Group Interactions
You work at FirmX and your supervisor has charged the team with analyzing group interactions from the perspective of different social sciences. You have been asked to work on a portion of the presentation that will discuss the ways in which psychology, sociology, and anthropology influence group dynamics by analyzing an issue from a group you belong to.
Deliverable(1):
Presentation (7–10 slides)
Helpful Resources:
1. Use this PPT Template
2. My Group Guide (Project Instructions > Supporting Materials > My Group Guide)
3. Key Concepts in Social Sciences (Project Instructions > Supporting Materials > Key Concepts in Social Sciences)
4. What is Anthropology? – gives an overview of anthropology and what anthropologists do.
5. Introduction to Sociology, Section 1.1: What Is Sociology? (Learning Resources > Social Sciences and Group Behavior Unit > Unit Resources: Psychological and Sociological Concepts > Reading: Introduction to Sociology, Section 1.1-1.4)
6. What is Psychology? – an article that defines psychology and gives an overview of its history and perspectives.
7. Image: Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology – a Venn Diagram image that shows how the three social sciences are similar and different.
1. Before you start, think about a specific group you’ve been a part of and the issues your group faced.
2. Organizing the Presentation:
a. Start by describing the group
b. Introduce the issue that the group experienced
c. Examine the issue from ALL 3 perspectives (psychology, sociology, anthropology)
3. A big part of this project is understanding the differences between Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology. Here are some very basic ways to differentiate between the 3 disciplines:
. Psychology – How an individual thinks, acts, makes decisions, etc.
i. A person choosing to take the elevator instead of the stairs
a. Sociology – How a group of people makes decisions and acts together
. People collectively face the door when riding in an elevator without discussing it
b. Anthropology – How culture and customs were created, why they are meaningful, and how they affect a group’s decisions and actions
. Examining how elevators came to be a common feature of all public buildings with more than one story, how this has created norms (like facing the door), and they allow access for persons with disabilities, etc.
