Group Structure and Group Membership (8C) - Psych & Soc
- What is the iron law of oligarchy?
- Large organizations tend to become dominated by a small elite. Michels observed democratic organizations inevitably concentrate power.
- What is a bureaucracy (Weberian ideal type)?
- A formal organization with hierarchy, rules, and specialization. Weber identified efficiency through rational organization.
- What is a group role in sociology?
- A set of behaviors and expectations tied to a position. Includes both formal (assigned) and informal (emergent) types.
- What is a social network in the context of group membership?
- A web of social ties linking individuals through relationships. Connections provide social capital and influence opportunities.
- What is an in-group?
- A group with which an individual identifies and feels membership. Creates "us vs. them" distinction based on perceived belonging.
- Identify the term for a group with strong loyalty and strict norms that can demand extreme devotion.
- Total institution. Total institutions control all aspects of life to resocialize members, enforcing conformity and devotion through isolation and strict routines.
- What is an in-group?
- A group with which an individual identifies as a member. Creates "us vs. them" distinctions in social psychology.
- What is a social network?
- A web of social ties connecting individuals or groups. Includes both direct and indirect connections between people.
- What is a group in sociology (as distinct from a category)?
- People who interact and share identity, norms, and expectations. Groups require interaction and shared elements to function as cohesive units, distinguishing them from mere collections of individuals.
- What is a group norm?
- A shared expectation about appropriate attitudes or behaviors. Group norms guide member behavior to maintain order and cohesion within the social unit.
- What is a reference group?
- A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and norms. Provides benchmarks for attitudes, behaviors, and aspirations.
- Identify the term for behavior that follows group norms to gain approval.
- Normative social influence. Driven by desire to fit in and avoid rejection.
- Which group structure uniquely permits coalition formation: dyad or triad?
- Triad. Triads enable subgroups to form for negotiation or power dynamics, unlike dyads which lack this flexibility.
- What is a dyad as a social group structure?
- A group of two individuals; highly intimate and unstable. Dyads rely on mutual interaction between two members, making them vulnerable to dissolution if one leaves.
- What is a group norm?
- Shared rules or expectations that guide group behavior. Can be explicit (written) or implicit (unspoken).
- What is a secondary group?
- Large, impersonal, goal-oriented ties (e.g., coworkers). Task-focused relationships with limited emotional investment.
- Identify the term: A person belongs to several groups and must prioritize one identity now.
- Salient identity (situationally activated group membership). Context determines which identity becomes prominent.
- What is the definition of a formal organization?
- A structured group with explicit rules, roles, and hierarchy. Characterized by formal procedures and defined positions.
- What is a total institution?
- An institution controlling all aspects of members' daily lives. Examples include prisons, military, and psychiatric hospitals.
- What is the sociological definition of a social group (as opposed to a crowd)?
- People with shared identity and enduring interaction patterns. Distinguishes groups from crowds by ongoing relationships and collective identity.
- What is an out-group?
- A group to which an individual does not belong or identify. Often viewed negatively due to in-group bias effects.
- What is in-group favoritism?
- Preferential attitudes or behavior toward one's in-group. Reflects automatic preference for those perceived as similar to oneself.
- What is a primary group?
- Small, close, enduring ties (e.g., family, close friends). Characterized by face-to-face interaction and emotional bonds.
- What is in-group bias?
- Preference for and favorable evaluation of one's in-group. Leads to discrimination even without real group differences.
- What is a coalition in a small group?
- A temporary alliance of members formed to achieve a goal. Common in triads when two unite against one member.
- What is a status in sociology?
- A socially defined position in a group, often with associated roles. Status positions individuals within social hierarchies, influencing interactions and access to resources.
- What is a coalition in group structure?
- A temporary alliance of individuals to achieve a shared goal. Forms when subgroups unite for mutual benefit or power.
- What is bureaucracy as a type of formal organization?
- A hierarchical system with specialized roles and formal rules. Emphasizes efficiency through division of labor and hierarchy.
- What is a status, and how does it differ from a role?
- Status is a position; role is expected behavior for that position. One person can hold multiple statuses with different roles.
- What is a coalition in a small group?
- A temporary alliance of members formed to achieve a goal. Coalitions allow subgroups to collaborate strategically, influencing group decisions and outcomes in small settings.
- What is an out-group in social psychology?
- A group to which an individual does not belong or identify. Often viewed as different or opposing to one's own group.
- What is a formal group?
- A group with defined roles, rules, and structure. Has official hierarchy and established procedures.
- What is a primary group?
- Small, close, long-lasting group with strong emotional ties. Examples include family and close friends.
- What is a group norm?
- A shared rule or expectation guiding behavior in a group. Can be formal (written) or informal (unspoken).
- What is the definition of a total institution (Goffman)?
- Institution controlling all aspects of life under a single authority. Examples include prisons, military, and psychiatric hospitals.
- What is a formal organization?
- Structured group with explicit rules, roles, and hierarchy. Contrasts with informal groups lacking official structure.
- What is an in-group in social psychology?
- A group with which an individual identifies as a member. Based on shared identity and sense of belonging.
- What is a formal organization?
- A structured group with explicit rules, roles, and hierarchy. Contrasts with informal groups lacking official structure.
- What is a coalition in group structure?
- A temporary alliance of members to achieve a shared objective. Forms when subgroups unite against common opposition or goal.
- What is group polarization?
- Group discussion strengthens the dominant initial tendency of members. Risk-takers become riskier; cautious groups become more cautious.
- What is in-group bias?
- Preferential attitudes or behavior toward one's in-group. Leads to favoritism even without objective justification.
- What is a dyad, and what is its key structural property?
- A two-person group; it is unstable if one member leaves. Most intimate group size; requires both members to exist.
- What is a formal group?
- A group with explicit roles, rules, and structured organization. Formal groups provide clear hierarchies and guidelines, enhancing efficiency in organized settings like workplaces.
- What is a group role?
- A set of expected behaviors attached to a social position. Violations can lead to sanctions from group members.
- What is a social category (as distinct from a group)?
- People sharing a trait but lacking interaction or shared identity. Social categories group people by common attributes without necessitating social bonds, useful for demographic analysis but not group dynamics.
- What is role conflict?
- Incompatible expectations between two or more roles. Arises when multiple roles have contradictory demands.
- Identify the concept: adopting behaviors/attitudes to match group norms despite private disagreement.
- Conformity. Differs from compliance (public only) and internalization.
- What is a social network in the context of group membership?
- A web of social ties linking individuals through relationships. Social networks facilitate resource exchange and information flow through interconnected relationships, impacting opportunities and support.
- Which term describes a group member who provides direction and coordination?
- Leader. Influences group goals and facilitates member interactions.
- What is a secondary group?
- Large, impersonal group organized around a specific goal or task. Task-focused with limited emotional investment.
- What is a coalition in group dynamics?
- A temporary alliance formed to achieve a shared goal. Often forms in triads when two unite against one.
- Which concept best explains favoring in-group members over out-group members?
- In-group bias. Tendency to evaluate own group more positively than others.
- What is an ingroup bias?
- Preferential evaluation and treatment of one's own group. Ingroup bias enhances group cohesion by favoring members, which can improve morale but also promote discrimination.
- What is a status in sociology?
- A social position that carries rights, duties, and expectations. Statuses organize social hierarchy and interactions.
- What is a reference group?
- A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and norms. May or may not be a member; provides comparison standards.
- What is an in-group?
- A group with which an individual identifies and feels membership. In-groups provide a sense of belonging and loyalty, shaping individual identity through shared membership.
- What is an out-group?
- A group perceived as not belonging to the self; "them". Out-groups create social boundaries by contrasting with one's own group, often leading to stereotypes or conflict.
- What is a reference group?
- A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and behavior. Can be aspirational (desired) or comparative (contrast).
- What is a bureaucracy as a type of formal organization?
- Hierarchical organization with specialized roles and rules. Weber's ideal type emphasizing efficiency and rationality.
- What is a primary group in sociology?
- A small, close-knit group with enduring, emotionally significant ties. Characterized by face-to-face interaction and emotional bonds like family.
- What is a total institution?
- An institution that regulates all aspects of members' daily life. Examples: prisons, military, psychiatric hospitals.
- What is an ascribed status?
- Status assigned at birth or involuntarily (for example, race). Cannot be changed through individual action.
- What is an informal group?
- A group with loosely defined roles and norms; unstructured. Informal groups emerge naturally without rigid structures, allowing flexibility in social interactions like friendships.
- What is an informal group?
- A group formed by personal ties with few explicit rules. Emerges spontaneously based on shared interests or friendships.
- What is a secondary group in sociology?
- A larger, goal-oriented group with impersonal, temporary ties. Examples include work teams or professional associations.
- What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?
- In-group favoritism can occur with arbitrary group assignment. Shows bias emerges from mere categorization, not conflict.
- What is a peer group?
- People of similar age/status who influence norms and identity. Especially influential during adolescence for socialization.
- What is a primary group in sociology?
- A small, close, enduring group with intimate, face-to-face ties. Primary groups foster deep emotional bonds and long-term relationships essential for socialization and support in sociology.
- What is an out-group?
- A group perceived as distinct from and not including the self. Often subject to stereotyping and prejudice due to perceived differences.
- What does the iron law of oligarchy predict about large organizations?
- A small leadership elite tends to dominate decision-making. Power concentrates at the top regardless of democratic ideals.
- Which term describes adopting behaviors of a role without internal belief change?
- Impression management (surface compliance). Goffman's concept of performing without internalizing.
- What is a triad, and what structural feature emerges compared with a dyad?
- A three-person group; coalitions and mediation can occur. Third member enables majority rule and alliance formation.
- What is a reference group?
- A group used for social comparison to evaluate attitudes or behavior. Provides standards for self-evaluation even without membership.
- What is a formal organization?
- A structured group with explicit rules, roles, and coordinated goals. Operates through established procedures rather than personal ties.
- Identify the term for conforming because the group is perceived as correct.
- Informational social influence. Assumes others have better knowledge in ambiguous situations.
- What is a triad in group structure?
- A group consisting of three people. Allows for mediation and coalition formation.
- What is a social category (social group) in MCAT sociology terms?
- People sharing a characteristic, with limited interaction/structure. Less cohesive than true groups; based on demographics.
- What is a group sanction?
- A reward or punishment used to enforce group norms. Positive sanctions reward; negative sanctions punish.
- What is a role in the context of group membership?
- A set of behaviors and expectations tied to a social position. Roles define expected actions for positions, facilitating coordination and predictability in group interactions.
- What is a bureaucracy (Weberian sense)?
- A formal organization with hierarchy, rules, and specialized roles. Weber identified efficiency through division of labor and clear authority.
- What is the minimal group paradigm used to demonstrate?
- In-group favoritism can occur from trivial group assignment. Shows bias emerges even with random, meaningless groupings.
- What is a social network in the context of group membership?
- A web of social relationships linking individuals and groups. Connects people through direct and indirect ties.
- What is a dyad in group structure?
- A group consisting of two people. Smallest possible group; highly intimate but unstable.
- What is a secondary group in sociology?
- A larger, goal-oriented group with impersonal, temporary ties. Secondary groups focus on achieving specific objectives with less emphasis on personal connections, facilitating task-oriented interactions.
- What is in-group favoritism?
- Preferential attitudes or behavior toward in-group members. Leads to biased resource allocation and positive evaluations.
- Identify the term: a group to which a person does not belong but wants to join.
- Aspiration group. Motivates behavior change to gain desired group membership.
- What is a secondary group in sociology?
- A larger, impersonal, goal-oriented group with formal relationships. Task-focused with temporary, role-based interactions like coworkers.
- What is a social aggregate (as distinct from a group)?
- People in the same place at the same time without shared identity. Social aggregates form incidentally in shared spaces, lacking the interaction needed for group formation or identity.
- What is a social group (as opposed to an aggregate) in sociology?
- Individuals with shared identity and patterned interaction. Requires both shared identity and regular interaction patterns.
- What is an in-group bias (in-group/out-group bias)?
- Systematic preference for in-group over out-group. Results from social identity and self-esteem maintenance.
- What is a dyad, and what key property makes it fragile?
- A two-person group; it dissolves if one member leaves. Most intimate group size; requires both members to exist.
- Which term describes the set of expected behaviors associated with a social position?
- Role. Guides behavior based on group expectations and norms.
- What is an achieved status?
- Status earned through effort or choice (for example, physician). Reflects meritocracy and individual accomplishment.
- Identify the term: a group to which a person belongs but does not want to be associated.
- Dissociative group. Creates identity conflict between membership and desired image.
- What is a triad, and what structural feature distinguishes it from a dyad?
- A three-person group; coalitions can form among members. Allows two-against-one dynamics and majority influence.
- What is a group sanction?
- A reward or punishment used by a group to enforce norms. Group sanctions reinforce conformity by rewarding adherence or punishing deviations from established norms.
- What is an example of a secondary group most consistent with MCAT definitions?
- A workplace team organized to complete a project. Secondary groups are task-oriented and temporary.
- What is role strain?
- Stress from competing demands within a single role. Occurs when one role has conflicting expectations.
- What is a triad, and what structural feature distinguishes it from a dyad?
- A three-person group; it allows coalitions and greater stability. Two members can form alliance against the third.
- Which group type is typically the most stable: dyad or triad?
- Triad. Can survive if one member leaves, unlike dyads.
- What is a dyad, and what key feature distinguishes it from larger groups?
- A two-person group; it is unstable because each member is essential. Loss of one member dissolves the group entirely.
- What is a social institution?
- An organized system of roles and norms meeting societal needs. Examples include family, education, religion, government.
- What is a primary group in sociology?
- A small, close-knit group with enduring, personal relationships. Examples include family and close friends with emotional bonds.
- What is a social institution?
- An organized system of roles and norms that meets societal needs. Examples include family, education, religion, and government.
- What is a triad as a social group structure?
- A group of three; more stable with potential coalitions. Triads introduce complexity with three members, allowing for mediation and stability through potential alliances.
- What is a social role?
- Set of expectations for behavior tied to a social status. Roles guide appropriate behavior in social positions.
- What is the definition of a social network in sociology?
- Pattern of social ties linking individuals and groups. Connections form the basis for social capital and information flow.
- What is the definition of a reference group in social psychology?
- A group used as a standard for self-evaluation and behavior norms. Provides benchmarks for attitudes and behaviors.
- What is the definition of a bureaucracy (Weberian model)?
- Formal organization with hierarchy, rules, specialization, and merit. Weber emphasized rationality and efficiency in bureaucracies.
- What is the key difference between an in-group and an out-group?
- In-group: "us"; out-group: "them" relative to a social identity. Based on perceived membership in the social category.