Unit 6: Groups & Organizations

From the micro to the macro level, this chapter examines the types of groups, social influence in groups, formal organizations and bureaucracies, including diversity within organizations, and theoretical perspectives on groups and organizations.
 


 

    Read: Chapter 6 Groups & Organizations

    Attend: Groups & Organizations

    Glossary: ong>
    attribution error erroneously attributing the causes of someone’s behavior to only their membership in some out-group
    attribution theory the principle that dispositional attributions are made about others (what the other is “really like”) under certain conditions, such as outgroup membership
    bureaucracy a type of formal organization characterized by an authority hierarchy, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality
    coercive organization an organization characterized by membership that is largely involuntary
    dyad a group consisting of two people
    expressive needs needs for intimacy, companionship, and emotional support
    formal organization a large secondary group organized to accomplish a complex task or set of tasks
    group a collection of individuals who interact and communicate, share goals and norms, and who have a subjective awareness as “we”
    group size effect the effect upon the person of groups of varying sizes
    groupthink the tendency for group members to reach a consensus at all costs
    instrumental needs emotionally neutral, task-oriented (goal-oriented) needs
    normative organization an organization that people join in order to pursue goals they consider worthwhile
    primary group a group characterized by intimate, face-to-face interaction and relatively long-lasting relationships
    reference group any group (to which one may or may not belong) used by the individual as a standard for evaluating her or his attitudes, values, and behaviors
    risky shift the tendency for group members, after discussion and interaction, to engage in riskier behavior than they would while alone
    secondary group a group that is relatively large in number and not as intimate or enduring as a primary group
    social network a set of links between individuals or other social units such as groups or organizations
    total institution an organization cut off from the rest of society in which individuals are subject to strict social control
    triad a group consisting of three people
    triadic segregation the tendency for a triad to separate into a dyad and an isolate
    utilitarian organization an organization, either profit or nonprofit, that is joined by individuals for specific purposes, such as monetary reward
    voluntary organization organizations that people join to pursue goals they consider personally worthwhile

     

     


 
dividuals or other social units such as groups or organizations total institution an organization cut off from the rest of society in which individuals are subject to strict social control triad a group consisting of three people