2. Social Groups
A social group is
defined as two or more
people who identify
and interact with one
another.
Social groups fall into 2
basic categories:
primary and secondary
groups.
3. Primary Groups
• Primary groups are small social
groups whose members share
personal and enduring relationships
• They have intimate, face-to-face
contact (families and close
personal friends are in your
primary group).
• Families are primary groups in that
they are the first groups we
experience in life and because they
are of central importance in the
socialization process.
• Members think of the group as an
end in itself rather than as a
means to other ends.
• Members view each other as
unique and irreplaceable.
4. Secondary
Groups
• Secondary groups are large and
impersonal social groups devoted to
some specific interest or activity (like
people you go to school with).
• They involve weak emotional ties and
are commonly short term (like for a
semester-when the class is over, you
don’t always keep in touch with
them).
• They are goal oriented and typically
impersonal.
• For example study groups: everyone
wants to pass the test so they study
collectively as a group, helping others
within that group to understand key
terms, etc.
5. Group Leadership
• There are typically 3 different types of
group leaders:
• Instrumental
• Expressive
• Laissez-faire
• Group leaders tend to fall into one of
these categories but may have all
three parts in their own leadership
style.
6. Instrumental
Leadership
• Emphasizes the completion of
tasks.
• These are bosses that usually
say “Let’s get to work!”
• They are more worried about
getting the job done than the well
being of their workers
• They operate under an
authoritarian leadership that
focuses on instrumental concerns,
takes personal charge of decision-
making, and demands strict
compliance from subordinates.
7. Expressive
Leadership
• Emphasizes collective well-being and
concerned for the members well-being.
• Employees tend to like this type of
leader because they show empathy
and make sure they have everything
they need to complete their tasks.
• Expressive leaders practice democratic
leadership which is more expressive and
tries to include everyone in the decision
making process (like asking the person
who actually answers the phone if the
new phone system they are planning to
install will help or hinder their job).
8. Laissez-faire
Leadership
French for “let do”, this type
of leader allows the group to
function more or less on its
own.
• Basically, if the job gets done, it
gets done; if it doesn’t, who cares?
These types of leaders are
very laid back and the
workers usually have to fend
for themselves with little
supervision or support.
9. Group Types:
Reference, In-
groups, Out-
groups
• A reference group is a
social group that serves as a
point of reference for
people making evaluations
or decisions.
• For example, hero
worship is a type of
reference group, like
comparing yourself to a
professional athlete
10. In-groups and
Out-groups
• An in-group is a social group
commanding a member’s esteem and
loyalty.
• This is a group we are generally a
member of but is also a group we
have esteem for, like the Shriner’s.
They do a lot more for humanity than
ride around on scooters and in dune
buggies at Mardi Gras.
• An out-group is a social group toward
which one feels competition or
opposition.
11. Formal
Organizations
• These are large secondary groups,
organized to achieve goals
efficiently; 3 primary types:
• Utilitarian: Material rewards
for members
• Normative: Voluntary
organizations; People pursue
goals they believe are morally
worthwhile
• Coercive: Involuntary
membership; Punishment or
treatment; total institutions
12. Bureaucracy • Formal organization designed to perform tasks
efficiently.
• Max Weber identified six key characteristics of
bureaucracy:
• Specialization
• Hierarchy of offices
• Rules and regulations
• Technical competence
• Impersonality
• Formal, written communications
13. PROBLEMS OF
BUREAUCRACIES
• Bureaucratic alienation
• Potential to dehumanize
individuals
• Bureaucratic inefficiency and
ritualism
• Preoccupation with rules,
interferes with meeting goals
• Bureaucratic inertia
• Perpetuation of the
organization
• Oligarchy
• Rule of the many by the few
14. George Ritzer:
McDonaldization of Society
• Four principles of McDonaldization:
• Efficiency: We want things in society fast
• Calculability: Do things according to plan
• Uniformity and predictability: We want things to be the same
everywhere
• Control through automation: Humans are the most unreliable
factor
• The main premise of the book is that rationality, although efficient,
may be irrational and highly dehumanizing.
