Sociology Chapter 5

Social Group

A collection of people who regularly interact based on shared expectations and sense of common identity.

Weak Ties

Connections that are not strong but can provide access to new opportunities; significant for networking.

Social Aggregate

A collection of people who happen to be together in a particular place but do not interact significantly.

In-Groups

Groups toward which one feels particular loyalty and respect; the groups to which 'we' belong.

Out-Groups

Groups toward which one feels antagonism and contempt; 'those people'.

Primary Groups

Groups characterized by intense emotional ties, face-to-face interactions, and strong commitments.

Reference Group

A group that provides a standard for judging one’s attitudes or behaviors.

• groups of people that influence an individual’s attitudes, behaviors, and decisions. They can be friends, family, celebrities, or any social group that a person looks up to or compares themselves with.

Dyad

A group consisting of two people.

Triad

A group consisting of three people.

Groupthink

A process where group members ignore ways of thinking that contradict group consensus.

Bureaucracy

A type of organization marked by a clear hierarchy, written rules, and staffed by full-time officials.

Iron Law of Oligarchy

The tendency of large organizations to centralize power, making democracy difficult.

Social Capital

The social knowledge and connections that enable people to accomplish their goals.

Bridging Social Capital

Outward-looking and inclusive social connections that unify across boundaries.

Bonding Social Capital

Inward-looking and exclusive social connections that reinforce homogeneity within groups.

Transformational Leadership

Leaders who instill a sense of mission or higher purpose, changing the nature of the group.

Transactional Leadership

Leaders focused on task accomplishment and achieving group goals.

McDonaldization

The process by which principles of fast-food restaurants dominate more sectors of society.

social category

people who share a common characteristic but do not necessarily interact or identify with one another 

secondary groups

are groups characterized by less intimate relationships, often formed for specific purposes or goals, such as work or school.

formal organization

a group that is designed to achieve its objectives, often by means of explicit rules, regulations, and procedures 

• Organizations take things out of our own hands and put them under the control of officials or experts over whom we have little influence over

Ideal type

refers to a conceptual model or a pure form of a social phenomenon used for analytical purposes. It is not meant to represent reality exactly but instead serves as a theoretical tool to compare real-world cases against.

formal relations

relations that exist in groups and organizations as defined by the norms, or rules, of the official system of authority 

informal relations

relations that exist in groups and organizations developed on the basis of personal connections; ways of doing things that depart from formally recognized modes of procedure 

• such as a manager hiring a friend or family member instead of following official hiring protocols.

Oligarchy

A form of power structure in which power resides in the hands of a small number of people, often characterized by a hierarchical organization and limited participation.

corporate culture

an organizational culture involving rituals, events, or traditions that are unique to a specific company 

• to promote loyalty to the company

Human Resource Management

the strategic approach to managing an organization's workforce, focusing on recruitment, training, development, and employee relations.

Information Technology

the use of systems for storing, retrieving, and sending information. It encompasses computers, networks, and software for managing data.