1. Chapter 5:
Groups, Networks and Organizations
Social groups form the building blocks for
society and for most social interaction.
The sociologist Georg Simmel argued that
the key element in determining the form
of social relations in a group is the size of
the group.
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2. Social Groups
Dyad is the most intimate form of social life because
the two members are mutually dependent on each
other – if one member leaves the group, the group
ceases to exist.
3. Social Groups ~ The Triad
When a third person joins a dyad, that person can
fill the role of:
mediator – the conflict resolver.
tertius gaudens — the person who profits from
disagreement from the others.
divide et impera (“divide and conquer”) — the
individual who purposefully breaks up the other two.
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4. Social Groups
As group size increases, the number of possible
relationships increase — in a group of three,
three possible relationships exist, but in a
group of four, six possible relationships exist.
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5.
6. Social Groups
Georg Simmel C. H. Cooley
Small Groups Primary Groups
Parties Secondary Groups
Large Groups Other Group Types —
in-groups, out-groups,
reference groups
Sociologists call any group that individuals use as a standard for
evaluating themselves and their own behavior a reference group.
9. The Power of Social Groups
The Asch Test is an experiment developed in the 1940s that shows
how much people are influenced by the actions or norms of a group.
10. From Groups to Networks
A social network is a set of relations — a set of dyads — held together
by ties between individuals.
A tie is a set of stories that explains our relationship to the other
members of our network, while a narrative is the sum of the
stories contained in a series of ties.
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11. From Groups to
Networks Interview, Duncan Watts
Duncan Watts describes his research
on the small world phenomenon.
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12. From Groups to Networks
Embeddedness refers to the degree to which
ties are reinforced through indirect paths
within a social network.
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13. Social Capital
‘Whereas physical capital refers to physical objects and human
capital refers to the properties of individuals, social capital refers
to connections among individuals – social networks and the
norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.”
~ Robert Putnam
14. From Groups to Networks
Social Capital
The information, knowledge of people or ideas, and connections that help
individuals enter preexisting networks or gain power in them.
High amounts of social capital in a community generally means that the
community is tightly knit and can come together to face challenges and make
improvements.
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15. From Groups to Networks
The Strength of Weak Ties
A structural hole is a gap between network clusters (or even
between two people) that would benefit from having the gap
closed.
Six Degrees of Separation
Class Exercise on Social Networks
16. Structural Holes on the Net
diminishing the power of the middle man
A Personal Account
17. Six Degrees of Separation
Urban legend?
Microsoft proves you ARE just six degrees of separation from anyone in the world
19. Organizations
An organization is any social network that is defined by a common purpose
and has a boundary between its membership and the rest of the social world.
Organizational culture refers to the shared beliefs and behaviors within a
social group.
Organizational structure refers to the ways in which power and authority
are distributed within an organization.
Informal Formal 19
20. Three Sociological Perspectives
Groups and Social Structure
Conflict Functionalist Symbolic Interaction
Social structure are Social structures are •Social interactions exists
exploitive. legitimate and acceptable. only in the minds of
individuals and small
groups. It is subjective,
Groups and The structure itself
voluntary and constantly
institutions exists for creates consensus. recreated.
the protection of the
elite. Social structures are •Social structure is based on
stable and often small groups and individuals
There is conflict over bureaucratic. to create consensus.
wealth, power and
status.
