Social Groups, Organizations, Deviance, and Stratification
Groups and Organizations
Social Groups
Social Group: Two or more people who identify with and interact with one another.
- Primary Group: A small social group whose members share personal and lasting relationships.
- Secondary Group: A large and impersonal social group whose members pursue a specific goal or activity.
Leadership Roles and Styles
- Instrumental Leadership: Group leadership that focuses on the completion of tasks (give orders, make plans, get things done).
- Expressive Leadership: Group leadership
Introduction to Sociology: Key Concepts and Perspectives
Sociology
The systematic study of the relationship between the individual and society and of the consequences of difference
Key Concepts
Private Troubles
Obstacles that individuals face as individuals rather than as a consequence of their social position.
Public Issues
Obstacles that individuals in similar positions face.
Anomie
Social instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values.
Sociological Imagination
An awareness of the relationship between who we are as individuals and the social forces
Read MoreIntroduction to Psychology: Schools, Theories, and Learning
Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. It focuses on both the internal events that underlie our thoughts and feelings, as well as the behavior itself. Psychology can be studied at different levels:
Levels of Analysis in Psychology
1. Level of the Brain
This level examines the activity, structure, and properties of the brain itself, including brain cells, their connections, the chemical solutions in which they exist, and genes.
2. Level
Read MoreMental Disorders: Deinstitutionalization, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Deinstitutionalization and its Impact
Deinstitutionalization, a policy initiated in the 1960s, aimed to discharge patients from mental hospitals and reintegrate them into the community. However, this policy has resulted in many individuals with severe psychological disturbances becoming homeless or incarcerated. The primary concern with deinstitutionalization is the lack of adequate community resources in many areas to support these discharged patients. Essential needs like food and shelter may be
Read MoreBehaviorism: Concepts and Techniques
Behaviorism
How to Change Behavior
To accomplish tasks you need to do but don’t want to do, you can:
- Set goals
- Develop a plan
- Schedule time for each step
To break a habit, you can:
- Avoid certain situations
- Practice weaker forms of the habit
To conquer a symptom, you can tell yourself that the symptom is distressing but not health-threatening.
Skinner’s Radical Behaviorism
Skinner is a radical behaviorist because he believes that environmental stimuli, rather than internal psychological variables, determine
Read MoreAbnormal Psychology: Understanding and Treating Disorders
Defining and Explaining Abnormal Behavior
What is Abnormal Behavior?
Abnormal behavior is defined as behavior that is deviant (atypical), maladaptive (dysfunctional), or personally distressful.
Theoretical Perspectives on the Causes of Psychological Disorders
Several theoretical perspectives offer explanations for the causes of psychological disorders:
- Biological approaches: These approaches describe psychological disorders as diseases with origins in structural, biochemical, and genetic factors.
- Psychological