity
Self-censorship
Illusion of Unanimity: judgements are expected to be unanimous
Mind guards: self-appointed members protect the group from contradictory information
Illusion of invulnerability: members ignore dangers and are overly optimistic
Collective rationalization
Belief in inherent morality
Stereotypic views of out-groups
Intense in-group cohesiveness: feeling a sense of we
Meaningful threat: Potential for setbacks if they do not follow through
Group insulation: Not speaking to other groups.
Delphi method: prevents groupthink by allowing members to contribute individually and anonymously.
Informal organization: a system of the personal contacts and relationships of groupings of people, casual
Formal organization: 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; people join as volunteers. Ex HOA, political parties, nonprofits.
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 the sustainable practices are not the norm for the organization.
Coercive organizations: groups of people whose membership is primarily forced and must abide by strict rules and regulations.
Resocialization: an identity transformation in which the social norms and roles are altered or replaced.
Rationalization: traditional modes of thinking are replaced with end/means analysis.
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 rest of the world.
Instrumental leadership is task-oriented, while expressive leadership is made to establish more personal or primary connections with the group members.
A transformational leader causes individuals and systems to change.
A transactional leader acts as a manager by keeping the group functioning smoothly.
Social capital: the network of links that develop between people, which may result in a personal, social, and professional advantage.
Cyberslacking: when workers spend excessive time online for personal reasons that do not benefit their employer.
Telecommuting: another term of remote working.