Transcript Chapter 4

Chapter 4
Section 2:
Structures of Groups and Societies
What is a group?
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a set of two or more people who interact
on the basis of shared expectations and
who possess some degree of common
identity.
 can be very small or very large
 can be very intimate or very formal
Four requirements for a group
There must be two or more people
There must be interaction
The members of the group must have shared
expectations
The members must possess some degree of
common identity
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The last three of the above requirements are the factors
that distinguish a group from an aggregate or a social
category.
Three of the most common ways in which
groups differ are in terms of:
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Time
Organization
Size:
 Dyad: two members, smallest group
possible
 Triad: three members
 Small group: no more than fifteen
members
Types of groups
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Primary: direct and personal
Secondary: impersonal and temporary
Reference: with whom you identify with and
whose attitudes and values you often adopt
Ingroup: the group you belong to and
identify with
Outgroup: any group you do not belong to or
identify with
What are your Ingroups &
Outgroups?
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With your group make a list of the “names”
given to the various groups that exist within
Paulding High School:
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Jocks
Preps
Band Geeks, Choir Q’s
Pot Heads, Druggies
Skaters
Emo
Goth
Gangster Wunnabes
Symbols that separate groups:
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With your group discuss and list the various
symbols used to distinguish each of these
groups from one another:
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Name given
Clothing style
Hair and Make-up
Jewelry
Vocabulary used
An illustration of ingroup/outgroup
relations:
Most ingroups exhibit three
characteristics
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Group members tend to separate themselves
from other groups through the use of
symbols
Members view themselves in terms of
positive images, while they view outgroups
in negative terms
Ingroups generally compete with outgroup
Social Networks
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Web of relationships that is formed by the
sum total of a person’s interactions with
others
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Includes both direct and indirect relationships
Do not have clear boundaries
Do not give rise to a common sense of identity
Provide us with a feeling of community and with
opportunities for career and social advancement.
Types of Societies
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Most common way sociologists classify
societies:
– By their Subsistence Strategy
 Simple------------------------------Complex
 Division of Labor increases along the
continuum
 Used as the basis to classify societies as
either Preindustrial, Industrial, or
Postindustrial
Preindustrial Societies
Hunting and Gathering
 Pastoral
 Horticultural
 Agricultural
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– Barter replaced by actual money exchange
Industrial Societies
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Use of machines increases production
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Can support more people
Reduces the need for farm labor
Increases the industrial work force
Production moves from home to factories
 Urbanization
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Goal is efficiency… reduces the level of skill
Mandatory education
Religious competition
Status competition
Postindustrial Societies
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Production of information
Provision of services
Standard of living increases
Wider range of job opportunities
Increased emphasis on education
Future dependent on technological advances
Emphasis on social equality and democracy
Contrasting Societies
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Durkheim:
– Mechanical solidarity……….preindustrial
– Organic solidarity…………….industrial
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Tonnies:
– Gemeinschaft…………………preindustrial
– Gesellschaft……………industrial/postindustrial