GROUPS

Groups and Networks

Dyads and Triads: Beginning of Social Groups

  • Social Groups

    • Social groups form the basis of society and most social interaction.

    • Georg Simmel's Contributions

    • In "Quantitative Aspects of the Group" (1950), Simmel argues that predictions about group dynamics can be made based on the number of members without knowing anything about the individuals involved.

  • Dyad

    • Defined as a group of two.

    • Represents the most intimate form of social life; the existence is reliant upon the participation of both individuals.

  • Triad

    • Defined as a group of three.

    • Holds collective power and allows multiple points of view and preferences to exist.

    • Roles in a Triad

    • Mediator: A member who attempts to resolve conflicts between the other two members of the triad.

      • Example: A marriage counselor.

    • Beneficiary: The member who benefits from the conflict between the two other members.

    • Divide and Conquerer: The role of a member who intentionally drives a wedge between the two other actors in the group.

Groups and Parties

  • Small Group

    • Characterized by face-to-face interactions, a unifocal perspective, lack of formal arrangements or roles, and a certain level of equality.

    • Unifocal: There is one center of attention, with turn-taking amongst speakers.

  • Party

    • Similar to a small group but is characterized as multifocal.

    • Multifocal: Multiple centers of attention or sub-conversations can occur.

    • Example: Study group.

  • Large Group

    • Defined by the presence of a formal structure that mediates interactions and creates status differentiation.

    • Example: Classroom dynamics.

Primary and Secondary Groups

  • Primary Groups

    • Social groups such as family or friends characterized by enduring, intimate face-to-face relationships that strongly influence the attitudes and ideals of members.

    • Limited in number and serve as an end in themselves; members are non-interchangeable and enduring.

  • Secondary Groups

    • Groups marked by impersonal, instrumental relationships—existing as a means to an end.

    • Examples: Unions, sports teams, study groups.

    • Characteristics include being impersonal, instrumental, and contingent.

In Groups, Out Groups, Reference Groups

  • In-group

    • Refers to the powerful group, usually the majority.

    • Example: Dominant normative gender behaviors.

  • Out-group

    • Refers to stigmatized or less powerful groups, typically the minority.

    • Examples: Muslims, Queer individuals, the homeless.

    • Historical context: Dutch Afrikaans vs. Native South Africans.

  • Reference Groups

    • Groups that help individuals understand their social position relative to others.

    • Example: Neighboring towns' sports teams or different economic classes.

Social Networks and Ties

  • Social Network

    • Defined as a set of relations, essentially a collection of dyads connected by ties between individuals.

  • Tie

    • The connection between two individuals within a relationship, displaying varying strengths from one relationship to another; narrative underlying the relationship is present.

  • Narrative

    • The sum of stories contained within a set of ties.

    • Example: Experiences within a college or university environment.

  • Embeddedness

    • Refers to the degree to which social relationships are reinforced through indirect ties.

    • The more embedded a tie is, the stronger it is perceived to be.

  • Strength of Weak Ties

    • Concept that relatively weak ties can often yield valuable, novel information.

    • Particularly useful in contexts such as job searches.

Organizations

  • Organization

    • Any social network defined by a common purpose that includes a boundary separating its members from the rest of society.

    • Examples: Church, soccer team, Ford, United Nations.

  • Formal Organizations

    • Have a set of governing structures and rules for their internal arrangements.

    • Example: Military rules and hierarchy.

  • Informal Organizations

    • Lack formal governing structures or roles.

  • Organizational Culture

    • The shared beliefs and behaviors within a social group; often used synonymously with corporate culture.

  • Organizational Structure

    • Refers to the distribution of power and authority within an organization.

  • Interlocking Directorates

    • Refers to the phenomenon where board members of one company serve on the boards of other companies, affecting organizational culture.

    • Example: In 2018, 12 of the 19 largest pharmaceutical corporations had one or more directors who simultaneously held leadership roles in healthcare nonprofits.

Social Capital

  • Social Capital

    • Refers to the information, knowledge, or connections that help individuals enter, gain power in, or leverage social networks.

    • Can be viewed as a bundle of weak ties, differentiated by the benefits they yield.

  • Alexis de Tocqueville's Observations

    • In "Democracy in America" (1835), Tocqueville highlights the unique tendencies of Americans compared to Europeans, noting the high number of voluntary associations like Free Masons, church groups, bowling leagues, and book clubs.

    • Observes a paradox of lower levels of civic engagement and community organization participation in contemporary society.

Declining Social Interaction

  • General Observations

    • Social connections are more tenuous than ever; participation in voluntary organizations is declining.

    • Increased feelings of loneliness and isolation among individuals.

    • There is a perception that friendships and relationships may have become shallower and less meaningful.

    • US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has labeled this trend as an "Epidemic of Loneliness."

  • Questions to Consider

    • What might be some root causes contributing to this decline in social interactions?

Declining Social Interaction Stats

  • Close Friendships

    • In 2021, almost half of Americans (49%) reported having three or fewer close friends.

    • Historical comparison: Only 27% reported similarly in 1990.

  • Time Spent with Friends

    • Individuals aged 15-24 are spending 70% less time with friends compared to 2003.

    • Time spent per day diminished from 150 minutes in 2003 to 40 minutes in 2020.

  • Trust Levels

    • Trust in fellow Americans and institutions is at historically low levels.

    • In 1972, 45% of Americans reported feeling they could trust others; this figure dropped to about 30% by 2016.

    • Corresponds with a peak in levels of societal polarization.

  • Community Involvement

    • Traditional measures of community involvement (including religious affiliations, clubs, and labor unions) have shown a consistent decline since the 1970s.

    • By 2018, only 16% of Americans felt very attached to their local community.

  • Conclusion on Social Connectedness

    • The evidence indicates that social connectedness is not improving over time, with 2020 exacerbating existing trends.

    • Sub-group analysis reveal that Black Americans faced the largest disparity in social connectedness.

    • Reference: Kannan and Veazie (2023).

The Third Place and Potential Causes

  • The Third Place

    • Concept referring to social environments separate from home (the first place) and work/school (the second place).

    • Examples: Churches, cafes, pubs, town squares, libraries, gyms, etc.

  • Factors of Change

    • Increasing commodification of various life aspects.

    • The monetization of goods and services leads to the neoliberal degradation of public/social spaces and institutions.

    • Other causes include stagnant wages, rising healthcare costs, impacts from COVID-19, and a lack of leisure time.