Sociology Chapter 5 Review

5.2 summarize the characteristics of bureaucracies, their dysfunctions, and goal displacement; also contrast ideal and real bureaucracy. A. What are bureaucracies? B. What dysfunctions are associated bureaucracies?

A. Bureaucracies are social groups characterized by a hierarchy, division of labor, written rules and communications, and impersonality and replaceability of positions. These characteristics make bureaucracies efficient and enduring. In a process called gold is placement, bureaucracies are able to perpetuate themselves even after their purpose for existing ceases. B. The dysfunctions of bureaucracies include red tape, lack of communication between units, and alienation. In webers view, the impersonality of bureaucracies tends to produce alienation among workers--The feeling that no one cares about them and that they do not really fit in. Marx's view of alienation is somewhat different--workers do not identify with the product of their labor because they participate in only a small part of the production process.

5.4 summarize major issues in the technological Control of workers. Explain how global competition is affecting corporations. A. What is the maximum security society?

A. Computers and surveillance devices are increasingly used to monitor people, especially in the workplace. This intrusive Technology is being extended to monitoring our every day lives.

5.1 Discuss the main characteristics of primary groups, secondary groups, in groups and out groups, reference groups, and social networks. A. How do sociologists classify groups? B. What is quotation marks the iron law of oligarchy"?

A. Sociologists divide groups into primary groups, secondary groups, in groups, out groups, reference groups, and networks. The cooperative, intimate, long-term, face-to-face relationships provided by primary groups are fundamental to our sense of self. Secondary groups are larger, relatively temporary, and more anonymous, formal, and impersonal than primary groups. In groups provide members with a strong sense of identity and belonging. Out groups also foster identity by showing in group members with they are not. Reference groups are groups whose standards we refer to as we evaluate ourselves. Social networks consist of social ties that link people together. B. Sociologist Robert Michels noted that formal organizations have a tendency to become controlled by an inner circle that limits leadership to its own members. The dominance of a formal organization by an elite they keeps itself in power is called the iron law of oligarchy.

5.5 Be familiar with the effects of group size on stability, intimacy, attitudes, and behavior; types and styles of leadership; the Asch experiment on peer pressure; the Miligram experiment on authority; and the implications of groupthink. A. How does a groups size affect its dynamics? B. What characterizes a leader? C. What are three leadership styles? D. How do you groups encourage conformity?

A. The term group dynamics refers to help individuals affect groups and how groups influence individuals. In a small group, everyone can interact directly with everyone else. As a group grows larger, it's intensity decreases but it's stability increases. A dyad, consisting of two people, is the most unstable of human groups, but it provides the most intense intimate relationships. The addition of a third person, forming a triad, fundamentally changes relationships. Triads are unstable, as coalitions (The alignment of some members of the group against others) tend to form. B. A leader is someone who influences others. Instrumentals leaders try to keep a group moving towards goals, even though this causes friction and they lose popularity. Expressive leaders focus on creating harmony and raising group morale. Both types are essential to the functioning of groups. C. Authoritarian leaders give orders, Democratic leaders try to lead by consensus, and laissez-faire leaders are highly permissive. And authoritarian style appears to be more effective in emergency situations, it democratic style works best for most situations, and a laissez-faire style is usually ineffective. D. The Asch experiment was cited to illustrate the power peer pressure, The Milgram experiment to illustrate the influence of authority. Both experiments demonstrate how easily we can succumb to groupthink, he kind of collective tunnel vision. Preventing groupthink requires the free circulation of diverse and opposing ideas.

5.3 Discuss humanizing the work setting, fads in corporate culture, the "hidden" corporate culture, and worker diversely. A. How does the corporate culture affect workers?

Within corporate culture our values and stereotypes that are not readily visible. Often, self-fulfilling stereotypes are at work: people who match a corporations hidden values tend to be put on career tracks that enhance their chance of success, while those who do not match those values are set on a course that minimizes their performance.