Types of Groups

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Most of us feel comfortable using the word “group” without giving it much thought. Often, we mean different things when using that word. We might say that…

Introduction

Chapter Outline 6.1 Types of Groups 6.2 Group Size and Structure 6.3 Formal Organizations Throughout the history of the United States, individuals have formed groups in order to achieve goals and bring about change. Some groups are loosely defined, while others have highly…

Section Summary

Theories of Self-Development Psychological theories of self-development have been broadened by sociologists who explicitly study the role of society and social interaction in self-development. Charles Cooley and George Mead both contributed significantly to the sociological understanding of the development of…

Socialization Across the Life Course

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Socialization isn’t a one-time or even a short-term event. We aren’t “stamped” by some socialization machine as we move along a conveyor belt and thereby socialized once…

Agents of Socialization

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Socialization helps people learn to function successfully in their social worlds. How does the process of socialization occur? How do we learn to use the objects of…

Why Socialization Matters

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Socialization is critical both to individuals and to the societies in which they live. It illustrates how completely intertwined human beings and their social worlds are. First,…

Theories of Self-Development

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: When we are born, we have a genetic makeup and biological traits. However, who we are as human beings develops through social interaction. Many scholars, both in…

Introduction

Figure 5.1 Emergency workers are prepared to treat patients with a wide array of illnesses and injuries. Beyond their medical training, they build skills in decision making, teamwork, communication, and stress management. These abilities can be extremely valuable throughout the workers’ life…

Section Summary

Types of Societies Societies are classified according to their development and use of technology. For most of human history, people lived in preindustrial societies characterized by limited technology and low production of goods. After the Industrial Revolution, many societies based…