Chapter5 groupsnetworks-120925135248-phpapp01
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Transcript of Chapter5 groupsnetworks-120925135248-phpapp01
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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Social Groups
DyadDyad 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.
Social Groups ~ The Triad
When a third person joins a dyad, that person can fill the role of: mediatormediator – the conflict resolver. tertius gaudens tertius gaudens — the person who profits from
disagreement from the others. divide et impera divide et impera (“divide and conquer”) — the
individual who purposefully breaks up the other two.
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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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Social GroupsGeorg 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.
Poll: What is the total number of contacts you...
The Power of Social Groups
The Asch Test 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.
From Groups to Networks
A social network social network is a set of relations — a set of dyads — held together by ties between individuals.
A tietie is a set of stories that explains our relationship to the other members of our network, while a narrativenarrative is
the sum of the stories contained in a series of ties.10
Interview, Duncan Watts
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Duncan Watts describes his research on the small world phenomenon.
From Groups to Networks
From Groups to Networks
EmbeddednessEmbeddedness refers to the degree to which ties are reinforced through
indirect paths within a social network.
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Social CapitalSocial Capital‘Whereas physical capital refers to physical objects and human
capital refers to the properties of individuals, social capital refers social capital refers to connections among individuals to connections among individuals – social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.”
~ Robert Putnam
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. 14
From Groups to Networks
The Strength of Weak The Strength of Weak TiesTies 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
Structural Holes on the Net
diminishing the power of the
middle manA Personal Account
Six Degrees of Separation
Urban legend?
Microsoft proves you ARE just six degrees of separation from anyone in the world
Social CapitalSocial Capital
OrganizationsAn organizationorganization 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.
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Organizational culture Organizational culture refers to the shared beliefs and behaviors within a social group.
Organizational structureOrganizational structure refers to the ways in which power and authority are distributed within an organization.
Informal Formal
Three Sociological Perspectives
Groups and Social StructureConflict Conflict
Social structure are exploitive.
Groups and institutions exists for the protection of the elite.
There is conflict over wealth, power and status.
Functionalist Functionalist
Social structures are legitimate and acceptable.
The structure itself creates consensus.
Social structures are stable and often bureaucratic.
Symbolic InteractionSymbolic Interaction
•Social interactions exists only in the minds of individuals and small groups. It is subjective, voluntary and constantly recreated.
•Social structure is based on small groups and individuals to create consensus.