Life in Groups

Primary groups are groups that we are closely associated with, such as family. It involves more face-to-face interaction, great cooperation, and deeper feelings of belonging. They are long-lasting.

 Secondary groups are larger groups whose relationships are formal and institutional, such as coworkers or teammates. They are usually organized around a specific activity or the accomplishment of a task.

A dyad is the smallest possible social group. It consists of only two members with only one relationship between them. It is fundamentally unstable because of its size. A married couple is one example of a dyad.

Anomie is feelings of normlessness. Some sociologists believe that anomie will result as the modern world becomes increasingly disconnected from their groups. We are becoming Simmel's definition of a 'stranger', which is physically close, but psychologically far away.

Traditional authority is authority based in custom, birthright, or divine right. It usually associated with monarchies and dynasties. The Queen of England is an example of traditional authority.

McDonaldization, term coined by Ritzer, describes the spread of bureaucratic rationalization and the accompanying increases in efficiency and dehumanization. Like the principles of the fast food industry, principles of predictability, calculability, efficiency, and control through non-human technology are coming to dominate social life.