Sociology and Medicolegal Aspects of Nursing

INTRODUCTION SOCIAL INTERACTION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lecture, the students will be able to:

1.       Definition social interaction and social structure.

2.       Describe the Elements of Social Structure

3.       State the characteristics of groups

4.       Discuss the leadership style

5.       Explain the group dynamic

6.       Explain group interaction

 7.1. DEFINITION 

These interpretations are based on the individuals’ socialization. Meanings given to the actions and situations affect the outcome of the social situation.

    

7.2. ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE.

There are five elements of social structures we can examine in predictable social relationships. The elements involved the statuses, social roles, Groups, Social networks, social institutions. These elements of social structure are developed through the lifelong process of socialization.

Statuses - refer to any of the full range of socially defined positions within a large group or society, from the lowest to the highest where about a person can have many statuses at the same time. As for example - President of Malaysia, fruit picker, son, daughter

Status has two types:

a. Ascribed status – assigned to a person by society without regard for the person’s unique talents or characteristics or as assignment takes place at birth

As for example - race, ethnicity, gender, age

b. Achieve status – comes to us through our own efforts

As for example - bank manager, lawyer, doctor, nurse, convict, pianist, student

Each person in a society occupies many positions each of which involves distinct statuses.

Social Roles – a set of expectations for people who occupy a given social position or status.

 As for example - roles of a nurse, driver, secretary

•       Role conflict – ex: Mother and teacher to her son; male nurse to a female patient

•       Role strain: difficulty arising from conflicting demands and expectations

•       Role exit: exiting from a role to assume new role

As for example - adolescent changing into mature ways

7.3. CHARACTERISTIC OF GROUPS

a. Groups - any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact with one another on a regular basis.

As for example- ex: basketball team, offices, church, mosques, symphony orchestra, church choir

Each society is composed of many groups in which daily social interaction takes place.

Subsequently the groups play a vital part in society’s social structure and  much of our interaction takes place within  groups and is influenced by their norms and sanctions that serve as  links to social networks 

b. Social Networks and Technology are series of social relationships that links a person directly to others and through them indirectly link       to still more people while Social Institutions are organized patterns of beliefs and behavior centered on basic social needs.

                In other words, social interaction is the foundation of society and without interaction there would be no group life. As for instance, interaction is the major processes for the socialization of an individual from birth to death, which exists in every culture.

There are different forms of social interacts Its either between individual and individual, between individual and group/s, between individual and culture last but noy least between group/s and group/s

The example between individual and individual – nurses and patients or shopkeeper and customers buying the goods or teacher coaching a student. The example of an  individual and group/s are the teachers and group of students, a performer and the audiences, a girl with her peers group. Example of individual and cultures that involve customers are the common practice where there is no definite binding laws which being used daily in the social life.

Other example of social interaction that involved the individual and cultures are the traditions that emphasized a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family,               society, etc., for a long time. The handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction

Group characteristics indicated that everyone participates in a social group. It compromises 2 or more people who are of common experiences and interest. Members share the same needs and goals, take each other into account in their life.

Likewise, the group are divided into two types that is the primary and the secondary group.

c. Primary group is just small group and the relationship are both personal and enduring; face to face association and cooperation They are always having strong and lasting personal loyalties due to close relationship. They always display genuine concern for each other’s welfare.

As for example - street gang, family members, sorority

d. Secondary groups is define as a typically large and interpersonal social group based on some special interest or activity which involves little personal knowledge and have weak emotional ties. The relationship is short term whereabout the member have little chance to develop deep concerns for one another’s welfare

7.4. LEADERSHIP STYLES. 

https://pressbooks.howardcc.edu/soci101/chapter/5-3-social-interaction-in-everyday-life/

Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent” “A process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal” Northouse (2013). As a leader you can never say thank you enough, but even more important is the idea of serving the people you are leading.

The attributes of leadership Respected leaders concentrate on Be, Know, and Do as indicate by U.S. Army, 1983. They emphasized on belief and character of people around them, the knowing of the job, tasks and human nature and how the tasks being implemented, ways motivating and providing the correct methods of doing.

 In our organization in order to be proficient leading the staff working in her team, she must understand the four factors of leadership. She must have the follower, being a good leader, able to communicate professionally and overseeing situation around.A leader  must know her strength and weakness of herself with  good knowledge and skills. Understand the human nature on how to treat human needs, emotions, and how people respond to stress. Able to be a good trainer and know who are the people in the organization that can give  a helping hands  to run smooth the organization. Ever ready to give support to staffs by providing direction. 

a. STYLE THEORY 

Style theory looks into the behavior of the leader. Leadership styles enable the leaders to look  into the behavioral pattern determines the type of leader, rather than the personal characteristics of the leader which sometimes  describes leaders as Autocratic (authoritarian, Democratic (participative), Bureaucratic or Laissez faire 

Autocratic leadership (Authoritarian) 

                This styles the leader uses authority over the subordinates, Leaders normally does not trust the employees and always rely on threats and punishment which lead to high absenteeism and turnover of staff. They behave like dictators, have one way communication and employees become stressful

The situations where Autocratic leadership is needed In emergency, when employees do not know their work and need to be directed, time is limited/quick decision needed, need to produce high volumes on daily basis and when the organization poorly managed previously

The situations when Autocratic leadership is not used is when workers are tensed, fearful and angry, workers want to be heard, when there is low morale, high absenteeism and high turnovers and workers become too dependent on the leader to make all the decisions

 Democratic Leadership 

        In this democratic leadership styles, leader work together with the subordinates and makes collective decisions/turnover less. Normally the subordinates have chance to voice out their opinions, however the manager makes the final decisions. Leader keeps workers informed of issues affecting their work and workers encourage to develop and get promoted/set their own goals

                Democratic Leadership styles is applicable to workers who are knowledgeable and when leaders want to share decision making and problem solving with workers. This is the most common and popular style which encourage team building and full participation of the workers. But Democratic Leadership cannot be use if time is a constraint and decisions are needed

Urgently. This happen when workers are not fully informed about all the information in decision making thus the decision must be made by the leader him/herself.

https://pressbooks.howardcc.edu/soci101/chapter/5-3-social-interaction-in-everyday-life/

 Bureaucratic Leadership 

                This style is when the leader does everything according to the procedures and policy. Enforcement of the rules are laid down by the leaders himself. If the leader is unable to find an answer in the rule, he will refer the problem to higher authorities

Bureaucratic Leadership style can be applied when workers doing routine tasks repeatedly or when required to understand certain standards and procedures , example working with dangerous chemicals and delicate equipment that being exposed to safety and security training or handling  cash

                This styles cannot be applied certain situation such as when the worker does what is required and nothing more or when the  worker losses interest in the job and fellow workers and also when there are work habits that are hard to break and no longer useful

 Laissez Faire Leadership 

                Last but not least these styles the Leader does not provide and direction to the workers and gives them absolute freedom. There is lack of leadership, and every worker is free to do as they please. Normally the leader really does not care, does not make decisions, and basically not interested in the work. The leader given the authority to workers to decide and set goals

                For this Laissez Faire Leadership style it can be utilized when workers are educated, highly skilled and have several years of experience in the job, motivated and takes pride also trustworthy and has integrity in the job. But this style is not to be used when workers feel insecure specifically leader cannot provide any form of feedback and does not understand his responsibilities and hopes that the employee can cover him. Depending on the situation, the leader chooses the style. It can either be “Democratic style:if nurses in a certain ward are very committed and know their job well or bureaucratic or authoritarian Style if the nurses are new, unclear of their roles and functions

7.5  GROUP DYNAMIC

                Group dynamic is relevant to the fields of psychology, sociology and communication studies as the groups are connected to each other by social relationship. It is defined as the social process by which people interact in a group environment. The forces that result from the interaction of group members.

 a. PURPOSES OF GROUP DYNAMIC

                To identify and analysis the social processes that impact on group development and performance. To acquire the skills necessary to improve individual and group performance. To build more successful organizations.

b. TYPES OF GROUPS DYNAMICARE:

                It can be formal structure to perform specific tasks. There are two types – firstly the

Cross-functional teams which composed of members from different departments and secondly Cross-cultural teams which composed of members from different cultures or countries

 c. TYPES OF GROUP AND TEAMS 

                The top management team is a group composed of the CEO, the president, and the heads of the most important departments.’ The research and development team are those members whose expertise and experience needed to develop new products. As for the common groups usually composed of subordinates who report to the supervisor, also called a department or unit. A committee of managers or nonmanagerial employees from various department or  task forces as the name called meet to solve a specific mutual problems or also called an “ad hoc” committee.

 The Self-Managed Work Teams give the team enough responsibility and autonomy to be self-managing. The team’s task should be complex enough to include many different steps.Select members carefully for their diversity, skills, and enthusiasm. Managers should guide and coach, not supervise.  Determine training needs and be sure it is provided

  Virtual Teams are team whose members rarely meet  face-to-face. Interact by using various forms of information technology. Email, computer networks, telephone, fax, and videoconferences.

But the Friendship Groups are an informal group composed of employees who enjoy one another’s company and socialize with one another. Cases of Interest Groups indicated that an informal group of employees seeking to achieve a common goal related to their membership in an organization.            

 The group sizes having advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of small groups are the group Interact more with each other and easier to coordinate their efforts. They are more motivated, satisfied, and committed and easier to share information. Better able to see the importance of their personal contributions

Advantages of large groups are more resources at their disposal to achieve group goals. Disadvantages of large groups are the problem of communication and coordination Lower level of motivation. Members might not think their efforts are really needed. Group tasks impact how a group interacts. Task interdependence shows how the work of one member impacts another; as interdependence rises, members must work more closely together.

The Stages of Group Development consists of:

Forming -Group members get to know each other and reach common goals.

Storming-Group members disagree on direction and leadership.  Managers need to be sure the conflict stays focused.

Norming-Close ties and consensus begin to develop between group members.

Performing -The group begins to do its real work.

Adjourning -Only for task forces that are temporary. Note that these steps take time!

 7.6.GROUP DYNAMICS: INDEPENDENCE

  Pooled in which members make separate, independent contributions to group such that group performance is the sum of each member’s contributions. And Sequential is when members perform tasks in a sequential order making it difficult to determine individual performance since one member depends on another. In case of Reciprocal work was performed by one group member is mutually dependent on work done by other members.

 Inevitably the Group Roles are the set of behaviours and tasks that a group member is expected to perform because of his or her position in the group. In cross-functional teams, members are expected to perform roles in their specialty. Managers should clearly describe expected roles to group members when they are assigned to the group. Role-making occurs as workers take on more responsibility in their roles as group members.