3-2-16
Chapter 24
1. Are primary groups necessarily devoid of conflict? How does Cooley address this issue?
No, primary groups are not necessarily devoid of conflict. Considering the proximity of those in primary relationships, such as a parent's relationship to their child, there is often conflict. Cooley states that human nature is a trait of primary groups, and humans will always have traits such as affection, ambition, vanity, and resentment. Despite conflicts, family and neighborhood is essential to society and life. In short, no, primary groups are not necessarily devoid of conflict, but, conflict is not an unnatural hinder on primary relationships.
2. Why does Cooley employ the term primary in this analysis? What are the characteristics of the implied opposite of primary groups: “secondary groups”?
Cooley employs the term “primary” because the word primary can be defined as something of main importance. In this context, one's primary relationships should be their most important. One can assume that the oppose of a primary group, “a secondary group,” is a group consistent of people with a commonality, but do not necessarily have any relation. For example, a primary group could be a women’s support group, and a secondary group could be women in general. By this, I mean that the relationship between the women in the support group portray an intimate and close primary relationship, and they are all brought together because of the common factor of gender. The female population in general can be considered a secondary group because although all of those who identify as women have this in common, they don’t necessarily all know each other.
Chapter 26
1. Describe the way in which McDonaldization is evident in a number of familiar settings (not just workplace, but perhaps shopping malls and even the college campus.) What elements of the McDonaldization can you find?
At college campuses, McDonaldization can be seen more noticeably from outside of the cafeteria, and inside the curriculum. Colleges want to fast tack learning to make it as quick and efficient for them as possible. The goal of these McDonaldized universities is not to focus on the individual education and happiness of each of its students, but rather to pack them full with as much information as needed for them to get their degree.
2. In what way does a McDonaldized setting control not just workers but customers as well? Why do organizations want to control customers?
A McDonaldized setting controls not only it’s worker but it trains its customers to do work that will save the organization money. For example, at most grocery stores, the customer baggs their own groceries, eliminating the need for an employe to be doing the work. If there is no one there that needs to do the work, then there is no one there for the corporation to pay. Organizations want to control customers because it ultimately saves them money.
3. Why does McDonaldization seem to appeal to many people? Do you think this process is good for a society as a whole or harmful? Why?
McDonaldization is appealing to the people who would be profiting off of the structure. There are basically two tiers of this, the first being the organization owners, and the second being the punch-in-punch-out employes. The CEO’s and owners of these chain fast food restaurants make money by repetition and fast paced impersonal food delivery systems. With this model, these companies can grow, and with their growth, the need for employees will rise. The demand for employees that can perform basic tasks without the need for higher education appeals to those who need to make quick money but don’t have extensive schooling or talent. So, in total, the people who benefit most from the McDonaldization of business are the people profiting off of the product. I believe McDonaldization as a whole is more harmful to society than it is good. The McDonaldization of society is rooted in the working word, and by using the McDonaldization model, we have enriched the process that is speeding up its own growth. Ultimately, this increased need for product and the growing demand for employees causes alienation and the transformation of workers into “human robots.” People are computerized to do exactly what they have to do to get the work done in the most efficient and quickest way possible. While no class is immune to falling victim to the growing rate of human robots, it is mainly the lower class who is affected.
Chapter 24
1. Are primary groups necessarily devoid of conflict? How does Cooley address this issue?
No, primary groups are not necessarily devoid of conflict. Considering the proximity of those in primary relationships, such as a parent's relationship to their child, there is often conflict. Cooley states that human nature is a trait of primary groups, and humans will always have traits such as affection, ambition, vanity, and resentment. Despite conflicts, family and neighborhood is essential to society and life. In short, no, primary groups are not necessarily devoid of conflict, but, conflict is not an unnatural hinder on primary relationships.
2. Why does Cooley employ the term primary in this analysis? What are the characteristics of the implied opposite of primary groups: “secondary groups”?
Cooley employs the term “primary” because the word primary can be defined as something of main importance. In this context, one's primary relationships should be their most important. One can assume that the oppose of a primary group, “a secondary group,” is a group consistent of people with a commonality, but do not necessarily have any relation. For example, a primary group could be a women’s support group, and a secondary group could be women in general. By this, I mean that the relationship between the women in the support group portray an intimate and close primary relationship, and they are all brought together because of the common factor of gender. The female population in general can be considered a secondary group because although all of those who identify as women have this in common, they don’t necessarily all know each other.
Chapter 26
1. Describe the way in which McDonaldization is evident in a number of familiar settings (not just workplace, but perhaps shopping malls and even the college campus.) What elements of the McDonaldization can you find?
At college campuses, McDonaldization can be seen more noticeably from outside of the cafeteria, and inside the curriculum. Colleges want to fast tack learning to make it as quick and efficient for them as possible. The goal of these McDonaldized universities is not to focus on the individual education and happiness of each of its students, but rather to pack them full with as much information as needed for them to get their degree.
2. In what way does a McDonaldized setting control not just workers but customers as well? Why do organizations want to control customers?
A McDonaldized setting controls not only it’s worker but it trains its customers to do work that will save the organization money. For example, at most grocery stores, the customer baggs their own groceries, eliminating the need for an employe to be doing the work. If there is no one there that needs to do the work, then there is no one there for the corporation to pay. Organizations want to control customers because it ultimately saves them money.
3. Why does McDonaldization seem to appeal to many people? Do you think this process is good for a society as a whole or harmful? Why?
McDonaldization is appealing to the people who would be profiting off of the structure. There are basically two tiers of this, the first being the organization owners, and the second being the punch-in-punch-out employes. The CEO’s and owners of these chain fast food restaurants make money by repetition and fast paced impersonal food delivery systems. With this model, these companies can grow, and with their growth, the need for employees will rise. The demand for employees that can perform basic tasks without the need for higher education appeals to those who need to make quick money but don’t have extensive schooling or talent. So, in total, the people who benefit most from the McDonaldization of business are the people profiting off of the product. I believe McDonaldization as a whole is more harmful to society than it is good. The McDonaldization of society is rooted in the working word, and by using the McDonaldization model, we have enriched the process that is speeding up its own growth. Ultimately, this increased need for product and the growing demand for employees causes alienation and the transformation of workers into “human robots.” People are computerized to do exactly what they have to do to get the work done in the most efficient and quickest way possible. While no class is immune to falling victim to the growing rate of human robots, it is mainly the lower class who is affected.