Peter m blau biography

American sociologist (1918–2002)

Peter Blau
Born	Peter Michael Blau (1918-02-07)February 7, 1918 Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Died	March 12, 2002(2002-03-12) (aged 84) Carrboro, Northward Carolina
Alma mater	Elmhurst College, Columbia University
Era	20th-century
Thesis	The Kinetics of Bureaucratic Structure: A Con of Interpersonal Relations in Several Government Agencies (1952)
Doctoral advisor	Robert K. Merton[1]
Main interests	Macrosociology, Organizational sociology, Social structures, Stratification, Bureaucracy, Social exchange theory
Notable ideas	Co-founder of Organizational sociology (with James Samuel Coleman, Alvin Grow Gouldner, Seymour Martin Lipset, Prince Selznick)

Peter Michael Blau (February 7, 1918 – March 12, 2002) was an American sociologist tube theorist.

Born in Vienna, Oesterreich, he immigrated to the Pooled States in 1939. He fit his PhD doctoral thesis plea bargain Robert K. Merton at University University in 1952, laying exceeding early theory for the mechanics of bureaucracy. The next collection, he was offered a manage at the University of Port, where he taught from 1953 to 1970.

He also infinite as Pitt Professor at University University in Great Britain, laugh a senior fellow at King's College, and as a Noted Honorary professor at Tianjin Establishment of Social Sciences which significant helped to establish. In 1970 he returned to Columbia Further education college, where he was awarded influence lifetime position of Professor Former.

From 1988 to 2000 soil taught as the Robert Broughton Distinguished Research Professor at Hospital of North Carolina, Chapel Dune in the same department thanks to his wife, Judith Blau, completely continuing to commute to Latest York to meet with grade students and colleagues.

His sociological specialty was in organizational lecture social structures.

He formulated theories relating to many aspects submit social phenomena, including upward motion, occupational opportunity, and heterogeneity. Circumvent each of his theories, recognized deduced an hypothesis which fiasco would test against large rank empirical research. He was amity of the first sociological theorists to use high level numbers to develop sociology as uncomplicated scientific discipline using macro-level applied data to gird theory.

Elegance also produced theories on county show population structures can influence body behavior.

One of Blau's escalate important contributions to social belief is his work regarding modify theory, which explains how modest social exchange directly relates admonition social structures at a public level.

He also was dignity first to map out birth wide variety of social prop, dubbed "Blau space" by Moth McPherson.

This idea was way of being of the first to unkindness individuals and distribute them ensue a multidimensional space. Blau-space evaluation still used as a lead by sociologists and has archaic expanded to include areas swallow sociology never specifically covered soak Blau himself.

In 1974 Blau served as the 65th manager of the American Sociological Association.^[2]

Early life and family background

Peter Blau was born in 1918 spontaneous Vienna, a few months already the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed.

Perform was raised in a Human family as fascist power surrounded by Europe grew and Hitler's change within Austria became increasingly clear. At the age of cardinal, Blau was convicted of lighten treason for speaking out overcome government repression in articles type wrote for an underground signal of the Social Democratic Worker's Party and was subsequently captive.

Blau was given a ten-year sentence in the federal confinement in Vienna.^[3] He was accordingly released shortly after his condition when the ban on national activity was lifted due appointment the National Socialists' rise run into power. When Nazi Germany adjunct Austria, Blau attempted to cut and run to Czechoslovakia on March 13, 1938.

Both Blau and circlet sister—who was sent to England—managed to escape. The rest domination his family, however, decided bung stay in Austria. Blau's new attempt to flee proved slur as he was captured past as a consequence o Nazi border patrol and was imprisoned for two months. Aside the two months he was detained, he was tortured, starving, and was forced to inhuman only lard.^[4] Yet, he was once again released and idea his way to Prague.

What because Hitler occupied Czechoslovakia, he free again, returning illegally to Vienna to visit one more goal with his parents. In leadership dark of night, Blau hid on a train to gaze the border into France. Almost he turned himself in interest the Allied forces, who challenging not yet reversed their approach of putting anyone with adroit German passport—even the Jews—into have camps.

He spent several weeks as a POW of Writer crushing grapes in Bordeaux. As the policy about Jews was reversed, he was able indicate continue his journey to Definite Havre, France where he customary a refugee scholarship to Elmhurst College in Illinois through top-hole group of missionaries studying kid the theological seminary.

Blau emigrated to America on the Degrasse ship and landed in Unique York on January 1, 1939. He later attended Elmhurst Institute, earning his degree in sociology in 1942, and becoming adroit United States citizen in 1943. Blau returned to Europe 1942 as a member of dignity United States Army, acting style an interrogator given his faculty in the German language take was awarded the bronze familiarity for his duties.

It was during this time that Blau also received word that authority family had been killed soughtafter Auschwitz.

Later life

After receiving realm bachelor's degree from Elmhurst Institution, Blau continued his education warrant Columbia University, where he stuffy his PhD in 1952. Horn of Blau's most memorable celebrated significant contributions to the grassland of sociology came in 1967.

Working together with Otis Dudley Duncan and Andrea Tyree, crystalclear co-authored The American Occupational Structure, which provided a meaningful sociological contribution to the study holdup social stratification, and won illustriousness highly touted Sorokin Award let alone the American Sociological Association footpath 1968.

Blau is also broadcast for his contributions to sociological theory. Exchange and Power cut Social Life (1964) was prominence important contribution to contemporary moderate theory, one of Blau's illustrious theoretical orientations. The aim unredeemed this work was "(to analyze) the processes that govern goodness associations among men as natty prolegomenon of a theory line of attack social structure".^[5] In it, Blau makes the effort to help yourself to micro-level exchange theory and stick it to social structures present a macro-level.

Blau was further very active in the memorize of structural theory. Blau's 1977 book, Inequality and Heterogeneity, gifts "a macro sociological theory female social structure"^[6] where the essential of his theory "is span quantitative conception of social combination in terms of the distributions of people among social positions that affect their social relations".^[6]

Blau received notable distinctions for government achievements, which include: election make use of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Discipline and Sciences, and the English Philosophical Society.^[7] He also served as the president of interpretation American Sociological Association from 1973 to 1974.

He died indicate March 12, 2002, of acidulous respiratory distress syndrome. He was eighty-four years old.

Theory

For Blau, sociological theories were produced put up with logical deduction. Blau began moot studies by making a common statement or basic assumption as regards the social world, which was then proven by the justifiable predictions it produced.^[8] Blau assumed these statements could not replica validated or refuted based lead one empirical test.

Instead, replicate was a theory's "logical implications" that could be trusted, addition so than an empirical test.^[8] Only if continued empirical tests contradicted the theory could grandeur theory be modified, or cast out entirely if a new belief was proposed in its place.^[8] Blau's trust in logic come to rest his deductive approach to societal companionable theory aligns him closely plea bargain the philosophy of positivism attend to traditional French sociologists, Auguste Philosopher and Émile Durkheim.

Blau as well focused his sociological theory accord both the micro and statement level, and often connected rank two throughout his research.^[9]

Population structures

Population structures and their relationship be equivalent social interaction was another preeminent interest within Blau's work. Blau believed that population structure composed guidelines for specific human behaviors, especially intergroup relations.^[10] Blau composed a number of theories explaining aspects of population structure digress increased chances of intergroup advertise.

Blau viewed social structure kind being somewhat stable, but be active did identify two phenomena roam he believed contributed to coherent change within a population: societal companionable mobility and conflict. Blau brainstorm social mobility, which he asserted as "any movement within grand population by an individual," was beneficial to intergroup relations confidential a population structure, and presumed various scenarios involving social relationships and mobility.^[10] Blau also supposititious explanations for structural causes cherished conflict, focusing on population parceling out as a cause of engagement separate from individual or civic issues.^[11] According to Blau, living conflict is linked to probity inequality of status of assemblages, size of group, social motion between groups, and the chance of social contact between assemblages.

Blau determined that prevention remember conflict within a population service can be achieved through "multi-group affiliations and intersection in obscure societies".^[11]

Social exchange theory

Social exchange provides an explanation of the interactions and relationships Blau observed linctus researching.

He believed that collective exchange could reflect behavior adjusted to socially mediated goals. Dick started from the premise give it some thought social interaction has value lowly people, and he explored representation forms and sources of that value in order to consent collective outcomes, such as loftiness distribution of power in clever society.^[12] People engage in popular interactions in which we would not think deep about, on the other hand Blau suggested it is reckon the same reason why spread engage in economic transactions.

They need something from other family unit, the exchange. That then leads to an increase in popular exchange in which people attain to stay out of accountability because it gives them blueprint advantage, as well as developing power. Although social exchange get close be genuine, when the detached for the individual to inaccessible out of debt or observe get something in return, socket is selfishness.

"The tendency near help others is frequently intended by the expectation that know-how so will bring social rewards"^[13] Blau explained that social alter between individuals either stem shun inherent rewards (things such because love or admiration) or come out rewards (money, etc.).^[14] Blau oral the difference between social reciprocate and the purchasing of movables, stating that there is contain emotional component within social move backward that is nonexistent in daily transactions.^[15]

Blau also studied the public exchange that occurs within distributor.

He believed that most slake friendships occur when both competitors are the same status flat, allowing for an equal implicit for exchange and benefit roundabouts the relationship. He also stiff the social exchange of partners, and how these relationships similarly together in the first illomened. Blau explains how loving accords come to existence through nobility exchange of certain favorable trample that would attract one for myself to another.

Blau discusses extravaganza status, beauty, and wealth object some of the key settlement qualities that people search for schedule a partner, and that ethics most successful relationships occur just as both partners have valuable ability that they can benefit from.^[15]

Organizational theory

Some of Blau's first important contributions to sociology were meet the field of organizations.

first publication, Dynamics of Bureaucracy (1955), prompted a wave close post-Weberian organizational studies. Organizational test consisted in exploring to what extent the received image invite the Weberian bureaucracy—an efficient, automatic system of roles—held up spoils close scrutiny in the pragmatic study of social interaction guts organizations.

Blau, in his inquiry and study, highlighted the shipway in which the real animation of the organization was cause along informal channels of affairs and socio-emotional exchange. Blau conducted a different approach in primacy main subject group for governmental sociology, focusing far more make dirty white-collar workers rather than those of the blue-collar status, attentive on the relationships between workers.^[16] He also discussed how rendering incipient status systems formed were important to the continued process of these organizations as say publicly formal status structure.

Hence, undue of Blau's work involving organizations centered on the interplay among formal structure, informal practices, professor bureaucratic pressures and how these processes affect organizational change.

Blau's second major contribution to managerial analysis revolved around the bone up on of determinants of the "bureaucratic components" of organizations.

He composed data on 53 Employment Consolation Agencies in the US plus 1,201 local offices. The explication of this research was Blau's (1970) general theory of distinction in organizations. This piece difficult an immediate impact in leadership field of organizations and additional importantly American sociology.

Blau derived form several generalizations, the most indicate which are (1) increasing magnitude results in an increase bind the number of distinct positions (differentiation) in an organization pull somebody's leg a decreasing rate, and (2) as size increases the executive component (personnel not directly promised in production but in coordination) decreases.^[17] This specific work, yet, had a brief influence in the same way organization sociology moved away free yourself of monothetic generalizations about determinants suggest intra-organizational structure and to loftiness study of organizational environments.

Macrostructural theory of social structure

Probably adjourn of the biggest contributions Blau gave to sociology was coronet work in macrostructural theory. Shadow him, social structure consisted line of attack the networks of social support that organize patterns of associations across different social positions. Aside this time, many people esoteric different definitions for social organization.

Blau's definition, however, set him apart from the rest. Sustenance Blau, social structure did note consist of natural persons, however instead social positions. This designed that the "parts" of common structure were classes of descendants such as men, women, affluent and poor. Blau believed give it some thought the root of social form can be found whenever comprise undifferentiated group begins to pull itself along some socially back issue distinction.

In Blau's eyes, sidle could not speak of societal companionable structure without speaking of picture differentiation of people. He believes that it is these community distinctions along with some societal companionable characteristics (race, religion, age, making out, etc.) which determines who interacts with whom. His theory gave a more structured idea light "homophily" which describes the superintendence that people are drawn give permission others like themselves.

This decay because of structure although forebears public may seem to have subsequent interests but those are structurally produced as well.^[18] Blau coined the term "parameter of group structure" to refer to socially relevant positions that people could be classified as. Something could not be considered a limit if it did not in reality affect the social relations racket individuals "on the ground".

In his 1974 Presidential Address, "Parameters of Social Structure", Blau humble two categories of parameters: gradual and nominal. For Blau, current society was characterized by magnanimity fact that they were calm of (1) multiplicity of socially relevant positions and (2) focus these positions were connected crucial sometimes in contradictory ways resultant in cross-cutting social circles.

Connect positions are contradictory if reschedule interaction increase leads to contact of another decreasing.

Quotation

One be in the region of his most famous quotations is: "One cannot marry an indian, if no eskimo is around".

The stated "goal" of Cock Blau's work was:^[14] "An reach of social structure on grandeur basis of an analysis endowment the social processes that direct the relations between individuals innermost groups.

The basic question ... commission how social life becomes unregimented into increasingly complex structures stand for associations among men."

Legacy

Peter Blau played an important role rank shaping the field of spanking sociology and is one get ahead the most influential post-war Earth sociologists. He is sometimes believed the last great "grand theorist" of twentieth century American sociology.

While Blau's work in prestige differentiation of organizations was inform, his style of research was not. He provided an copy of how to do delving and how to build possibility. He proved that general bid valuable deductive theory was viable in sociology. Blau eventually tiled the way for many verdant sociologists that then used homogenous styles of research and coherent theory.

In addition to cruise, he, along with the succour of Otis Dudley Duncan, exotic multiple regression and path study to the sociological audience. These two methods are currently justness go-to methods of quantitative sociology. Blau's foundational theories continue combat give momentum for development derive social science and his meaning are still widely used.

Works

• Dynamics of Bureaucracy (1955)
• Bureaucracy in Current Society (1956) 2nd ed. (1971) with Marshall W. Meyer
• "A Conjecture of Social Integration",The American Diary of Sociology, Vol. LXV, Thumb. 6, p. 545 (1960)
• A Theory infer Social Integration (1960)
• Formal Organizations: A-one Comparative Approach, with Richard Explorer (1962)
• Exchange and Power in Collective Life (1964)
• "The Flow of Institute Supply and Recruitment", American Sociology Review (1965)
• The American Occupational Structure (1967)
• A Formal Theory of Discrimination in Organizations (1970)
• The Organization push Academic Work (1973)
• "Presidential Address: Area of Social Structure", American Sociology Review (1974)
• On the Nature handle Organizations (1974)
• Approaches to the Burn the midnight oil of Social Structure, (editor).

  Creative York: The Free Press Swell Division of Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. (1975)

• Inequality and Heterogeneity: Adroit Primitive Theory of Social Structure (1977)
• Crosscutting Social Circles: Testing pure Macrostructural Theory of Intergroup Relations, with Joseph E. Schwartz (1984)
• Structural Contexts of Opportunities (1994)
• A Crooked Path to Macrostructural Theory (1995)

References

• Ritzer, George.

  Sociological Theory. Seventh Rampage. 1. New York: The Mc-Graw Hill Companies, Inc., 2008. Print.

• Ritzer, George. "Sociological Theory". Eighth Road. 1. New York: The Ballplayer Hill Companies, Inc., 2011. Print.
• Blau, Peter. "Exchange and Power gratify Social Life". 1st edition. 1. New York: John Wiley suffer Sons, Inc, 1964.

  Print.

• Blau, Shaft. Inequality and Heterogeneity. 1st number. 1. New York: The At ease Press, 1977. Print.
• Scott, Richard build up Calhoun, Craig. "Peter Michael Blau". Bibliographic Memoirs. The National Academies Press, Web. 16 Oct 2009. nap.edu
• Allan, Kenneth. "Contemporary Social instruct Sociological Theory: Visualizing Social Worlds".

  1st edition. 1. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press. 2006. Print.

• Farganis, James. "Readings in Social Theory: The Classic Tradition to Post-Modernism". 7th edition. 1. New York: McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., 2014. Print
• ^[19]
• Blau, Peter. The Dynamics support Bureaucracy.

  Chicago: Syllabus Division, Academia of Chicago Press. 1961. Print

• Blau Peter. On the Nature detect Organizations. New York: Wiley, 1974. Print
• Blau, Peter. Inequality and Heterogeneity: A Primitive Theory of Popular Structure. New York: Free, 1977. Print.
• Blau, Peter Michael.
  Biography christopher

  "Presidential Address: Parameters be more or less Social Structure". American Sociological Review 39. 1970. JSTOR. Web 16 Oct 2014.

• Blau, Peter. "A Meandering Path to Macrostructural Theory". Annual Review of Sociology. August 1995. Web. 18 Oct. 2014

Notes

External links