sociology unit 2

social structure

pattern of organization composed of structure/forms that allow associations between individuals

social institutions

organized patterns of beliefs and behaviors that are centered on basic social needs

\- includes traditional (family) and emergent (pop culture)

status

socially defined position in a group or in a society

ascribed status

beyond an individual’s control; inherited traits (sex, family, heritage, race, age)

achieved status

individuals gain this through their own direct efforts; skills, knowledge or abilities

master status

greatest role in shaping an individual’s life and determining their social identity

\- Can either be ascribed or achieved; Changes over time

role

behavior--the right and obligations expected of someone occupying a particular status

role set

the different roles attached to a single status

role conflict

when fulfilling the role expectations of one status makes it difficult to fulfill the role expectations of another status

role strain

occurs when a person has difficulty meeting the role expectations of a single status

role exit

process people go through to detach from a role that has been central to their self-identify

leaders

influence people’s opinions and attitudes

instrumental leaders

goal/task orientated

expressive leaders

emotion oriented/maintain morale

authoritarian

\- Focuses on instrumental concerns

\- Takes personal charge of decision making

\- Demands strict compliance from subordinates

**democratic**

More expressive and tires to include everyone in the decision making process

**laissez-faire**

allows the group to function more of less on its own

formal organizations

large, complex secondary group that has been established to achieve specific goals

bureaucracy

ranked authority structure that operates according to specific rules and procedures

Max Weber’s Models of Bureaucracies (5)

1) Division of labor

2) Ranking of authority

3) Employment based on formal qualifications

4) Written rules and regulations

5) Specific lines of promotion

Problems of Bureaucracies

\- don't fulfill original goals

\- alienation

\- iron law of oligarchy

\- the peter principle

iron law of oligarchy

Organizations tend to become increasingly dominated by small groups of people

\- people who don't fit with the majority of people make decisions

the peter principle

Every position in a given bureaucracy will eventually be filled by employees who are incompetent to fulfill job duties

rationality

involves subjecting every feature of human behavior to calculation, measurement, and control

group characteristics

\- Consists of 2 or more people

\- Interaction among members

\- Have shared experiences 

\- Possess some sense of common identity

dyad

\- 2 members

\- Each member has control over a group’s existence

\- Less stable

\- More intimate

triad

\- 3 members

\- Group identity is independent of any individual

\- More stable

\- Less intimate

formal group

structure, goals, and activities of the group are clearly defined

informal group

no official structure or established rules of conduct

primary group

\- One/singular group

\- Group one is closest to (family, friends)

\- Small in size

\- Lots of interaction among members and intimacy

secondary group

\- Large in size

\- No control over who is in group; can't choose group

\- Not interaction on intimate level; not much interaction

social interaction

the way people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior

exchange

Whenever people interact in an effort to receive a reward/return for their actions

reciprocity

if you do something for someone, that person owes you something in return

Social Exchange Theory

people are motivated by self-interest in their interactions w people

\- people end relationships when the cost of interaction outweigh the reward

competition

When two or more people (or groups) **oppose** each other to achieve a goal that only one can attain

conflict

\- deliberate attempt to control a person by force, to oppose someone in order to defeat them

\- happens when interaction occurs during competition

cooperation

When 2 or more people (or groups) work together to achieve a goal that will benefit more than one person

accommodation 

state of balance between cooperation and conflict

compromise

mutual agreement between the two parties

truce

brings a halt to the competition/conflict until a compromise can be reached

mediation

calling in a 3rd party who acts as an adviser and counselor to guide the two parties toward and agreement

arbitration

if mediation fails, the 3rd party makes a decision is binding on both parties 

Pre-Industrial Society

Food production is the main economic activity; achieved through human and animal labor

Hunter-Gatherer Societies

\- Daily collection of wild plants and hunting animals

\- Move around constantly; no permanent villages

\- Family as main social unit

Pastoral Societies

\- Rely on domesticated herd of animals for food

\- Nomadic life

\- Food surpluses create division of labor

\- Trade

\- Hereditary chieftainships

Horticultural Societies

\- Crop rotation

\- More complex division of labor; specialized roles like craftspeople or religious leaders

\- More developed economic and political systems

Agricultural Societies

\- Plowing fields w animals

\- Use of irrigation to increase crop yield

\- Larger populations; cities

\- Hereditary monarchy

\- Emergence of powerful armies

\- Status differences; landowners vs peasants

Industrial Society

\- Production of manufactured goods due to new tech and machinery

\- Increases food production and population size

\- Increase in industrial workforce

\- Factories

\- Mass literacy

\- More control over status and position

Post-Industrial Society

\- Economic emphasis is on the provision of information

\- Standard of living increases along w wages

\- Strong emphasis on science and technology

\- Search for personal fulfillment

\- Emphasis on equality and democracy

Mechanical Solidarity

What pre-industrial societies are held by

\- When people share the same values and perform the same tasks and become united

Organic Solidarity

Refers to impersonal social relationships that arise with increased job specialization

\- Dependent on others for survival

McDonaldization

refers to the increasing presence of the fast food business model in common social institutions

(mcdonaldlization) efficiency

the division of labor where multiple workers are tasked with different jobs in order to get work done quickly

(mcdonaldlization) predictability

knowing what will be sold in a store or institution based on its name and brand; being able to guess the quality of what will be expected from a business

(mcdonaldlization) calculability

the act of being able to calculate how much one is working and how much money they will receive as a result

(mcdonaldlization) control

the presence of things like security cameras or “off-limits” areas that control consumers

pros/cons of mcdonaldlization

pros: promotes efficiency because everyone has their specific roles and responsibilities; individuals have comfort in knowing what to expect

cons: forces society into specific patterns that only put emphasis on making money or reaching a certain “goal”

Societies have a pattern of organization composed of structure/forms that allow associations between individuals

social structures

organized patterns of beliefs and behavior that are centered on basic social needs.

social institutions

Family, education, politics, religion, and economics are all a part of what?

traditional social institution

Mass media, sports, and popular culture are all a part of what?

emergent social institution

Socially defined position in a group

status

This is beyond an individual's control--> Assigned at birth: sex, race, family heritage, and age

ascribed status

Individuals gain this through their own, direct efforts--> knowledge, skills, and abilities

achieved status

Greatest role in shaping an individual's life and shaping their social identity--> can change

master status

Behavior: the expectations and and obligations expected of someone occupying a particular status

role

The different roles attached to a single status

role set

When fulfilling the expectations of one status, it makes it difficult to fulfill the expectations of another status.

role conflict

Occurs when an individual has difficulty in meeting the expectations of one status

role strain

Process individuals go through when the detach themselves or leave a role that has been central to their self-identity.

role exit

\n This group is more intimate but less stable

dyad

This group is less intimate but more stable

triad

This type of group has structure, goals, and activities are clearly defined.

formal group

This type of group has no official structure or established rules of conduct

informal group

This type of group is small, high level of intimacy, and interaction among members is very frequent

primary group

This type of group is large, less intimacy among members, and interaction is less frequent

secondary group

Whenever people interact to receive a type of reward/return for their actions

exchange

The belief that if you do something for someone, that person owes you something in return

reciprocity

People are motivated by self-interest in their interactions with people

social exchange theory

When two or more people oppose each other to achieve a goal that only one can attain

competition

This type of social interaction happens when a person or group deliberately attempts to control a person by force/ to oppose someone in order to defeat them

conflict

This is a type of social interaction when two or more groups work together to achieve the same goal.

cooperation

In Accommodation, when two people/groups reach a mutual decision.

compromise

This type of accommodation brings a halt to the competition/conflict until a compromise can be reached

truce

\n This type of accommodation is when a third party is brought on to advise, counsel, and/or guide the two sides to come to an agreement

mediation

This type of accommodation is when mediation fails and the third party has to make a binding agreement on the two sides.

arbitration

This type of leader is goal/task oriented

instrumental

This type of leader is emotion/morale focused

expressive

This leadership style focuses on instrumental concerns, takes personal charge of decision making, and demands strict compliance from subordinates

authoritarian

This leadership style is more expressive and tries to include everyone in the decision-making process

democratic

This leadership style allow the group to more or less function on their own without giving any help; "hands off" approach.

laissez-faire

In Weber's model of Bureaucracies, this is when Work is divided among specialists in various positions

division of labor

In Weber's model of Bureaucracies, this is when there are clear cut lines of responsibility

ranking of authority

\n In Weber's model of Bureaucracies, this is when each position has requirements that individuals need to have

employment based on qualification

In Weber's model of Bureaucracies, this is when there are objective rules and routines for each staff member

written regulations

In Weber's model of Bureaucracies, this is when employees expect a career--> there are ways to advance in your career

specific lines of promotion

This is when organizations become increasingly dominated by small groups of people

iron law of oligarchy

In McDonaldization, this term means that every aspect of the organization is geared toward the minimization of time

efficiency

In McDonaldization, this term is when organizations want consumers to believe that they are getting a large amount of product for not a lot of money. Workers in these organizations are judged by how fast they are instead of the quality of work they do

calculability