06 GROUPS AND SOCIETIES

Understanding Our Environment

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL GROUPS?

• two commonalities: the members of the group share something in common, and they identify each other as members of that group

HOW DO SOCIOLOGISTS VIEW GROUP LEADERSHIP?

• functionalism: leaders are measured by their influence on others

conflict theory: for Marx, bureaucracy was a way to exploit workers, so the bourgeoisie could gain wealth

• symbolic interactionism: workers’ attitudes toward their jobs impact productivity and job satisfaction
• feminist theory: many feminists view traditional ways of looking at bureaucracies and organizations as reflecting only the male perspective

HOW DOES A PARENT’S CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AFFECT A CHILD’S FUTURE POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT?

• increases the likelihood of political involvement in adult life