Page 156 - Essencials of Sociology

Groups within Society 129

When Kody Scott joined the L.A. Crips, his initiation had two parts. Here’s
the first: Learning

Objectives
“How old is you now anyway?”
“Eleven, but I’ll be twelve in November.” After you have read this chapter,
I never saw the blow to my head come from Huck. Bam! And I was on all fours. . . . you should be able to:
Kicked in the stomach, I was on my back counting stars in the blackness. A solid blow to
5.1 Discuss the main
my chest exploded pain on the blank screen that had now become my mind. Bam! Blows characteristics of
rained on me from every direction. . . . primary groups,
Then I just started swinging, with no style or finesse, just anger and the instinct to sur- secondary groups, in-
vive. . . . [This] reflected my ability to represent the set [gang] in hand-to-hand combat. The groups and out-groups,
blows stopped abruptly. . . . My ear was bleeding, and my neck and face were deep red. . . . reference groups, and
social networks. (p. 129)
Scott’s beating was followed immediately by the second part of his initiation. For this,
Summarize the
he received the name Monster, which he carried proudly: 5.2
characteristics of
“Give Kody the pump” [12-gauge pump action shot- bureaucracies, their
dysfunctions, and goal
“Bangin’. . . . It’s gettin’ gun] . . . “Tonight we gonna rock they world.” . . . Hand displacement; also
slaps were passed around the room. . . . “Kody, you got
caught and not tellin’. contrast ideal and real
eight shots, you don’t come back to the car unless they all bureaucracy. (p. 136)
Killin’ and not caring, are gone.”
and dyin’ without fear.” “Righteous,” I said, eager to show my worth. . . . 5.3 Discuss humanizing
the work setting, fads
Hanging close to buildings, houses, and bushes, we
in corporate culture,
made our way, one after the other, to within spitting
the “hidden” corporate
distance of the Bloods. . . . Huck and Fly stepped from the shadows simultaneously. . . . culture, and worker
Boom! Boom! Heavy bodies hitting the ground, confusion, yells of dismay, running. . . . diversity. (p. 142)
By my sixth shot I had advanced past the first fallen bodies and into the street in pursuit
Summarize major issues
of those who had sought refuge behind cars and trees. . . .
5.4
in the technological
Back in the shack we smoked more pot and drank more beer. . . . control of workers.
Tray Ball said, “You got potential, ‘cause you eager to learn. Bangin’ [being a gang Explain how global
member] ain’t no part-time thang, it’s full-time, it’s a career. . . . It’s gettin’ caught and competition is affecting
not tellin’. Killin’ and not caring, and dyin’ without fear. It’s love for your set and hate corporations. (p. 144)
for the enemy. You hear what I’m sayin’?”
5.5 Be familiar with the effects
of group size on stability,
Kody adds this insightful remark:
intimacy, attitudes, and
. . . The supreme sacrifice was to “take a bullet for a homie” [fellow gang member]. behavior; types and
Nothing held a light to the power of the set. If you died on the trigger you surely were smiled styles of leaders; the
Asch experiment on peer
upon by the Crip God.
pressure; the Milgram
Excerpts from Scott 1994:8–13, 103. experiment on authority;
and the implications of
Could you be like Kody and shoot strangers in cold blood—just because others tell groupthink. (p. 144)
you to pull the trigger? Although none of us want to think that we could, don’t bet on
it. In this chapter, you are going to read some surprising things about groups in this
chapter.
group people who have something
in common and who believe that
what they have in common is signifi-
cant; also called a social group
Groups within Society 5.1 Discuss the main

characteristics of primary groups,
Groups, people who think of themselves as belonging together and who interact with
secondary groups, in-groups and
one another, are the essence of life in society. Groups are vital for our well-being. They
out-groups, reference groups, and
provide intimate relationships and a sense of belonging, something that we all need. This
social networks.
chapter, then, is highly significant for your life.