Social+Structure+and+Groups


 * Questions for this unit:**
 * What are the positive/negative functions of grouping?**
 * What makes people obey others?**
 * What is groupthink and what are potential positive/negative consequences of conformity and groupthink?**
 * To what extent do you have control over your own decisions?**
 * To what extent do you agree that society is becoming "McDonaldized"? What does this mean for your life?**

= Day 1 = **Do Now:** How do your friends impact your thoughts on controversial issues? Think of a time when you discussed something that can be looked at in different ways. If you agreed with your friend, how did it impact your personal beliefs? If you disagreed with your friend?

[|Example of conformity and group think from the Daily Show Interview with Cass Sunstein:]

//Explain more thoroughly about the groups that make up who you are. What is your status in that group? Which statuses are ascribed and which are achieved for you? Have you experienced role conflict or strain? Which groups memberships were you surprised to learn about in our class? Can you see how this lesson increases your sociological mindfulness of both yourself and our class? //

You have 40 minutes to review the sources below (and additional sources you must find on your own) to prepare for a socratic seminar the 2nd half of class) Questions we will discuss:  1. To what extent does being a member of a group impact individual behavior within the group?
 * Activity 1: Questions for the day:**

2. What makes people obey others?

3. What are potential positive/negative consequences of conformity and groupthink? What are the conditions that lead to groupthink and what are the symptoms?


 * Resources:**

1. [|Read this post on groups and conformity] As you read, answer the following:
 * To what extent does being a member of a group impact behavior within the group in this story?**
 * Why does the size of a group matter?**

2. Conformity (Asch's Line Test) media type="youtube" key="NyDDyT1lDhA" height="315" width="560"

3. Milgram's Experiment: media type="youtube" key="xOYLCy5PVgM" width="560" height="315"

Modern Application media type="youtube" key="ON6iZhMXmTc" height="315" width="560"

4.[|The Stanford Prison Experiment, Formal Organizations and Groupthink]

media type="custom" key="23822860"

5. Find other examples of group think and explain how they impact individuals. Can groupthink ever be good? Give an example. When can groupthink be dangerous? Are there ways to avoid group think?

6. **Obedience: What makes you obey certain people?** [|Article about restaurant employee who agreed to be strip searched over the phone!] How would a sociologist explain her compliance?

Civil Search and Seizure: Last Week Tonight: What makes this ok? Authority! media type="youtube" key="3kEpZWGgJks" width="560" height="315"

Watch[| A Class Divided]

1. What are the in-groups and out-groups in the film? 2. How are the ideas about who should be considered part of the in-group vs out-group spread? 3. What does this indicate about the nature of grouping and conformity? What should we be mindful of in the way we live in a society with groups and conformity? Discuss

** Answer: **What does Jane Elliot's experiment illustrate about the impact of prejudice on everyone? To what extent does prejudice come naturally? What can we do about prejudice?


 * Also, be sure to read through pp424-431 to learn about types of authority and how they get and maintain power. **


 * Homework: ** Read about groups in your textbook pp 170-196 and prepare for socratic seminar.

= Day 2: Socratic Seminar =

1. To what extent does being a member of a group impact individual behavior within the group? 2. What makes people obey others? 3. What are potential positive/negative consequences of conformity and groupthink? What are the conditions that lead to groupthink and what are the symptoms?
 * Exit Slip:** Before you leave, share your own response to **ONE of** the questions for the day for your next blogpost.

**Homework: Blogpost Due Next Class! Be sure to reference at least 2 readings/videos from class, and one source from your own research or experiences.**

If you're interested in the world of professional athletes, this is a 30 for 30 episode about why so many professional athletes end up broke. What aspects of their groupthink and conformity might play a role in their financial struggles? media type="youtube" key="TSOAwNSv8EM" width="560" height="315"

[|Also, Does domestic violence occur more for NFL players than anywhere else?]

[|Awesome article about the culture of violence in the NFL]: Why do we (ok, I still love football, I have to admit) still watch the NFL?

[|NFL Locker Room Culture]

=Next time: Deviance!=