Sociology You May Ask Yourself 3rd Edition Chapter 5

social aggregate

a collection of people who happen to be at the same place at the same time

social category

a collection of people who share a particular characteristic

small group

a group characterized by face-to-face interaction, a unifocal perspective, lack of formal arrangements, and a certain level of equality

large group

a group characterized by the presence of a formal structure that mediates interaction and, consequently, status differentiation

triad

a group of three or more;the fundamental distinction among most social relation, the group holds supra-individual power; secrets can exist

dyad

a group of two; most intimate form of social life, both members are mutually dependent on eachother

party

a group that is similar to a small group but multifocal

social network

a set of relations - a set of dyads - held together by ties between individuals

tie

a set of stories that explains our relationship to the other members of our network

bureaucracy

a type of formal organization with six distinct characteristics: 1. division of labor and specialization 2. hierarchy of authority 3. rules and regulations 4. impersonal relationships 5. career ladders 6. efficiency

in-group

another term for the powerful group, most often the majority

out-group

another term for the stigmatized or less powerful group, the minority

primary groups

groups composed of intimate, face-to-face interaction, relatively long-lasting relationships, that strongly influence the attitudes of those involved

secondary groups

groups with large membership, that are less intimate, and less long lasting

alienation

psychological seperation between person and organization

ritualism

rigid adherence to rules, no matter what; following rules becomes more important than the ultimate goal

embeddedness

the degree to which ties are reinforced through indirect paths within a social network

social capital

the information, knowledge of people, and connections that help individuals enter, gain power in, or otherwise leverage social networks

deindividualization

the sense that one's self has merged with the group & therefore your views as an individual matter less

risky shift

the tendency for groups to engage in riskier behavior than one would while alone

weak tie

ties that are highly embedded; you know them through someone else, but not many people do

strong tie

ties that are those reinforced through indirect paths with several other people; are not people you are close to