OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology
MSC: Understanding
5. Howard Becker said that sociology can best be understood as the study of people “doing things together.” This definition reminds us that: a. neither society nor the individual exists in isolation; each is dependent on the other. b. sociology is only interested in the way people act, not in the way they think. c. only large-scale interactions that involve many people can be understood by sociologists. d. individuals exist independently of society and can be understood without considering social influence. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 9
OBJ: What Is Sociology?
6. Sociology can be approached from both a microsociological and a macrosociological perspective. Which is more useful? a. The macrosociological perspective is more useful, because it explains how large-scale social institutions influence individuals. b. The microsociological perspective is more useful, because it explains how individuals shape and create large-scale social institutions. c. Both are useful in different ways, because any study that uses only one or the other will be unable to explain anything useful about society. d. Both are useful in different ways, because they each provide different types of information about the same object of study. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 14–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Applying 7. Which of the following statements best characterizes microsociology? a. It is an approach that examines interactions between individuals and the ways those interactions reflect larger patterns within a society. b. It is an approach that examines institutional interactions that occur over time. c. It is an approach that quantifies data about social structures so that they can be analyzed statistically. d. It is an approach that focuses exclusively on gender and power as they are enacted socially. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 14 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology
MSC: Remembering
8. Researcher Pam Fishman studied the conversations of heterosexual couples to determine how power is created and maintained through face-to-face interactions on an everyday basis. How would you describe her approach? a. Macrosociological c. Microsociological b. Historical d. Comparative ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 15–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Applying 9. Sociologists assert that there is a close relationship between the individual and society. How does Pam Fishman’s research on gender and power in heterosexual couples characterize this relationship? a. Fishman’s data shows how macro-level phenomena like gender and power manifest themselves in everyday interactions. b. It doesn’t—Fishman’s data only shows how individuals act. c. Fishman’s data shows that micro-level phenomena have almost no relationship to
macro-level phenomena; they seem to be largely independent of each other. d. Fishman’s research shows that there is no relationship between the individual and society. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology
MSC: Applying
10. Which of the following statements best describes the approach taken by macrosociologists? a. Macrosociology concentrates on the way large social institutions are created through individual interactions. b. Macrosociology examines large-scale social structure to see how it affects individual lives. c. Macrosociology focuses on creating beginner’s mind—in contrast to microsociology, which uses expert’s mind. d. Unlike microsociology, macrosociology focuses on creating scientific knowledge of the world, rather than practical knowledge. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology
MSC: Understanding
11. Researcher Christine Williams looked at patterns of occupational sex segregation, examining the ways large-scale social structures create the constraints within which individuals live their lives. Her work would be characterized as what kind of sociology? a. Microsociology c. Comparative-historical sociology b. Transnational sociology d. Macrosociology ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology
MSC: Applying
12. Macrosociology and microsociology approach the study of society from different perspectives. How does sociology, as a discipline, deal with these two very different approaches? a. Most sociologists are macrosociologists; microsociologists are only a small minority. b. Most sociologists think of these two perspectives as being on a continuum with each other, adopting whichever perspective seems most useful for a particular problem. c. Although the field is fairly evenly split between these two perspectives, almost all sociologists feel strongly that their perspective is the correct one. d. Microsociology used to dominate the field, but more recently macrosociology has become the dominant perspective. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 14–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Analyzing 13. Regardless of their various approaches to social phenomena, what are all sociologists trying to do? a. Illuminate the connection between the individual and society b. Explain why poverty and inequality still exist c. Compare the present with the past d. Understand how our society is different from other cultures and other times ANS: A DIF: Difficult Perspective MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 10–13 OBJ: The Sociological
14. According to C. Wright Mills, what one quality of mind do all great sociologists possess? a. Stoicism c. Biographical imagination b. Sociological imagination d. Attention to detail ANS: B Perspective
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological
MSC: Applying 15. What is the sociological imagination? a. A property of society that ensures that people remain ignorant of the connections between their lives and social change b. A particular way of understanding the criminal mind, such as that of a serial killer c. The ability to understand the connections between biography and history, or the interplay of the self and the world d. The sociological approach that assumes that individual decisions and interactions are independent of larger social institutions ANS: C DIF: Moderate Perspective MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological
16. Why did C. Wright Mills think that it is important for everyone, even people who will never take a sociology class, to develop a sociological imagination? a. It will help generate more jobs for sociologists. b. Many people remain unaware of the intricate connections between the patterns of their own lives and the larger course of history. c. The sociological perspective is innately understood by nearly everyone, but we rarely acknowledge it. d. It will encourage growth in the field of microsociology. ANS: B Perspective MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological
17. Why would culture shock be a useful state of mind for a sociologist? a. It makes us unable to function even in simple, everyday ways. b. It requires us to travel, which helps us grow as human beings. c. Shock is always good for thinking, because it sharpens the mind. d. It makes us realize that we lack an understanding of our surroundings, so we are truly able to perceive what is right in front of us. ANS: D DIF: Easy Perspective MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 11–13 OBJ: The Sociological
18. In order to verify what the everyday actor might just accept or assume to be true, the social analyst must take the perspective of: a. the social worker c. the stranger b. the native d. the insider ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Practical vs. Scientific Knowledge
REF: Page 9 MSC: Remembering
19. Taking the sociological approach to everyday life has strengths and weaknesses. One of the weaknesses of this approach is that it: a. accepts many things as true that it cannot verify or confirm. b. labors to grasp things that everyday actors understand implicitly. c. is a practical approach, rather than a scientific approach. d. requires you to act like a local even when you really feel like an outsider. ANS: B
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 9
OBJ: Practical vs. Scientific Knowledge
MSC: Understanding
20. When it comes to understanding everyday life, one of the weaknesses of being an everyday actor is that you: a. are forced to see everything from the perspective of a stranger. b. must labor to grasp even simple, common occurrences. c. can only see things from a historical perspective. d. make assumptions and gloss over many things that the social analyst strives to understand systematically. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Practical vs. Scientific Knowledge
REF: Page 9 MSC: Understanding
21. Many everyday cultural practices—such as greeting a friend, giving someone flowers, or using the thumbs-up sign—seem like natural ways of acting. Why does having an awareness of how these practices vary across cultures demonstrate a healthy sociological imagination? a. It reminds us that everyday interactions are connected to larger social structures. b. It helps us economically when we do business in different countries. c. It lets us understand how immigrants perceive America when they move here. d. It shows us that cultures are not as different as we sometimes think they are. ANS: A DIF: Moderate Perspective MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological
22. Together and in groups, people organize their lives and their social interactions to produce a real and meaningful world. Sociologists can study this because: a. they are interested in all aspects of human psychology. b. we organize our lives in patterned ways. c. sociology understands the importance of human psychology. d. we often assign characteristics to an entire group of people based on experience with a single member of that group. ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 9
OBJ: What Is Sociology?
23. Why are there disagreements among sociologists about how to define sociology? a. Society is always changing. b. Sociologists are trained to be anti-empiricists. c. There is actually very little disagreement among sociologists about how to define the discipline. d. Sociology encompasses a large intellectual territory of potential subject matters. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 9–10
OBJ: What Is Sociology?
24. Metaphorically, what part of sociology is a zoom lens on a camera most like? a. Qualitative research c. Quantitative research b. Microsociology d. Macrosociology ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 14 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology
MSC: Applying
25. Researcher Pam Fishman noticed that within heterosexual couples, women are more likely than men to use questions in conversation. Why is this finding sociologically important?
a. Questions are more likely to be used by the partner with less power, so Fishman’s research demonstrates connections between general social structures and individual behaviors. b. Conversational styles are inherent, so Fishman’s research shows a biological basis for larger social structures. c. It demonstrates the importance of conversation in maintaining a healthy relationship. d. It shows that individuals have no real free will or agency and are controlled by the dictates of social structure. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 15–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Analyzing 26. The reality television show Wife Swap exchanges the matriarchs from two very different families and films the result as the participants are exposed to radically different ways of life. Although the television network is simply trying to be entertaining, the show also demonstrates the sociological principle of: a. Sociological imagination c. Quantitative methods b. Globalization d. Culture shock ANS: D Perspective MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 11–13 OBJ: The Sociological
27. Some sociologists use a macrosociological approach, whereas others take a microsociological approach. How does this difference affect the ultimate goal of their research? a. Microsociologists care only about local concerns. b. Macrosociologists are much more likely to be worried about globalization. c. No matter what approach they take, all sociologists attempt to illuminate the connection between the individual and society. d. Regardless of which method they use, all sociologists tend to believe that individuals are ultimately in control of their own destiny. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 14–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Understanding 28. Many Marxist sociologists assume that large-scale economic structures are the most important factors in people’s lives. This assumption is an example of: a. Microsociology c. Qualitative sociology b. Macrosociology d. Conservative sociology ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology
MSC: Understanding
29. If you possess a sociological imagination and someone asks you to study unemployment rates in a city of fifty million people where fifteen million are unemployed, where should you start? a. You should consider the economic and political structures of the society. b. You should consider the work ethic of the average citizen. c. You should worry about the intelligence level of the workers who have lost their jobs. d. You should ask the people who are unemployed how much they want to work. ANS: A DIF: Moderate Perspective MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological
30. A sociology student is taking a course on the sociology of the economy. In this class, she learns that even though she always thought of her family as middle class, her parents’ income actually qualifies them as upper class compared with that of the rest of the country. What just happened? a. The student discovered the importance of microsociology. b. The student gained a beginner’s mind. c. The student moved from being an everyday actor to being a social analyst. d. The student spent some time “doing nothing,” as Bernard McGrane suggested. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Practical vs. Scientific Knowledge
REF: Page 9 MSC: Applying
31. The divorce rate has steadily increased over time, and now more than a quarter of all marriages end within the first four years. What sort of factors would C. Wright Mills suggest investigating to explain this increase? a. Religious factors c. Structural factors b. Personal factors d. Psychological factors ANS: C Perspective MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological
32. You are looking over the courses that are offered at your school and you see a class called “The Sociology of Media and Popular Culture.” You don’t think you need this course, because you listen to lots of music, watch a wide variety of television, and often go to the movies. What would a sociologist tell you? a. You are a specialist in mass media. b. You should try to watch media from other cultures if you really want to understand popular culture. c. You should take classes in film studies instead. d. You only have “reciped,” or practical, knowledge. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Practical vs. Scientific Knowledge
REF: Page 9 MSC: Applying
33. There is a close relationship between sociology and the other social sciences. Given how much overlap there is between these fields, why does sociology still exist as a discipline? a. All the other fields are more specialized, but sociology is a field that considers a huge intellectual territory. b. Sociology does not use historical context. c. Sociology departments are an academic tradition and would be difficult to disband. d. Political science and economics departments are much more politically conservative, so sociology is needed to provide a liberal counterbalance. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 10
OBJ: What Is Sociology?
34. If you didn’t know anything about Pam Fishman except that she studied conversation patterns, what could you logically determine about her? a. She is a conflict theorist. c. She is a structural functionalist. b. She is a macrosociologist. d. She is a microsociologist. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 15–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Applying
35. Look at the graphic representation of sociology’s family tree. Given that they were both very influential in the classical stage of sociological theory, why are Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim depicted so far apart? a. Marx’s work is no longer considered very important. b. Émile Durkheim wasn’t really a sociologist; he thought of himself as more of a psychologist. c. The theoretical schools they founded are very different. d. Durkheim was French, whereas Marx was born in Germany. ANS: C DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 19–26 OBJ: Macrosociological
36. Unlike earlier religious traditions that attempted to determine the ultimate cause or source of reality, Auguste Comte developed positivism in order to: a. explain how class conflict drove social change. b. argue that symbolic interactions between individuals were the basis for social life. c. justify a particular kind of social system based on hierarchy and privilege. d. identify laws that describe the behavior of a particular reality. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 18
OBJ: Sociology’s Family Tree
37. What historical events convinced Auguste Comte that society needed to be guided by thinkers who understood social laws? a. The American Civil War and the battle over slavery b. Globalization, and the rise of international trade and commerce c. The French Revolution and the instability that followed it d. The age of exploration and the expansion of European powers into Africa ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 18
OBJ: Sociology’s Family Tree
38. Harriet Martineau supported many ideas that were radical for her time, including: a. the liberation of French colonies in Africa. b. international communism and socialism. c. labor unions and the abolition of slavery. d. the French Revolution and the abolition of the monarchy. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 18–20 OBJ: Sociology’s Family Tree
39. What was probably Harriet Martineau’s most important contribution to the development of sociology as a discipline? a. Her theory of alienation b. Her translation of the work of Auguste Comte into English c. Her work on an early theory of symbolic interactionism d. Her struggle for women’s rights ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 18–20 OBJ: Sociology’s Family Tree
40. Who coined the phrase “the survival of the fittest”? a. Charles Darwin c. Émile Durkheim b. Karl Marx d. Herbert Spencer
ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 20
OBJ: Sociology’s Family Tree
41. What economic system emerged during the Industrial Revolution? a. Communism c. Globalization b. Humanitarianism d. Capitalism ANS: D DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 20
OBJ: Macrosociological
42. Émile Durkheim suggested that in traditional societies, people were bound together through mechanical solidarity. What was the basis of these sorts of bonds? a. Interdependence and the division of labor b. Shared traditions and similar experiences c. A strong ruler who exercised absolute control over the population d. Superstition ANS: B DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 20–21 OBJ: Macrosociological
43. On any given day, within ten minutes of waking up, you probably depend on more than 100 strangers to provide electricity, water, natural gas, weather forecasts, and other services. According to Durkheim, this interdependence gives rise to: a. mechanical solidarity. c. organic solidarity. b. class consciousness. d. pragmatism. ANS: C Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 20–21 OBJ: Macrosociological
44. In Émile Durkheim’s study Suicide, he reported that suicide rates went up when the economy slumped but they also increased when the economy boomed. Which of Durkheim’s concepts explains why both positive and negative economic conditions could increase suicide rates? a. Alienation c. Mechanical solidarity b. Anomie d. Organic solidarity ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 20–21 OBJ: Macrosociological
45. According to Émile Durkheim, industrialized societies function via an organic solidarity. What is the basis for organic solidarity? a. Religion and tradition b. Shared experiences and similar beliefs c. Globalization and communications technology d. Interdependence and individual rights ANS: D DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 20–21 OBJ: Macrosociological
46. Durkheim theorized that the rapidly changing conditions of modern life lead to anomie. What is anomie?
a. b. c. d.
Normlessness, or a loss of connections to the social world Anger and disillusionment with progress The transfer of destructive urges to socially useful activities A kind of social solidarity based on interdependence
ANS: A DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 21
OBJ: Macrosociological
47. In The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, Émile Durkheim argued that religion was a powerful source of social solidarity. Why? a. Religion established authorities who had control over entire societies. b. Different religions were constantly appearing and disappearing. c. There were many arguments about which religion represented the truth. d. Religion reinforced collective bonds and cultivated shared moral values. ANS: D DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 21
OBJ: Macrosociological
48. According to the theoretical position developed by Karl Marx, what is the engine of social change? a. Conflict between social groups b. Exploration beyond the boundaries of a given society c. Development of technology d. Shared moral values ANS: A DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 23–24 OBJ: Macrosociological
49. According to Karl Marx, the most important factor in social life is a person’s: a. race and ethnicity. b. religious beliefs. c. relationship to the means of production. d. level of education. ANS: C DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 23–24 OBJ: Macrosociological
50. What does Marx see as the primary tool for the oppression of the lower classes in modern society? a. The increasing power of the police state b. Religious authorities c. The aristocracy d. Industrial capitalism ANS: D DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 23–24 OBJ: Macrosociological
51. What term did Karl Marx use to describe the fact that most of the population accepts the pervading ideology, even when it fails to tell the truth about their lives? a. Class consciousness c. Ethnomethodology b. Existentialism d. False consciousness ANS: D
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 24
OBJ: Macrosociological
Theory MSC: Remembering 52. What was Marx criticizing when he said that religion is “the opiate of the masses”? a. Superstition and belief in the supernatural b. Drug use and alcoholism c. The use of religion by the ruling class to oppress the working class d. The way individuals use religion to support their actions ANS: C Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 24
OBJ: Macrosociological
53. According to Karl Marx, how could a belief in heaven as a reward for earthly suffering serve the interests of the ruling class? a. By keeping the lower classes from demanding better treatment in this life b. By distracting the lower classes with gaudy spectacles c. By using the church as a means to extract economic resources from the poor d. By keeping the working classes busy with religious activities so that they wouldn’t have time to organize ANS: A Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 24
OBJ: Macrosociological
54. What did Karl Marx think the lower classes needed to develop in order to end their oppression? a. A critical theory of gender c. Class consciousness b. A stronger sense of verstehen d. False consciousness ANS: C DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 24
OBJ: Macrosociological
55. According to Karl Marx, how is class consciousness, or revolutionary consciousness, developed? a. When a vanguard party leads a violent revolution b. Through a religious awakening c. When industrial production is perfected so that most of the workers are unemployed d. When the lower classes come to recognize how society works and challenge those in power ANS: D DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 24
OBJ: Macrosociological
56. One of Karl Marx’s most important achievements was developing the principle of praxis. What does this mean that he thought intellectuals should do? a. Constantly practice and develop the craft of social analysis b. Not just theorize about the world but change it c. Evaluate ideas based on their usefulness in everyday life d. Analyze and give meaning to every action ANS: B DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 26
OBJ: Macrosociological
57. In the United States today, the richest 1 percent of Americans have 40 percent of the country’s wealth. Karl Marx would call this: a. Alienation c. Social inequality b. Bourgeoisie d. Organic solidarity ANS: C DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 23–24 OBJ: Macrosociological
58. In Great Britain in the eighteenth century, a series of Enclosure Acts were established by Parliament, that broke up small farms, forced many small farmers to move to large cities in search of wage labor, and increased agricultural profits for landowners. What large-scale social system was this a part of ? a. Socialism c. Feudalism b. Agrarian utopianism d. Capitalism ANS: D Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 23–24 OBJ: Macrosociological
59. “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is a slogan that best represents the ideals of which social system? a. Dictatorship c. Capitalism b. Communism d. Totalitarianism ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 23–24 OBJ: Macrosociological
60. If someone has no way to make money but to sell his own labor, then he must be a member of what social group? a. Bureaucrats c. The bourgeoisie b. The proletariat d. Capitalists ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 23
OBJ: Macrosociological
61. The Egg McMuffin is a vastly more efficient version of eggs Benedict. Egg McMuffins are cheaper, are ready almost instantly at drive-through windows, and can be eaten with one hand while driving. However, they do not improve on the taste or the experience of eggs Benedict. Max Weber might have described the Egg McMuffin as the ________ of breakfast. a. Iron cage c. Manifest dysfunction b. Alienation d. Rationalization ANS: D Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 26–27 OBJ: Macrosociological
62. Max Weber believed that as the Industrial Revolution progressed, society became increasingly rationalized. How did he define rationalization? a. An increasing number of rules that limit personal freedom b. An increasing emphasis on verstehen, or the attempt to understand others’ experiences c. The application of psychology to the economy in order to understand how to increase productivity
d. The application of economic logic to all aspects of social life ANS: D DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 26–27 OBJ: Macrosociological
63. Max Weber believed that modern industrialized societies were characterized by which of the following institutions? a. Churches c. Bureaucracies b. Central governments d. Prisons ANS: C DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 26–27 OBJ: Macrosociological
64. What did Max Weber mean when he said that modern people are trapped in an “iron cage”? a. Most aspects of life are increasingly controlled by rigid rules and rationalization. b. More and more people live under totalitarian dictators and therefore lose their basic rights and freedoms. c. Increasingly, modern society has more laws and it uses them to put more people in prison. d. The conditions of modern life create a psychic prison that leaves most people discontent with civilization. ANS: A DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 26–27 OBJ: Macrosociological
65. Max Weber helped lay the groundwork for sociologists who would develop symbolic interactionism as a theory, because he believed that a social scientist should approach the study of human action: a. through a theoretical lens that emphasizes disenchantment and bureaucracy. b. from a value-free point of view. c. with verstehen (understanding), which emphasizes the need for empathy with individuals’ experiences. d. through psychoanalysis and the work of Sigmund Freud. ANS: C DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 27
OBJ: Macrosociological
66. What did W.E.B. DuBois have in common with Harriet Martineau? a. Both made careers of studying race and racism. b. Both were from the American South. c. Both saw symbolic interactionism as the most promising element of social theory. d. Both were intrigued by America’s democratic promise but disappointed in its hypocritical injustices. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 18–20 |Pages 29–30 OBJ: Sociology’s Family Tree | Microsociological Theory MSC: Applying 67. Jane Addams was an early advocate of applied sociology. This means that she did not just do research, but that she also: a. reported illegal activities to the proper authorities. b. examined the historical origins of the phenomena she researched. c. tried to address social problems through hands-on activity in the communities she
researched. d. compared the communities she studied to communities from other cultures. ANS: C DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 30
OBJ: Microsociological
68. What is the term used to describe sociological research that is intended to solve social problems, such as the research done by Jane Addams? a. Practical sociology c. Moral sociology b. Postmodern sociology d. Applied sociology ANS: D DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 30
OBJ: Microsociological
69. Although she made contributions to sociology, Jane Addams is perhaps best remembered for her embrace of praxis, meaning that she: a. was a pragmatist. b. acted on her intellectual convictions in practical ways. c. applied dialectics to her understanding of history. d. embraced conflict theory. ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 30
OBJ: Microsociological
70. What school of social theory believes that society is a stable system of structures, each of which contributes to the equilibrium of the whole? a. Symbolic interactionism c. Structural functionalism b. Dramaturgy d. Conflict theory ANS: C DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 20–23 OBJ: Macrosociological
71. Structural functionalist theory is very concerned with the ways in which structures contribute to the stability of society. What is a structure? a. A social institution that is stable over time and helps meet the needs of society b. Any aspect of society that generates conflict or change c. A class hierarchy d. An informal agreement between people over a wide geographical area ANS: A DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 22
OBJ: Macrosociological
72. According to Robert Merton, which of these statements about manifest functions is true? a. Manifest functions usually have something to do with social conflict and change. b. Manifest functions are intended and obvious. c. Manifest functions are designed to alleviate inequality. d. Manifest functions are designed to critique the social system that produced them. ANS: B DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 22
OBJ: Macrosociological
73. Which of the following is a latent function of the educational system in the United States? a. Teaching reading and writing b. Keeping children out of trouble while parents are at work c. Preparing a modern workforce to use technology d. Teaching new immigrants about American values and history ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 22
OBJ: Macrosociological
74. Which of the following is the most serious critique of structural functionalism? a. It tends to argue that intellectuals should act on what they believe. b. It overemphasizes the importance of the economy. c. It fails to provide a universal social theory. d. It tends to argue that any social feature that exists must serve a function. ANS: D DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 22–23 OBJ: Macrosociological
75. Which of the following theories views society as a whole unit, made up of interrelated parts that work together? a. Structural functionalism c. Symbolic interactionism b. Conflict theory d. Postmodernism ANS: A DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 22
OBJ: Macrosociological
76. Some Marxists believe that conflict between medieval burghers and small merchants on the one hand, and the nobility on the other, led to the creation of modern capitalism, which was distinct from either of the opposing forces. What would Marx call this model of historical change? a. A critical model c. A class consciousness model b. A dialectical model d. A nihilist model ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 24
OBJ: Macrosociological
77. In his Theses on Feuerbach, Karl Marx argued that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world, the point is to change it.” What Marxist principle is defined by this quote? a. Dialectics c. Praxis b. Dysfunctions d. Conflict ANS: C Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 26
OBJ: Macrosociological
78. Which of the following theories focuses on how our behaviors are dependent on the ways we interpret, make sense of, and define ourselves, others, and social situations? a. Conflict theory c. Psychoanalysis b. Symbolic interactionism d. Structural functionalism ANS: B Theory
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 27–31 OBJ: Microsociological
MSC: Remembering 79. Which social theory focuses on micro-level interactions? a. Symbolic interactionism c. Conflict theory b. Structural functionalism d. Pragmatism ANS: A DIF: Easy Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 27–31 OBJ: Microsociological
80. According to symbolic interactionism, what is the relationship between the self and society? a. The development of a sense of self is guided by society. b. The self is shaped by society, but society is also shaped by the self. c. Both the self and society are created by the course of history. d. Both the self and society are shaped by larger external forces. ANS: B DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 27–31 OBJ: Microsociological
81. The theory of symbolic interactionism was developed by: a. the Chicago School of sociology. b. the National Opinion Research Center. c. midcentury structural functionalists. d. Northwestern University. ANS: A DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 27
OBJ: Microsociological
82. Symbolic interactionism argues that people act toward things on the basis of their meaning. According to this perspective, how does meaning arise? a. Meaning is inherent in objects and actions. b. Meaning is learned through the study of philosophy and history. c. Meaning is negotiated through interaction with others. d. Meaning is learned through the study of science and nature. ANS: C Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 27–31 OBJ: Microsociological
83. A dishonest judge must pretend to be an honest judge, but even an honest judge must play the role of “honest judge” for an audience in order to interact and work with others effectively. This performance is an example of what theoretical perspective? a. Structural functionalism c. Ethnomethodology b. Dramaturgy d. Conflict theory ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 30
OBJ: Microsociological
84. What is the link between feminist theory and conflict theory? a. They both see the economy as central to the functioning of society. b. They both seek to not only understand inequality but also to remedy it. c. They both see gender as the most important aspect of social identity.
d. They both were developed at about the same time. ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 24–25 OBJ: Macrosociological
85. Why is the term “queer” used to describe queer theory? a. It emphasizes that some people are born with a fixed orientation and cannot change. b. It emphasizes the importance of difference and rejects the idea of a single gay or lesbian identity. c. It is an easily definable category. d. It has a long history of use within the gay and lesbian community. ANS: B Theory MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 25–26 OBJ: Macrosociological
86. If a sociologist argues that we have seen the “dissolution of master narratives or metanarratives,” what is his theoretical perspective? a. Feminist theory c. Structural functionalism b. Conflict theory d. Postmodernism ANS: D Approaches MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 33
OBJ: New Theoretical
TRUE/FALSE 1. C. Wright Mills described a process by which biography (individual lives) and history (larger social forces) are related. He argued that this process works in two ways: individual lives influence society, while society also influences individuals. ANS: T DIF: Easy Perspective MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological
2. A sociologist’s responsibility is to question everything the everyday person would take for granted. ANS: T DIF: Easy Perspective MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 10–13 OBJ: The Sociological
3. Beginner’s mind, a concept borrowed from the Zen Buddhist tradition, is the opposite of the sociological perspective. ANS: F DIF: Moderate Perspective MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 10
OBJ: The Sociological
4. There is only one correct theoretical explanation for any particular social phenomenon. ANS: F DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 14–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Remembering
5. The writings of Émile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber were deeply influenced by their life experiences. ANS: T DIF: Moderate Theory MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 20–27 OBJ: Macrosociological
SHORT ANSWER 1. Émile Durkheim’s pioneering study, Suicide, used statistical data to look for correlations between demographic variables and suicide. In what ways is his work compatible with Auguste Comte’s ideas about how society should be studied? ANS: When he conducted his infamous suicide study in 1897, Durkheim used Comte’s theory of positivism in the manner Comte intended. Positivism was a concrete form of social research that suggested social life could be studied in a manner comparable to the hard sciences. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 18–21 OBJ: Sociology’s Family Tree | Macrosociological Theory
MSC: Applying
2. In what ways does queer theory suggest that no category of sexual identity is fundamentally deviant or normal? ANS: According to queer theory, sexuality is a social construct. Therefore it is fluid and is viewed differently according to the social structure of the time period. Because these views are constantly changing, conventional dichotomies of gay and straight are very limited in defining human sexual preferences and sexual involvement. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 25–26 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory MSC: Remembering 3. How is hip-hop music an example of a postmodern art form? ANS: Hip-hop uses several genres of music, such as reggae and rock, and it overlays beats and words to create new sounds from old, established musical forms. DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 33–34 OBJ: New Theoretical Approaches
4. According to conflict theory, how do most major social institutions remain integrated into the economy and therefore reinforce the class structure? ANS: Conflict theorists believe that the capitalist system of for-profit businesses causes mass poverty and class division. Karl Marx argued that capitalism, which emerged during the Industrial Revolution, enabled the owners of the means of production (the bourgeoisie) to exploit the masses of proletariat workers, creating an inherent system of social class. Also, false consciousness can lead oppressed people to accept inequality and not challenge their position in the class structure. DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 23–26 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory
MSC: Applying 5. Why do structural functionalists argue that dysfunction tends to create social change? ANS: When one structure of society encounters a disruption, there is a ripple effect across all social structures. This leads to the need for social change so that social systems may restore balance. For example: if a country goes to war, there will be a deficit in the economy. As a result, money available for education decreases as tax dollars are given to the military; soldiers die, resulting in single-parent, single-income households; and people begin to struggle with their religious beliefs, reducing involvement in the volunteer structure of communities. The system will fight for equilibrium and will eventually function, albeit in a different manner than it did before the war. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 20–23 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory
6. How does taking the sociological perspective enable sociologists to understand human life in society? ANS: Taking the sociological perspective enables sociologists to view the world through a beginner’s mind. By eliminating their personal experiences, opinions, and biases, they are able to learn about the familiar world in new ways. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 10–13 OBJ: The Sociological Perspective MSC: Remembering 7. According to C. Wright Mills, when we think of our personal problems as private matters of character, what are we failing to see? ANS: Mills argued that we need to view our personal problems through the larger perspective of how they are related to the social structure in which we live and the historical context of our society. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 13
OBJ: The Sociological Perspective
8. What are the advantages of midrange theory? ANS: Midrange theory merges micro and macro levels of analysis. This approach to theorizing makes sociological research more feasible, because it does not simply rely on the polarities of small- and large-scale analyses. DIF: Easy REF: Page 34 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: New Theoretical Approaches
9. According to Erving Goffman’s theory of dramaturgy, why might you dress differently for a date than you would for sociology class? ANS:
Goffman believed that the self is created through our interactions with other people and that how we present ourselves changes depending on the social context. Because sociology class is an informal social setting, you can wear casual attire without paying heed to your hair and/or makeup. On the other hand, your clothing and grooming choices for a date would be significantly different. In this case, you would want to a make a good impression, so you would present yourself in a way that emphasizes your positive personal qualities. DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 30
OBJ: Microsociological Theory
10. Describe the three main theoretical perspectives of macrosociology, and name at least one theorist for each perspective. ANS: Conflict theory emphasizes social inequality as the basic characteristic of society, structural functionalism looks at society as a unified whole that needs separate structures to function, and Weberian theory studied the process of rationalization and bureaucracies. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 20–27 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory MSC: Remembering ESSAY 1. The sociological perspective, as a way of thinking about the world, includes the concepts of sociological imagination from C. Wright Mills, beginner’s mind from Bernard McGrane, and culture shock from anthropology. Define each concept in your own words and then explain what all three of these concepts have in common. ANS: Social imagination is about looking for connections between the personal and the social. Beginner’s mind is a technique for ignoring old knowledge in order to find new ways of seeing the world. Culture shock is a way of seeing things as if we had never seen them before. All three concepts advocate ways of thinking that help us clear away preconceptions that may be blocking us from seeing and understanding things that are directly in front of us. They all help us achieve a sociological perspective. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 10–13 OBJ: The Sociological Perspective MSC: Understanding 2. Consider the contrast between practical knowledge and scientific knowledge. Describe an activity or social phenomenon of which you have practical knowledge, and then list the steps you might take to develop scientific knowledge of it. Describe how your knowledge might change as you develop this scientific approach to the subject, and demonstrate that you understand the difference between the two types of knowledge. ANS: Any answer should demonstrate knowledge of some everyday activity the student can use in a functional way but about which she does not have completely coherent, excruciatingly clear, consistent, or complete knowledge. Examples of ways to develop scientific knowledge could include schools, bookstores, libraries, or some other source of learning. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 9 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Practical vs. Scientific Knowledge
3. Sociologists often have to decide if they are going to adopt a microsociological or a macrosociological approach in any given project. Explain how these perspectives differ, paying special attention to the different assumptions about how society works that are contained within each perspective. In other words, considering the starting point of each perspective, what do they seek to reveal? ANS: Microsociology focuses on the interactions between individuals, whereas macrosociology examines large-scale social structures. Microsociologists tend to think that individual-level interactions create the larger patterns, processes, and institutions of society. Macrosociologists tend to assume that large social structures create the context and conditions within which individuals act. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 14–16 OBJ: Levels of Analysis: Micro- and Macrosociology MSC: Understanding 4. Compare and contrast conflict theory with structural functionalism. Pay special attention to the way each theory treats the origin of social change. ANS: Structural functionalism begins with the study of structures, identified as social institutions. Any answer should emphasize that society is a stable, ordered system of interrelated parts or structures, and that each structure has a function that contributes to the continued stability or equilibrium of the whole. Conflict theory treats social conflict as the basis of society and suggests that disagreements over values and beliefs actually reflect struggles over resources and power. Conflict theory emphasizes a materialist view of society based on the economy, a critical stance toward the status quo, and a dynamic model of historical change. Conflict theorists see social change as the inevitable consequence of the struggle over resources. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 20–26 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory
5. Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level approach to sociology. It sees face-to-face interactions as the building blocks of larger social institutions. Describe how individuals interacting with each other can produce larger social institutions. Pick an example and describe how specific social acts can, when repeated by many people, create large-scale social structures. ANS: The textbook uses the example of the meaning of a tree to demonstrate the relationship between meaning and interaction. The key point is that society and the self are twinborn—social structures that only exist because they are created through individual action. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 27–31 OBJ: Microsociological Theory
6. According to symbolic interactionism, describe how meaningful reality is created. ANS:
The textbook uses the example of how a tree can mean different things to different people in different social situations. We act toward things on the basis of their meaning, which is not inherent in the things themselves but is negotiated through interaction and can change or be modified over time. This demonstrates that meaningful reality is created through interaction. DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 27–31 OBJ: Microsociological Theory
7. Classical sociological theory arose in the nineteenth century, in the aftermath of the American and French Revolutions and during the Industrial Revolution. Summarize how the theories of Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber all reflect a concern for the consequences of modern life. ANS: The textbook describes several concepts from each theorist that relate directly to the problems of modern life. Marx focused on the alienation and social inequality created by the rise of urban capitalism, and on how false consciousness and ideology contributed to the oppression of the working classes. Weber was concerned about how the shift to a modern industrialized society resulted in disenchantment with the world, as well as the “iron cage” of bureaucratic rules. Durkheim theorized that anomie, or normlessness resulting from social disconnection, was a consequence of the transition from mechanical solidarity to organic solidarity. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 20–27 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory
8. Structural functionalism attempts to explain the social world by examining social structures, which perform functions that contribute to the stability of society as a whole. What are some of the types of functions that social structures can perform? ANS: The textbook examines two ways of categorizing functions. First, Talcott Parsons proposed that social structures can fulfill such functions as helping us adapt to our environment and providing us with opportunities to realize goals. They also contribute to the equilibrium of society by increasing social cohesion and maintaining cultural patterns. Second, Robert Merton theorized that functions performed by social structures can be either manifest (intended) or latent (unintended). DIF: Easy REF: Pages 20–23 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory MSC: Remembering 9. According to Karl Marx, what is the relationship between the economy and other parts of society, including intellectual, religious, and political life? ANS: Marx argued that because the ruling class controls the economy, it controls the rest of society as well. Therefore, he argued that the dominant ideology justifies and benefits those who own the means of production; that religion is used by the ruling class to create false consciousness and perpetuate oppression of the working class; and that the prevailing ideas are the ideas of the ruling class. Answers might also explain the distinction between false consciousness (a denial of the truth about the real circumstances in which one lives) and class consciousness, which is an understanding of the economic exploitation inherent in capitalism. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 23–24 OBJ: Macrosociological Theory
10. Describe the sociological theories that developed from symbolic interactionism. What do they have in common and how do they further the perspective? ANS: There are three offshoots of symbolic interactionism described in the textbook: Erving Goffman’s theory of dramaturgy, Harold Garfinkel’s theory of ethnomethodology, and the theory of conversation analysis. Each theory emphasizes “social acts rather than social facts,” demonstrating that larger social institutions are constantly made and remade through individual actions and interactions. They expand on the original ideas of symbolic interactionists by reinforcing specific aspects of culture as meaningful and important in the formation of society. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 30–31 OBJ: Microsociological Theory MSC: Remembering 11. Describe the main features of postmodern social theory, and explain both positive and negative reactions to postmodernism. ANS: In postmodern theory, social reality is diverse, pluralistic, and constantly in flux. In postmodernism, there are no absolutes—no claims to truth, reason, right, order, or stability. Everything is therefore relative—fragmented, temporary, situational, provisional, and contingent. Postmodernists believe that certainty is illusory, and they prefer to explore the possibilities created by fluidity, complexity, multidimensionality, and even nonsense. They propose that there is no constant or universal human truth from which we can know or interpret the meaning of existence. For proponents, postmodernism can be celebrated as a liberating influence that can rescue us from the stifling effects of rationality, essentialism, and tradition. For opponents, it can be condemned as a detrimental influence that can imprison us in a world of relativity, nihilism, and chaos. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 33–34 OBJ: New Theoretical Approaches MSC: Understanding 12. If you were feeling very generous to shoe manufacturers, you might argue that the manifest function of the production of newer and more expensive athletic shoes is to increase athletic performance. For a moment, let’s not be generous. Explain another manifest function of the appearance of new athletic shoes, as well as at least two latent functions. ANS: A manifest function is the obvious, intended function of a social structure, whereas a latent function is the less obvious, and sometimes unintentional, function. In this case, the obvious manifest function would be to increase revenue for makers of athletic apparel. The latent functions might include increased jealousy and competition among teenagers; violence and muggings in order to obtain shoes; teenage boys showing increased fashion consciousness; and the creation of a subculture that bonds over its interest in shoes. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 22
OBJ: Macrosociological Theory
13. Identify and describe the most essential elements of the theories of the classical sociological thinkers—Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. How do their visions of modernity differ? ANS:
Marx’s conflict theory centers on alienation (the sense of dissatisfaction workers feel when they are producing goods that are controlled by someone else). Durkheim’s theory of structural functionalism focuses on anomie (the loss of norms and purpose that results from weaker social ties and an increased pace of change). Weberian theory emphasizes that modern industrialized society controls our lives through rigid rules and rationalization, trapping us in an iron cage of bureaucracy. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 20–27 OBJ: The Sociological Perspective
CHAPTER 02: STUDYING SOCIAL LIFE: SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. After formulating a general research question, what will a good researcher always do? a. review the literature in order to become familiar with earlier research that relates to his topic b. clearly define his variables c. look for correlations between two or more different phenomena d. form a hypothesis ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Remembering
2. If the federal government conducts research on the value of checking batteries in home smoke detectors, what method will produce data that is easiest to transmit to many people? a. ethnography c. qualitative b. quantitative d. interviews ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
3. Survey research tends to produce quantitative data. One key advantage of this kind of data is that it: a. is easy to transmit to the public. b. includes observations and informal interviews. c. allows the researcher to review the literature. d. affords easy access to the norms, values, and meanings held by members of a group. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Remembering
4. A famous social scientist tells you that the most important task in her research was to move from “total bewilderment” to “finding her feet” with the people she was studying. What can you say about this researcher? a. She worries about ethical issues in her research. b. She is a qualitative researcher. c. She cannot use interviews as a methodology. d. She exclusively uses quantitative methods. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Understanding
5. You want to conduct some sociological research on whether people on social networking sites are less likely to meet in person as a result of their online community participation. What is the next step in the scientific method? a. conduct a literature review b. form a hypothesis; give operational definitions to variables c. choose a research design or method d. collect data ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Understanding
6. Jai is conducting a sociological research study on differences in interactions between similar and dissimilar co-workers. After reviewing the literature, he developed a hypothesis and has operationalized the variables he will study. What is the next step Jai should take in the scientific method? a. identify a problem or ask a question b. analyze data c. choose a research design or method d. collect data ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
7. Lili is conducting a sociological research study on the underground music scene. She has just finished collecting data for the study. What is the next step Lili should take in the scientific method? a. disseminate findings b. analyze data c. form a hypothesis; give operational definitions to variables d. choose a research design or method ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
8. What is the scientific method? a. the use of statistics to analyze numerical data b. the study of scientific processes c. the standard procedure for acquiring and verifying empirical knowledge d. the study of nature ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Remembering
9. According to the scientific method, what are the steps in research, and in what order should they be completed? a. form a hypothesis, define variables, choose research method, collect data b. form a hypothesis, choose research design, define variables, analyze data c. form a hypothesis, choose research design, review the literature d. analyze data, form a hypothesis, choose research design, define variables ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Remembering
10. You are doing a research project on the effects of contemporary media. If your hypothesis is that “watching violence on television causes an increase in violent behavior,” then what are your variables? a. violence on television and violent behavior b. watching television, violence on television, and violent behavior c. violent behavior d. violence in the media ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
11. You are conducting research on violence in the media. If you are trying to decide whether “violence” includes words as well as actions, in what part of the research process are you engaged? a. forming a hypothesis c. defining the variables b. analyzing the data d. reviewing the literature ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
12. What do you call broad theoretical models of the social or natural world? a. paradigms c. interviews b. hypotheses d. grounded theory ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 43 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Remembering
13. A paradigm shift is a major break in the assumptions that are used to understand the world. For social scientists, what causes a paradigm shift? a. the study of history b. new data forcing a new way of looking at the world c. religion and theology d. increased awareness of the current paradigm ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 43 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Understanding
14. A graduate student is almost done with his dissertation when he is informed that twenty years ago someone did a very similar project and already demonstrated what he had hoped to be the first to discover. What basic step of the scientific method could have saved him from this problem? a. developing an operational definition c. analyzing data b. selecting a research method d. reviewing the literature ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
15. In the 1980s, many politicians argued that listening to heavy metal music led teenagers to commit suicide. Though you might find this belief silly, it is a(n): a. variable. c. hypothesis. b. paradigm shift. d. operational definition. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
16. A social research methods class wants to study smoking. First the professor asks how many people in the class are smokers. Two people say yes. Then she asks how many people have smoked a cigarette in the past week, and ten people say yes. From this the class decides that, for the purposes of its survey, a smoker will be anyone who has had a cigarette in the past week and currently owns a pack of cigarettes. This is a(n): a. operational definition. c. spurious correlation. b. hypothesis. d. ethical challenge. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
17. A sociologist wants to study popular attitudes and perceptions about astrology among college students in California. She believes that people who have astrological signs identified with fire will have a greater knowledge of astrology because fire signs tend to have more interesting and attractive symbolism. What are the variables in this study? a. astrological signs and knowledge of astrology b. college students and symbolism c. popular attitudes and perceptions d. California and college students ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
18. In recent years, sociologists who study deviance have learned that they can measure the quantities of narcotics consumed by a community by testing its sewage before treatment. What part of the research process would the sociologists be carrying out when they visit the sewage treatment plant to test its sewage? a. analyzing data c. collecting data b. forming a hypothesis d. developing an operational definition ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
19. One study found a strong correlation between parental bonding and adolescent drug use. Children with stronger bonds to their parents were far less likely to try drugs or alcohol. However, when the researchers examined their data more closely, they discovered that parental bonding was really a predictor for teen religiosity and that high levels of religiosity prevent drug use rather than parental bonding. This means that religiosity was: a. a spurious variable. c. a paradigm shift. b. an issue of reflexivity. d. the intervening variable. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
20. A study showed a strong correlation between not smoking and having a high college grade point average. Although some people used this study as evidence that smoking is bad, if you accept that smoking does NOT cause someone to lose brain cells or study less, you would probably conclude that the study: a. used basic research. c. misused a control group. b. was valid. d. employed a spurious correlation. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
21. Karl Marx argued that in some fundamental ways Hegel’s theories were mistaken about how the world worked. Marx said he needed to “stand Hegel on his head” because Marx believed that “it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness.” For many who came afterward, Marx’s argument represented a: a. classic demonstration of reactivity. c. paradigm shift. b. participant observation. d. justification of qualitative research. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 43 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
22. Charles Darwin suggested that rather than being superior to the rest of the animal kingdom, human beings are simply one part of a larger system governed by natural laws. To the extent that this radically changed how people thought about almost everything, we would call it a(n): a. paradigm shift. c. example of reactivity. b. ethical issue. d. research proposal. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 43 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Applying
23. Which methodology most closely resembles the scientific method? a. ethnography c. experimental research b. survey research d. interviews ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 55 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Understanding
24. If you observe a group in order to determine its norms, values, rules, and meanings, then what kind of research are you doing? a. normative c. qualitative b. quantitative d. natural science ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Remembering
25. What are the goals of ethnography? a. to develop quantitative data sets that allow researchers to discover correlations b. to conduct interviews with people who have very different ways of life c. to describe activities sociologists observe and to understand what those activities mean to the people involved d. to develop ethics and standards for sociological research ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 45 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Understanding
26. Which method of social research might involve shifting between participating in a social situation and being an observer? a. interviews c. comparative-historical research b. surveys d. ethnography ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 44 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Understanding
27. What does it mean if ethnographers are overt about their roles? a. They maintain narrow and limited definitions of appropriate research methodologies. b. They spend a great deal of time reflecting on their roles in the research process. c. They observe and record data without letting anyone know they are doing research. d. They openly admit that they are doing sociological research. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 46 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Understanding
28. When engaging in participant observation, researchers can study others as well as themselves. Research that focuses on one’s own thoughts, feelings, and experiences is known as: a. life history. c. internal investigation. b. autoethnography. d. content analysis.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 45 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Remembering
29. Frances is assigned a research project where she is to attend a celebratory family meal and analyze her experiences as she participates in the meal. She is asked to make a detailed account of the meal that includes her thoughts and feelings about the event. What type of research is Frances assigned? a. comparative-historical c. autoethnography b. survey d. experiment ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 45 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Applying
30. Ethnographers using participant observation must always be aware of reflexivity, which occurs because: a. participants may not consider their own motivations and act out of reflex. b. ethnographers’ conclusions may not be applicable to any larger group. c. the presence of ethnographers may alter the behavior of the people they are observing. d. ethnographers intervene in the lives of the people they are studying. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 46 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Understanding
31. Which of the following is an advantage of using ethnography to study social life? a. Ethnography is a quick and easy form of social science research. b. Ethnography requires the researcher to spend little time gaining familiarity with the research subjects. c. Ethnography allows the researcher to gather abundant data on a small population. d. Ethnography requires no training since it is something we all do as human beings. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 46 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Understanding
32. Which of the following is a DISADVANTAGE of using ethnography as a method of social research? a. Participants are self-selected. b. Participants are usually not completely candid when asked to describe their attitudes and behaviors. c. It is difficult for another researcher to repeat or replicate any particular ethnography. d. Ethnographies tend to have ethical problems that are of central concern to most sociologists. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 47 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Understanding
33. If a piece of sociological research is representative, it means that the: a. researcher has avoided any overt bias. b. research has been conducted systematically with the scientific method. c. smaller group of people studied can tell us something about a larger group. d. researcher avoided using any double-barreled questions. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 50 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Remembering
34. Which of the following research techniques focuses on gaining an insider’s perspective of the everyday lives of subjects under investigation, often dispelling stereotypes about the group being investigated? a. participant observation c. analysis of existing data b. surveys d. experiments ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 44 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Understanding
35. The sociologist Mitch Duneier wrote his ethnography Sidewalk about street vendors in New York City’s Greenwich Village. While writing the book, Duneier was particularly concerned that the people he was studying would alter their behavior when he was present, especially since his background was very different from theirs, causing him to think critically about his action and role as a researcher. What do sociologists call this? a. response rate c. validity b. reflexivity d. thick description ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 46 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Applying
36. In their ethnography, Promises I Can Keep: Why Poor Women Put Motherhood before Marriage, Kathryn Edin and Maria Kefalas studied the realities of single motherhood for poor, urban women in Camden, New Jersey. Before beginning their research they immersed themselves in the community. Edin moved her family to the city, and they both volunteered in community programs. Embedding themselves in the community is an example of: a. gaining access. c. thick description. b. fieldnotes. d. sampling. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 45 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Applying
37. In her ethnography Wheeling & Dealing, Patricia Adler investigates the social and professional worlds of midlevel cocaine and marijuana smugglers. Her research started unexpectedly when she discovered that her next-door neighbor and friend was a drug smuggler; this was a huge advantage for her because it meant that she already had ________ with one of her informants. a. informed consent c. sampling b. rapport d. causation ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 45 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Applying
38. Julie Bettie wrote her ethnography Women without Class: Girls, Race, and Identity to examine the role of race and class in the lives of girls in California’s Central Valley. She did most of her work at a high school, hanging out with and talking to students, but she felt very self-conscious about writing down her observations where the girls could see her, so she often ducked into a bathroom stall to write. What do ethnographers call her written observations? a. interviews c. nonverbal communication b. representativeness d. fieldnotes ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 45 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Applying
39. In his research, the ethnographer Richard Mitchell kept his identity a secret while studying militant survivalist groups. Sometimes he even presented himself as a believer in the survivalists’ paranoid, racist ideologies. By engaging in such covert research, with what was Mitchell concerned?
a. validity b. thick description
c. rapport d. replicability
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 46 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation MSC:
Applying
40. Sociologists who conduct interviews can only gather data from a limited number of people because: a. it is impossible to find enough people through a random sample. b. researchers are only allowed to talk to people who are eighteen and older. c. it is extremely difficult to guarantee confidentiality to large groups. d. interviews are too time-consuming. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 48
OBJ: Interviews
41. Any time a social researcher is going to use sampling, he or she must first identify his or her target population. What is this target population? a. the group of people whose behavior he or she wishes to change b. the group of people from whom he or she will gather data c. the group of people least often studied in the past d. the larger group of people about whom he or she wishes to generalize ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 48
OBJ: Interviews
42. If a researcher has obtained informed consent from all his participants, it means that: a. they have all agreed to participate in the study for monetary compensation. b. they all understand the nature of the study and what will be asked of them. c. their confidentiality has been guaranteed. d. they have all read the prior literature on the subject area. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 48
OBJ: Interviews
43. Maria is worried about the representativeness of her study. She is conducting interviews, but each one seems to last at least five hours. Given that she only has one month to collect her data, what strategy might she use to increase her sample size? a. cut off interviews at two hours regardless if all questions were answered b. conduct a focus group c. ask only open-ended questions d. make respondents write out answers during interviews instead of answering verbally ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 48
OBJ: Interviews
44. A closed-ended question is one that: a. allows for a wide variety of responses. b. encourages respondents to answer creatively. c. limits the possible responses. d. can only be answered orally. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 48
OBJ: Interviews
45. Researchers should try to avoid double-barreled questions, or questions that:
a. b. c. d.
ask about multiple issues. use emotional language that may bias the respondent. are vague or ambiguous. have a hidden agenda.
ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
46. What kind of question usually produces a wide variety of responses by allowing respondents to answer in whatever way seems appropriate to them? a. closed-ended c. double-barreled b. open-ended d. leading ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
47. A professor has been commissioned by a college to do research on its new academic system. The college has moved from a semester system to block scheduling. He asks, “How have teachers and students responded to the new intensive block scheduling system?” This is an example of: a. a leading question. c. a closed-ended question. b. a double-barreled question. d. reflexivity. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
48. What is it that interviewers seek when asking a respondent for his or her life history? a. a chronological account of the respondent’s life b. biographical information on the maternal side c. detailed accounts of early childhood memories d. a genealogical map of family ancestry ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
49. After researchers conduct a series of interviews, they usually transcribe the responses. The transcription process is fairly time-consuming, but it is valuable in part because it allows researchers to: a. look for patterns in their data. b. check for bias in how they asked questions. c. think up new questions they did not ask. d. determine the average age of their interviewees. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
50. Which of the following is an advantage of using interviews as a research method? a. They allow the researcher to maintain strict control of the data-collection process. b. They reveal attitudes and beliefs not accessible by any other means. c. They can affirm preconceptions and stereotypes. d. They allow researchers to analyze data statistically and draw correlations. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
51. In her research for The Second Shift, Arlie Hochschild interviewed married couples to find out how they dealt with changing family roles as more women entered the workforce. What advantages came from her decision to use interviews as a research method? a. It allowed for a large group of people to be included in the study. b. It ensured that the respondents were always honest and forthcoming about their family lives and marital roles. c. It allowed her to gather direct quotations and construct an intimate portrait of married couples. d. It created both a control group and an experimental group and allowed Hochschild to compare them. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
52. Researchers are often worried that interviewees have not been completely honest or forthcoming, especially when asked about sensitive subjects. How did Arlie Hochschild attempt to deal with this problem? a. She asked each question in a different way to try to trap respondents in contradictions. b. She interviewed each spouse separately to see if their stories matched. c. She observed some respondents as they went about their daily routines to see if their actions matched their answers. d. She confronted respondents when they gave answers that seemed dubious. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
53. Why do social scientists who use interviews rarely speak with large numbers of people for a project? a. It is hard to find people willing to be interviewed. b. There are usually very few people who are interesting enough to be interviewed. c. Face-to-face interviewing is a very time-consuming process. d. The data is so rich that few interviews are typically needed. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
54. Arlie Hochschild was concerned that her sample of interviewees was too small to guarantee representativeness. How did Hochschild attempt to overcome this problem? a. by deciding that she did not need to generalize to any larger population b. by asking only open-ended questions c. by doing follow-up interviews with each interviewee d. by comparing information about her interviewees with a national survey ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 53–54 OBJ: Interviews
55. A research team is curious about the relationship between exercise habits and academic performance among American college students. In order to get their data, the researchers randomly select seventeen colleges by pulling names out of a hat and traveling to campuses, where they stand in prominent public places and ask for volunteers until they have ten people from each campus willing to be interviewed. What is the researchers’ target population? a. students at the seventeen colleges they visited b. the 170 students who were interviewed c. young people d. American college students
ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 48
OBJ: Interviews
56. Some researchers suggest that interviews give “voice” to people who may never have been heard before and offer privileged access to authentic experience, private worlds, and true selves. How do interviews do this? a. Interviews may contribute to unfair stereotypes. b. Interviews are relatively quick and economical and can provide a vast amount of data. c. Interviews allow respondents to speak in their own words; they can reveal their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs—internal states that would not necessarily be accessible by any other means. d. Respondents are not always forthcoming or truthful. Sometimes they are difficult to talk to, and at other times they may try too hard to be helpful. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
57. The anthropologist Ruth Behar traveled to San Luis Potosí to learn more about the everyday lives of Mexican women. Instead, she ended up conducting one very long, intensive interview with a woman named Esperanza and took more than a year to collect her interview data. Which DISADVANTAGE of the interview methodology does her research highlight? a. Face-to-face interviewing is time-consuming. b. Respondents are not always forthcoming or truthful. c. Interviews generally lack qualitative data that might better capture social reality. d. Interviews sometimes distance the researcher from the messy realities of the social world. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 49
OBJ: Interviews
58. Every four years when it is time to elect a new president, we pay much attention to surveys, which we usually call “polls.” Even though there are more than 300 million people in the United States, most political pollsters ask about a thousand people who it is they plan to vote for and use that information to predict how the election will turn out. Who is the sample for a presidential poll? a. every person who is planning on voting b. every American c. people who have strong political opinions d. the 1,000 people who are asked whom they will vote for ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 51–52 OBJ: Surveys
59. Imagine that you are trying to rewrite a survey. You find a multiple-choice question that asks, “What is your favorite recreational activity?” and gives three response options: watching television, shopping, or sports. You add a fourth response option, “other,” and invite respondents to write an activity of their choice. What kind of question have you just made? a. open-ended c. reductionist b. quantitative d. closed-ended ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 49–50 OBJ: Surveys
60. When survey researchers write closed-ended questions, they often use Likert scales to construct the possible answers. How do Likert scales allow respondents to answer? a. They allow respondents to answer along a continuum, from “strongly agree” to “strongly
disagree.” b. They allow respondents to answer with their own opinions. c. They allow respondents to answer in simple dichotomies, like true/false or yes/no. d. They encourage respondents to include detailed responses. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 50
OBJ: Surveys
61. While it is always important to ask clear and unambiguous questions regardless of the method you use, it is especially important to avoid confusion when conducting surveys. Why? a. Survey research methods commonly use statistics. b. Survey researchers are usually not present to clarify any misunderstandings. c. Survey researchers talk to many people. d. Survey research tends to look at large-scale social patterns. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 50
OBJ: Surveys
62. When writing a survey, researchers must avoid negative questions, which are defined as questions that: a. ask about two different topics. b. let the respondent know how the researcher hopes he or she will answer. c. belittle or insult a group or individual. d. ask a respondent about what he or she does not think rather than what he or she does think. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 51
OBJ: Surveys
63. Why would mentioning a sensitive issue, such as divorce or infidelity, in a survey question influence how respondents answer later questions? a. Questions about sensitive issues are double-barreled. b. The respondents may think about the sensitive issue when answering later questions. c. Sensitive questions make the questionnaire confusing and difficult to fill out. d. Sensitive questions spoil the representativeness of the researcher’s sample. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 51
OBJ: Surveys
64. What is a pilot study? a. a smaller study used to investigate the feasibility of a larger one b. a study designed to improve the target population of a larger study c. a study that concerns itself with media use and popular culture d. a study that definitively answers a question that has been bothering sociologists ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 51
OBJ: Surveys
65. Why are respondents often more comfortable addressing sensitive subjects on surveys than in other research contexts? a. They know that many other people will also answer the same questions. b. They know that their answers will only be analyzed statistically. c. They can answer in private and are usually assured of anonymity. d. Surveys guarantee that their answers will be confidential, while other methods do not. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 52
OBJ: Surveys
66. A sociologist uses a survey to study the attitudes of adults in the United States concerning premarital sex among teenagers. In this study, the target population consists of all ________ and the group that is asked the survey questions is called the ________. a. teenagers in the United States; reference group b. teenagers in the United States who have engaged in premarital sex; experimental group c. adults in the United States; sample d. adults in the United States who have teenage children; units of analysis ANS: C OBJ: Surveys
DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 48 |Page 51
67. When high schools want to ask students about sensitive subjects like drug use or sexual health, they often use surveys rather than a more direct form of communication like interviews. Why? a. Surveys allow respondents to speak in their own words; they can reveal their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. b. Surveys allow researchers to ask much more complex questions than they could with any other methodology. c. Surveys allow students to answer the questions in private and assure the confidentiality of their responses. d. Surveys are more expensive and allow for larger staffs and budgets. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 52
OBJ: Surveys
68. In 2005 a commercial research firm carried out a study of hand washing in public restrooms. The researchers observed 6,336 individuals wash their hands, or not, in the public restrooms of major attractions in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco. Ninety percent of the women observed washed their hands, compared with only 75 percent of the men. Interestingly enough, when asked via a telephone survey, 97 percent of women and 96 percent of men claimed they always washed their hands after using a public restroom. What DISADVANTAGE of survey research does this illustrate? a. Surveys suffer from a lack of replicability, meaning that it is hard for another researcher to repeat or replicate the study. b. Survey research generally lacks qualitative data that might better capture the social reality the researcher wishes to examine. c. Not all respondents provide honest self-reports, so survey research has comparatively less validity. d. In this case, as in many surveys, the respondents are self-selected, which makes it difficult to generalize from these results. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 52
OBJ: Surveys
69. A simple random sample is defined as a sample: a. with only one variable. b. in which other demographic variables are taken into account. c. in which one variable is weighted more than another. d. in which every member of the population has a chance of being included. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 51
OBJ: Surveys
70. Sometimes survey researchers reject randomness and instead use weighting techniques to construct a sample. How is a weighted sample different from a random one?
a. b. c. d.
The weighted sample does not target any specific group within the population. The weighted sample more closely resembles the larger population. A weighted sample excludes some members of the population. A weighted sample draws from a larger target population rather than a random one.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 52
OBJ: Surveys
71. One of the key methods used to do political polling is random-digit dialing, in which every phone number in an area code has an equal chance of being selected to take part in a survey. However, researchers have noticed that young people are more likely to only use a cell phone, and people with cell phones are less likely to answer a call from an unknown number. As a result, polling organizations often count responses from young people as being worth “more” than those from older people so that age in the sample is more accurately representative of the larger population. What is this technique called? a. weighting c. probability sampling b. bias d. Likert scales ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 52
OBJ: Surveys
72. Which of the following is a DISADVANTAGE of using existing sources of data for research? a. Researchers often seek answers to questions the data does not directly address. b. Researchers have to spend a great deal of time and money to get the data. c. Researchers do not have access to existing sources. d. Existing sources of data are never relevant to the contemporary world because they emerged from a different time and place. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 55
OBJ: Existing Sources
73. Cecilia is conducting research using public health records to examine flu outbreaks among public school students. Since her research does NOT require her to disturb people in the social context that she is studying, it is considered to be a(n): a. comparative-historical research. c. focus group. b. representative sample. d. unobtrusive measure. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 54
OBJ: Existing Sources
74. When researchers use a social networking site like Facebook to obtain data, they are: a. ethically questionable. c. using interview data. b. doing qualitative research. d. using existing sources. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 57
OBJ: Existing Sources
75. Why are social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter so exciting to sociologists who study social networks? a. For the first time, social networking sites offer sociologists a data set rich enough to test ideas that until now have only been theorized. b. For the first time, sociologists do not have to spend the time and money to go talk to people and can do all their work from a computer. c. For the first time, sociologists can find out what young people’s social networks look like. d. For the first time, sociologists can track the spread of urban legends.
ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 57
OBJ: Existing Sources
76. The analysis of documents—such as medical records, photographs, diaries, letters, newspapers, and song lyrics—uses which of the following types of data? a. ethnographic fieldnotes c. existing sources b. interview transcripts d. experimental data ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 53
OBJ: Existing Sources
77. What is the primary goal of comparative and historical research methods? a. to enhance the validity of experiments b. to understand relationships between parts of society in various regions and time periods c. to uncover issues that have been neglected by mainstream social research d. to select participants who are very similar so that the independent variable can be isolated ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 54
OBJ: Existing Sources
78. The Yale sociologist Kai Erikson wrote a book called Wayward Puritans in which he drew on court records from colonial Massachusetts to understand deviance in the past. He learned that the rate of out-of-wedlock births was much higher than it is now and that the amount of alcohol consumed per capita was higher as well. What research methodology was Erikson using? a. ethnography c. interviews b. comparative-historical d. surveys ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 54
OBJ: Existing Sources
79. If a sociologist watches a lot of television and counts the number of times women play roles with lower status than those played by men, what research method is he using? a. experimental research c. ethnography b. content analysis d. interview ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 54
OBJ: Existing Sources
80. If you were to conduct a research project investigating the relationship between the brands and shapes of gummy candy available in American convenience stores, what methodology would you use? a. quantitative c. comparative or historical research b. content analysis d. interviews ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 54
OBJ: Existing Sources
81. When doing experimental research, why is it important to control for everything except the independent variable? a. so the experiment can be kept very simple b. so the researcher does not have to gather too much information about the subjects c. so the experiment can be made more affordable d. so a clear conclusion can be drawn about what influences the dependent variable ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 55
OBJ: Experimental Methods
82. When conducting experiments, how is the experimental group different from the control group? a. The experimental group contains people who are different in many ways from the control group. b. The experimental group receives the dependent variable, and the control group does not. c. The experimental group receives the independent variable, and the control group does not. d. The control group receives the independent variable, and the experimental group does not. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 55
OBJ: Experimental Methods
83. A sociologist performs an experiment designed to investigate the effect of marriage counseling on divorce. She divides research participants into two similar groups of troubled couples, provides one group with counseling, and observes whether, over time, the two groups eventually divorce at different rates. What is the independent variable in this experiment? a. divorce c. the overall divorce rate b. troubled couples d. marriage counseling ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 55
OBJ: Experimental Methods
84. What does it mean for a sociologist to control for a variable? a. Research subjects are divided into two groups. b. Change over time is measured in a dependent variable. c. One group is allowed to understand the nature of the experiment, while the other group is kept in the dark. d. All factors except for the independent variable are taken into account. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 55
OBJ: Experimental Methods
85. Which of the following is an advantage of replicability in experiments? a. Experiments can be performed again and again over time in order to measure change. b. Experiments allow research subjects to speak in their own voices. c. Experiments are extremely cheap. d. Each experiment is unique and illustrates something new. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 56
OBJ: Experimental Methods
86. A recent sociological experiment sought to determine the exact role social support plays in the health of expectant mothers. To conduct the experiment, the researchers asked midwives to flip a coin each time they received a new client, and if it came up heads to try as hard as possible to put the client in contact with others who could provide social support. If the coin came up tails, the midwives would NOT discourage the woman from receiving social support but would NOT facilitate it either. What is the dependent variable in this experiment? a. coin flips c. social support b. health d. midwives ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 55
OBJ: Experimental Methods
87. A recent sociological experiment sought to determine the exact role social support plays in the health of expectant mothers. To conduct the experiment, the researchers asked midwives to flip a coin each time they received a new client, and if it came up heads to try as hard as possible to put the client in contact with others who could provide social support. If the coin came up tails, the midwives would NOT discourage the woman from receiving social support but would NOT facilitate it either. Who is the control group in this experiment? a. expectant mothers b. expectant mothers whose coin comes up tails c. expectant mothers whose coin comes up heads d. midwives ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 55
OBJ: Experimental Methods
88. Many kitchen tools today are made with easy-to-grip silicone handles, a vast improvement over old wire tools, which were often painful to use. Although the advantages of silicone over wire might seem obvious, kitchenware makers were unaware of the problems with wire tools until they hired ethnographers to visit people at home, see how they worked in the kitchen, and determine what sorts of things could be sold to them. This ethnography is an example of: a. a nonacademic use of research methods. b. reflexivity. c. a way to ensure validity and reliability. d. reactivity. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 58 MSC: Applying
89. If a researcher allows his own values and opinions to affect his analysis, he is guilty of: a. theoretical incoherence. c. sampling bias. b. bias. d. failing to obtain informed consent. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 47 MSC: Remembering
90. What is the difference between basic and applied research? a. Applied research is the search for knowledge for its own sake. b. Applied research is gathering knowledge that can be used for social change. c. Basic research is almost always done by Marxists. d. Applied research is usually quantitative. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Pages 58–59 MSC: Remembering
91. What is reactivity? a. the way the experimental group reacts to the independent variable b. when researchers react to data by overreporting the results c. the tendency of research subjects to change their behavior in response to being studied d. the goal of applied research, to create a reaction ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 61 MSC: Remembering
92. When Elton Mayo did his now-classic experiment on worker productivity, he found that he could increase productivity by changing variables in a work environment, but also that changing back variables increased productivity. What did he conclude was the true cause of the increase in productivity? a. a decrease in sick days c. the effect of being studied b. his own bias d. increased lighting and longer breaks ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 61 MSC: Understanding
93. For many years, researchers struggled to find a biological explanation for sexual orientation. However, the vast majority of studies have focused on gay men and excluded lesbians, which might lead sociologists to question the ________ of such research. a. commercial uses c. reflexivity b. objectivity d. reliability ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 60 MSC: Applying
94. While action research is gaining popularity among students, why is this methodological approach controversial among more traditional social scientists? a. It strictly adheres to ideal-type models. b. It is aligned with values, challenging objectivity. c. Research goals come before practical goals. d. IRB approval is not required. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 51 MSC: Analyzing
95. When Laud Humphreys was a sociology graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, he wrote his dissertation on the “tearoom trade,” anonymous homosexual encounters in the men’s rooms of public parks. To gather data, he acted as a lookout for his subjects, but he also surreptitiously noted license-plate numbers as the men left, so he could get their names and addresses. The next year, he picked about fifty men from the “tearooms” and interviewed them in their homes, claiming to be performing a health survey. His descriptions of the interviews made it possible for many of the men (and their families) to recognize themselves when the dissertation was published. Why do many sociologists consider this research method to be unethical? a. It used terminology that was confusing to the interview subjects. b. It put Humphreys at risk for arrest or retaliation. c. It harmed the reputation of the city of St. Louis. d. It failed to protect the biographical anonymity of his subjects. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 61 MSC: Applying
96. What can an institutional review board do if it has reservations about the safety or ethics of a research project? a. It may appoint new researchers to complete the project. b. It may stop the project from going forward, at least until changes have been made. c. It may issue recommendations for future research. d. It may provide assistance to any research subjects whose rights have been violated. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 63 MSC: Remembering
TRUE/FALSE 1. Sociologists try to follow the steps of the scientific method or approach to gather new empirical data that can change and deepen our understanding of human social life. ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Pages 41–42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods MSC: Remembering 2. Even if you pick your method carefully, you will still have to sacrifice some types of information in order to acquire others. ANS: T DIF: Moderate REF: Page 44 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
MSC: Remembering
3. No harm can come to subjects as a result of completing a questionnaire. ANS: F DIF: Easy OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 61| Page 63 MSC: Remembering
4. Some “facts” sociologists once believed to be unambiguously true are now treated as opinions, biases, or speculation. ANS: T DIF: Easy OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
REF: Page 60 MSC: Remembering
SHORT ANSWER 1. How does quantitative research differ from qualitative research? ANS: Quantitative works with numerical data using statistical analysis, and qualitative works with nonnumerical data to describe cases of study in detail. DIF: Easy REF: Page 41 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
2. Even if variables are correlated, explain how a change in one variable might not be caused by a change in another variable. ANS: Answers will vary but should include the following: a spurious correlation results when there is an appearance of a causation produced by an intervening variable—a third variable that explains the relationship between two other variables. This is evidenced by the relationship between ice cream sales and violent crime. As one increases, so does the other. However, the increase in both ice cream sales and violent crime is caused by a third variable—the weather. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 42 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
3. What does philosopher Thomas Kuhn argue about the truth? ANS:
The truth is relative and dependent upon the paradigm with which one sees the world. Data can generate paradigm shifts, forcing new ways of looking at the world. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 42–43 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods MSC: Understanding 4. In what way does a focus group differ from one-on-one interviews? ANS: In a focus group, a number of participants (five to ten) will be interviewed at the same time, allowing for group members to interact with one another. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 48
OBJ: Interviews
MSC: Remembering
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of asking open-ended and closed-ended questions? ANS: Open-ended questions allow for a wide variety of responses, whereas closed-ended questions limit possible responses. Open-ended questions provide qualitative data for an in-depth look into society but are time-consuming to answer and analyze. Closed-ended questions provide quantitative data that is able to be analyzed quickly using statistical analysis but lack the qualitative understanding found in open-ended questions. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 48–52 OBJ: Interviews | Surveys
6. Why is it important that researchers have a representative sample when conducting survey research? ANS: A representative sample allows for information garnered by surveys to be utilized to make accurate inferences about the target population. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 51
OBJ: Surveys
MSC: Understanding
7. How might researchers generate a representative sample from a target population? ANS: Answers may vary but should include the following: representative samples can be generated through probability sampling, where the sample reflects the characteristics of target population. This may be achieved through a simple random sample, where everyone in a target population has an equal chance of being randomly selected, or through more advanced sampling techniques of manipulating or weighting sample population responses. DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 51–52 OBJ: Surveys
MSC: Understanding
8. What difficulties does experimental research present for researchers? ANS: Experiments are only applicable in certain types of research—that which can be constructed and measured in a controlled setting. Experiments do not work in explaining complex processes and interactions, and researchers cannot always eliminate factors that will have an unforeseen effect on social outcomes.
DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 56–57 OBJ: Experimental Methods MSC: Understanding 9. In action research, what role does the population studied perform? ANS: Participants are active, collaborative, and equal participants; researchers are doing research with the people rather than on them. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 50 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
10. Explain the importance of confidentiality in social research. ANS: Answers may vary but should include the following: breaching confidentiality can cause harm to research participants. For example, due to a breach of confidentiality, Muncie, Indiana, was perceived as an example of shallowness and triviality, and Carolyn Ellis destroyed her relationships with participants in her research who were emotionally hurt by their misrepresented portrayals. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 62–63 OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research MSC: Understanding 11. What recommendations are set out in the American Sociological Association’s Code of Ethics? ANS: The ASA’s Code of Ethics are a set of guidelines for researchers on how to avoid bias, adhere to professional standards, and protect respondents from harm. DIF: Easy REF: Page 63 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
ESSAY 1. Why should sociologists generally follow the steps of the scientific method or approach? ANS: Answers to this question should address how the scientific method or approach has been accepted as a standard procedure for acquiring empirical and measurable knowledge. It gives an important structure to the research process, without which data might be thought less rigorous or compelling. Using the scientific method helps researchers avoid common mistakes—such as neglecting to conduct a literature review—that might make a study pointless. Following the steps of the scientific method or approach helps researchers contribute to and build the field. For example, when their research findings are disseminated, this informs participants, other professionals, and interested parties, thus creating a research community. Finally, following Kuhn’s line of thinking, we are constantly gathering data to understand what is true. However, truth is relative and depends on the paradigm, or worldview, we are using. Using the scientific method generates data that can help us see the world in different ways and can contribute to paradigm shifts and new ways of understanding what is true. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 41–43 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
2. The scientific method provides a general plan for conducting research in a systematic way. Describe the series of steps in the scientific method. ANS: In the first step, the researcher identifies a problem or asks a question. Next, the researcher does a literature review. The third step in the scientific method is forming a hypothesis where the variables are clearly defined (or operationalized). Fourth, the researcher chooses a research method or design to conduct the study; fifth, data are collected; and six, the data are analyzed and evaluated. Finally, the researcher disseminates the findings. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 41–42 OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods MSC: Remembering 3. In everyday life, it is assumed that science provides access to objective truths that will never change. However, the philosopher Thomas Kuhn argues that truth is relative and dependent upon the paradigm through which one sees the world. Explain what a paradigm is and how the scientific method can lead to paradigm shifts. ANS: Answers should begin by describing Kuhn’s work, especially the idea that paradigms are broad theoretical models about how things work. A paradigm shift, a major break from the assumptions made by the previous model, occurs when new information force a new way of looking at the world, as in the shift from an Earth-centered solar system to a heliocentric solar system. And it is through the use of the scientific method that new data is generated; the scientific method demands that assumptions be tested with empirical data. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 43
OBJ: An Overview of Research Methods
4. Each method of social research comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. This means that there is not necessarily a “right” answer to the question of which method should be used for a project. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using ethnographic research. ANS: Ethnographic research allows researchers to tell detailed stories that contribute to understanding social life, study previously overlooked groups, challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, and develop innovative methodologies. However, ethnographic research is hard to replicate, not always representative, and easily affected by bias. Reflexivity must be taken into account when doing ethnographic research. This type of research is also time-consuming and involves many hours of fieldwork. DIF: Moderate MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 44–46 OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation
5. The anthropologist Clifford Geertz coined the term “thick description” to describe well-written fieldnotes. What does he mean by this term? ANS:
Thick description should provide both a straightforward portrait of the activities and events in a given setting and resources from which the ethnographer can identify group members’ meanings in that setting. Making fieldnotes “thick” requires more than mere photographic details; it also requires sensitivity to context and to interactional details such as facial expressions and tone of voice, which enrich what might otherwise be just a list of happenings. Thick description means all the possible meanings of a phenomenon within a cultural setting. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 45 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Ethnography/Participant Observation
6. Both interviews and surveys require a researcher to write clear, unambiguous questions in order to generate good data. What are the pitfalls and benefits of crafting specific types of questions? ANS: Answers should mention leading, double-barreled, and negative questions. The text also mentions overly complex questions, ambiguous questions, and those that spark an emotional reaction on the part of the respondent. A discussion of open-ended versus closed-ended questions should include information about closed-ended questions being easier to code but not allowing respondents to fully answer in their own words. Open-ended questions allow respondents to fully answer questions with their own ideas but are much more time-consuming for researchers to code. DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 48–51 OBJ: Interviews
MSC: Applying
7. As far back as Auguste Comte, the theorist who coined the term “sociology,” it has been assumed by many sociologists that objectivity is important in studying society. Describe the assumptions surrounding the role objectivity plays in sociology. ANS: Any answer should first point out that many “facts” from the past are now seen as distortions based on racism, sexism, class privilege, and even religiosity. Second, social researchers are human and therefore understand the world through their own subjective natures. Third, some postmodern theorists have suggested that there is no such thing as objective reality. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 60–61 OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research MSC: Understanding 8. Given what you learned in Chapter 2, why would interviewers’ appearance, including clothing and hairstyle, make a difference in determining what they learn? ANS: Any good answer will mention reflexivity, the idea that researchers’ presence affects how people respond around them. While the presence of anyone might change certain things about a setting, most of the important effects of reflexivity are based on the particular identity and activities of a particular researcher, so the way he or she chooses to present himself or herself to his or her research subjects will affect their responses. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 61
OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
9. In physics, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle states that to measure something is also to change it. Sociologists have observed a similar phenomenon—reactivity. Describe the classic example of reactivity, observed and explained by Elton Mayo at the Western Electric Hawthorne Plant between 1927 and 1932.
ANS: Mayo sought to examine the effect of varying work conditions on motivation and productivity in the factory. He changed various conditions—such as lighting levels, rest breaks, and even rates of pay—and found that each change resulted in a rise in productivity. However, returning to the original conditions also resulted in a rise in productivity. Mayo concluded that the variables he had manipulated were not the only or dominant causes of productivity. Rather, it was the effect of being studied, or what is now referred to as the Hawthorne effect, that caused the increases. It was attention that had caused the improvement. The presence of researchers always affects those that they study. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 61 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
10. In recent years, ethnography has expanded beyond academic and scientific disciplines and is now often used for commercial purposes. Explain how ethnographic methods can help advertisers. ANS: Advertisers are interested in the complex relationships between people and products, and ethnographic methods help them uncover the interpretive strategies and meaning systems used by consumers. The text mentions both Nissan, which used ethnographic methods to discover how American consumers defined “luxury,” and “cool hunters,” who search for new and hip trends in popular culture by talking to trendsetters. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 58–59 OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
11. Social researchers, especially ethnographers, sometimes find themselves faced with complicated moral dilemmas. Chapter 2 describes the case of the ethnographer Rik Scarce, who was subpoenaed to testify about the actions of the animal rights group he had been studying. What did Scarce feel was his most important moral obligation? Why? ANS: The subpoena had asked that Scarce testify in the case, which could have incriminated the animal rights group he was studying. This was problematic to him because it had taken months of fieldwork to gain the trust of his subjects. However, if he did not testify, he would doom himself to a jail sentence. Scarce felt a strong ethical obligation to protect his research subjects, whose confidentiality he had guaranteed, and he refused to testify in court. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 63 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
12. Every discipline that does research on humans needs a code of ethics in order to protect its research subjects. While it is easy to see that medical research could harm people if not carried out ethically, the risks associated with sociological research may seem more subtle. Describe these risks. ANS: This answer should mention breaches of confidentiality and issues of betrayal based on the way subjects are portrayed, as well as risks of physical and legal harm to researchers. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 61|Page 63 OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research MSC: Understanding
13. A professor receives a grant to study local employment conditions and files the required paperwork with her university’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). Later, several graduate students, who were not around when the project started, are hired to take over the day-to-day management of the project. The IRB promptly cuts off the project’s funding. Explain what an IRB does and why it might revoke funding for a research project. ANS: The IRB is a group of scholars who review the research proposals of their colleagues at a school. It is the responsibility of the IRB to protect research subjects from any kind of harm. Although a researcher change is not problematic in and of itself, the IRB would be concerned that it might signal a larger shift in the nature of the project: from a research procedure that had been approved as safe and ethical to one that had not been reviewed. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 63
OBJ: Issues in Sociological Research
CHAPTER 03: CULTURE MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. What is the definition of “culture”? a. Culture is reactions to ways people follow or disobey norms in society. b. Culture is limited to rules or guidelines about what kind of behavior is acceptable and appropriate within a particular situation. c. Culture is the principle of evaluating another group or individual as abnormal or inferior. d. Culture is the entire way of life of a group of people, and it acts as a lens through which we view the world. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 73–74 OBJ: What Is Culture?
2. How is the study of culture different for sociologists than for anthropologists? a. Sociologists usually study a culture to which they belong. b. Anthropologists only study industrial societies. c. Sociologists never “other” the group they are studying. d. Anthropologists only study societies from the past. ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 73
OBJ: What Is Culture?
3. Although many people believe that expectations for personal space (usually about eighteen inches for Americans) are innate, members of many cultures are accustomed to noticeably less personal space than we are. This helps demonstrate that people’s expectations for personal space are: a. the direct result of hormonal differences in the limbic system. b. usually negotiable and not all that hard to change. c. a part of our culture and as such are learned rather than innate. d. something that is innate, more an instinct than something learned. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 73
OBJ: What Is Culture?
4. The tendency to use your own group’s way of doing things as the yardstick for judging others is called: a. Ethnocentrism c. Cultural relativism b. Culture shock d. Self-centeredness ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 74 OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
MSC: Remembering
5. Why do ethnocentric people tend to view other cultures as abnormal? a. They understand other values and beliefs within the proper cultural context. b. They use their own culture as a standard of judgment. c. They are practicing cultural relativism. d. They are part of a counterculture. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 74 OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
MSC: Remembering
6. The famous anthropologist Margaret Mead said that the United States of America is the best place to raise a female child. Her assertion is an example of:
a. b. c. d.
preferring high culture to popular culture. ethnocentrism. cultural relativism. participating in culture wars.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 74 OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
MSC: Applying
7. The ability to understand another culture in terms of that culture’s own norms and values, without reference to any other culture’s standards, is called: a. Ethnocentrism c. Cultural lag b. Cultural relativism d. Variability ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 74 OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
MSC: Remembering
8. How is culture transmitted and internalized? a. We are born with these values and beliefs. b. We learn values and beliefs slowly and incrementally. c. It is human nature to accept one’s own culture as superior. d. Values and beliefs are only taught in school. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 73
OBJ: What Is Culture?
9. The article “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” is useful to sociologists because: a. it presents a striking example of an exotic culture. b. it challenges people’s inability to observe their own cultures. c. it demonstrates proper fieldwork techniques for studying a different culture. d. it demonstrates how different other cultures are from American culture. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 74 OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
MSC: Remembering
10. What do sociologists claim is the most significant component of culture? a. History c. Multiculturalism b. Language d. Technology ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 78
OBJ: Components of Culture
11. Which of the following is an example of something that would be part of a person’s or a society’s material culture? a. Weapons of war b. Democracy as a political system c. Belief in a supreme being d. A preference to have health rather than wealth ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 76
OBJ: Components of Culture
12. Designer labels on purses and athletic logos on shirts are both examples of: a. values. c. counterculture. b. material culture. d. cultural essentials. ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 76
OBJ: Components of Culture
MSC: Remembering 13. Recently, curators at museums have experienced problems with the preservation of plastic objects, almost all of which disintegrate over time. The Smithsonian collection contains the first-ever plastic toothbrush, which soon will be nothing more than a pile of crumbs. This problem is leading many historians to worry that we will lose the history of our: a. symbolic culture. c. linguistic relativity. b. signs and gestures. d. material culture. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 76
OBJ: Components of Culture
14. Which of the following is an example of something that would be part of a person’s symbolic culture? a. Navajo jewelry c. A Rembrandt painting b. Imported French wine d. Belonging to a political party ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 77
OBJ: Components of Culture
15. Which of the following is one of the functions of symbolic culture? a. It provides material signs of values and beliefs. b. It enables people to communicate. c. It poses a threat to the larger society. d. It aids the proliferation of Western media. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 77–79 OBJ: Components of Culture
16. What is the sociological term for signs people make with their bodies? a. Language c. Sanctions b. Gestures d. Values ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 77
OBJ: Components of Culture
17. The widespread use of plastic in American culture is no accident; plastic offers consumers convenience, disposability, and choice. These advantages of plastic are all elements of: a. communication. c. symbolic culture. b. the development of the self. d. the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 79–80 OBJ: Components of Culture
18. In many Middle Eastern countries, showing someone the bottom of your foot or shoe is considered very rude, so American military personnel stationed in the Middle East are instructed to keep their feet inside helicopters when flying low. Why is this instruction needed? a. The meaning of gestures is not universal. b. Soldiers are generally rude and need specific instructions to keep them from offending civilians. c. Americans speak a different language than Middle Easterners. d. The sanctions used to achieve social control are very different in America and the Middle East. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 77–78 OBJ: Components of Culture
19. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis suggests that: a. although we have different labels for things, all humans share the same sense of social perception. b. in social interaction, nonverbal communication is as powerful as language. c. language can structure our perception of reality. d. we relate to each other on a symbolic rather than a literal level. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 78
OBJ: Components of Culture
20. Who were the two anthropologists who studied the Hopi of the southwestern United States and concluded that language not only expresses our thoughts but also shapes the way we think? a. Henry McKay and Clifford Shaw c. Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf b. Cordell Walker and James Trevett d. Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 78
OBJ: Components of Culture
21. In the movie Mean Girls, students identify each other using categories like “jock,” “cheerleader,” “skater,” and “nerd.” These classifications of different groups represent what aspect of culture? a. Cultural relativism c. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis b. Subculture d. Cultural imperialism ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 79
OBJ: Components of Culture
22. The slogan “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” is an example of: a. Moral escape c. Immoral holiday b. Moral holiday d. Spousal infidelity ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
23. In the United States of America, a married man who has several mistresses is violating a ________, but if he is married to more than one woman at the same time, he is violating a ________. a. more; law c. norm; folkway b. law; taboo d. folkway; sanction ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 79–80 OBJ: Components of Culture
24. Which of the following is an example of a taboo in American society? a. Divorce c. Incest b. Bankruptcy d. Drunkenness ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
25. What do sociologists call informal rules and guidelines for behavior that is considered acceptable within a group? a. Folkways c. Taboos b. Mores d. Norms ANS: D
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 79
OBJ: Components of Culture
MSC: Remembering 26. How are norms enforced in everyday settings? a. By multiculturalism c. By signs b. By sanctions d. By culture wars ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
27. Unlike a folkway, a more is closely related to: a. the core values of a group. c. the dominant culture of a group. b. formal norms, such as laws. d. the culture wars between groups. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 79
OBJ: Components of Culture
28. Coca-Cola was first marketed in the 1860s as a patent medicine, designed to offer the energy boost of cocaine without the vices of alcohol. The new beverage was invigorating and popular. Today, however, cocaine is not just banned but widely demonized. This is an example of: a. mainstream culture once approving of behaviors that are now considered deviant. b. the tendency of the United States to become more puritanical. c. the emergence of a counterculture. d. conflict between the economically powerful and the rest of society. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 86–87 OBJ: Components of Culture
29. How are informal norms different from formal norms? a. Informal norms are always followed. b. Informal norms are legislated by the government. c. Informal norms involve dress and etiquette. d. Informal norms are implicit and unspoken. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 79
OBJ: Components of Culture
30. Which of the following sequences lists norms in the correct order, from the most severely enforced to the least? a. Mores, taboos, folkways c. Taboos, mores, folkways b. Folkways, taboos, mores d. Folkways, mores, taboos ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 79–80 OBJ: Components of Culture
31. Which kind of norm is so deeply ingrained that the very thought of breaking it brings feelings of disgust or horror? a. A federal law c. A folkway b. A taboo d. A more ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
32. In 2005 the Northwestern University women’s lacrosse team won an NCAA championship and was invited to the White House to receive congratulations from the president. Controversy erupted after their visit, when the official photograph revealed that several team members were wearing flip-flops. Despite the outcry, the athletes took the criticism in stride, talking about it on The Today Show and auctioning the offending footwear for charity. Given the reaction and the team’s response, what kind of norm did the athletes break by wearing flip-flops to the White House? a. A folkway c. A taboo b. A more d. A negative sanction ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 79
OBJ: Components of Culture
33. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, some people placed signs with crudely painted skeletons holding cell phones near roadways, usually facing freeway ramps. These signs indicated disapproval of using cell phones while driving, a practice some states have now made illegal. As a result of these laws: a. almost no one violates the norm of not talking on a cell phone while driving. b. talking on a cell phone while driving is taboo. c. there are no real sanctions that can be used to enforce the norm of not talking on a cell phone while driving. d. an informal norm has become a law. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 79–80 OBJ: Components of Culture
34. Many people in the United States become very concerned when a restaurant tries to serve them a piece of undercooked beef. Despite the fact that many people in Europe regularly eat raw beef, many Americans express disgust at the idea. This suggests that in the United States, eating raw beef is a: a. Folkway c. Taboo b. Multicultural feeling d. More ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
35. A monetary fine, harsh words, and shaking one’s fist are examples of: a. negative sanctions. c. cultural universals. b. positive feedback. d. situational norms. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
36. It’s all too common to see someone driving a car on a busy freeway while cursing and gesturing at another motorist whose poor driving has offended him. Cursing and gesturing are an individual’s attempt at: a. negative sanctions. c. cultural necessities b. positive sanctions. d. taboos. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
37. Marginalized groups in American society—such as street punks and skateboarders—often engage in activities that offend or annoy some people. One of the reasons people get so annoyed is that members of these groups don’t seem to care that they’re the subjects of disapproval. In other words, they:
a. b. c. d.
are engaged in taboo activities. are part of the dominant culture. don’t belong in the realm of mass or popular culture. don’t seem to care about negative sanctions.
ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
38. Which term describes a policy of honoring diverse racial, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and national backgrounds? a. Cultural imperialism c. Multiculturalism b. High culture d. Cultural relativism ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 82
OBJ: Variations in Culture
39. Many American colleges and universities require students to take classes on non-Western cultures. Why do these requirements exist? a. To demonstrate that the schools value multiculturalism and to reduce ethnocentrism b. Because many students will eventually work in other countries c. Because many international exchange students now study in America, and it’s important to give them classes they like d. Because students are fascinated by exotic cultures. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 82
OBJ: Variations in Culture
40. The values, norms, and practices of the most powerful group within a society are called: a. cultural leveling. c. dominant culture. b. symbolic culture. d. alternative culture. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 82
OBJ: Variations in Culture
41. When the dominant culture succeeds in imposing its values and ideas on all of society, this is known as: a. Hegemony c. Cultural relativism b. Cultural diffusion d. Cultural leveling ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 82
OBJ: Variations in Culture
42. The art historian and social critic John Berger has argued that the suit is the first “uniform of the powerful” designed for stationary life. However, many people in Western countries wear suits to appear professional or formal. This is why the suit is a classic example of: a. Hegemony c. Ethnocentrism b. Cultural diversity d. A subculture ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 82
OBJ: Variations in Culture
43. When the dominant culture, without the use of force, persuades the rest of society that its beliefs and values are the only or best values, it has achieved: a. Hegemony c. A culture war b. High culture d. Counterculture
ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 82
OBJ: Variations in Culture
44. A cultural group that exists harmoniously within a larger, dominant culture is called a: a. Counterculture c. Subdominant culture b. Cultural spin-off d. Subculture ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
45. Which of the following groups is a subculture? a. The Ku Klux Klan c. The Minutemen b. Horseback riders d. A street gang ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
46. Sociologists use which of the following terms to describe a group whose values and norms oppose the dominant culture? a. Subculture c. Subordinate culture b. Out culture d. Counterculture ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
47. Which of the following groups is most likely to be classified as a counterculture? a. Survivalists living in Montana b. New York taxi drivers c. Students who belong to the Middle Eastern Studies Club d. Members of the NAACP (the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
48. Countercultural groups such as the hippies of the 1960s: a. actually had a lifestyle that was similar to that of the mainstream culture b. were considered members of the popular culture. c. rejected the norms of the dominant culture. d. are now seen as a throwback to industrial society. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
49. How is a subculture different from a counterculture? a. Members of a subculture actively protest and fight to change society, whereas members of a counterculture drop out of society. b. Both are distinct from mainstream culture, but only members of a subculture actively oppose important aspects of mainstream culture. c. Both are distinct from mainstream culture, but a counterculture actively opposes important aspects of the mainstream. d. Subcultures are not culturally distinct from the mainstream; they just occupy a particular geographic area. ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
50. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was an activist organization in the 1960s that protested the Vietnam War, racial injustice, and economic exploitation. For the most part, the organization favored direct action and protest, most of which opposed traditional organizing and politics; instead, it sought a radically new form of social organization. Based on this information, you could say that members of SDS were part of a: a. Counterculture c. Popular culture organization b. Subculture d. Movement for cultural diffusion ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
51. Which of the following is an example of a culture war? a. One Democrat and two Republicans serving together as county commissioners b. Anti-abortion advocates demonstrating in front of a family planning clinic c. Christians celebrating Easter, Jews celebrating Passover, and Muslims celebrating Ramadan d. The existence of both a football team and a debate team in many high schools ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 85
OBJ: Variations in Culture
52. Clashes over values in the United States, especially as represented by liberals and conservatives in the mass media, have been termed: a. Value contradictions c. Culture wars b. Symbolic disagreements d. Partisan politics ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 84
OBJ: Variations in Culture
53. Conflict within mainstream society about which values and norms should be upheld is called: a. Culture wars c. Counterculture b. Symbolic culture d. Hegemony ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 84
OBJ: Variations in Culture
54. In 2010 President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Fox News and CNN presented vastly different viewpoints on the ACA, appealing to either conservative or liberal viewers, respectively. The media’s handling of this law is an example of: a. A more c. Counterculture b. Radical social movement d. Culture wars ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 84
OBJ: Variations in Culture
55. In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama took 53 percent of the vote, while John McCain took 46 percent. However, in the early months of 2009, when Obama’s approval ratings were still very high, post-election polls found that a significantly larger number of people claimed to have voted for him. Historians report that the percentage of people who remember voting for any president rises and falls with the president’s approval ratings. More people seemed to believe that they “should” have voted for Obama. This belief is an example of: a. Ideal culture c. Popular culture b. Folkways d. Cultural diffusion ANS: A
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 84
OBJ: Variations in Culture
MSC: Applying 56. What do sociologists call the norms and values that people actually follow, as opposed to the norms and values that people believe should be followed? a. Ideal culture c. Symbolic culture b. Applied culture d. Real culture ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 84
OBJ: Variations in Culture
57. Sociologists refer to the norms and values that people aspire to as: a. Ideal culture c. Normative culture b. Applied culture d. Symbolic culture ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 84
OBJ: Variations in Culture
58. When an employee is promoted instead of more deserving co-workers because he has a special relationship with his boss, this is an example of: a. the way culture wars happen. b. the role of high culture in determining status and rank. c. the ideal way to conduct business. d. the distinction between ideal culture and real culture. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 84
OBJ: Variations in Culture
59. During the American occupation of Japan after World War II, the Japanese observed soldiers playing baseball and later adopted it as one of their favorite pastimes. This is an example of: a. Cultural lag c. Cultural adaptation b. Cultural diffusion d. Cultural reformulation ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 88
OBJ: Cultural Change
60. When Patti Sue took a world tour, she had lunch at McDonald’s in Tokyo, ate dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hong Kong, purchased clothes at Macy’s in London, and was entertained at a Disney show featuring Mickey Mouse and Pluto in Paris. This homogenization of cultures around the world is called: a. Cultural dissonance c. Cultural lag b. Cultural leveling d. Cultural diffusion ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 88
OBJ: Cultural Change
61. What do sociologists call it when cultures that were once distinct become increasingly similar? a. Cultural imperialism c. Cultural diffusion b. Social control d. Cultural leveling ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 88
OBJ: Cultural Change
62. The French social theorist Jean-François Lyotard described contemporary culture in this way: “One listens to reggae, watches a Western, eats McDonald’s food for lunch and local cuisine for dinner, wears Paris perfume in Tokyo and ‘retro’ clothes in Hong Kong.” He was writing about postmodernism, but what concept can help explain this mishmash of activities?
a. Technological determinism b. Interpretive communities ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
c. Counterculture d. Cultural diffusion REF: Page 88
OBJ: Cultural Change
63. Today it is possible to travel all over the world, especially if you visit major metropolitan areas, without ever having to eat anything but McDonald’s food. This is an example of: a. Dominant culture c. Cultural leveling b. Cultural diffusion d. Hegemony ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 88
OBJ: Cultural Change
64. Because of their economic strength, Western media companies are powerful enough to impose their products on markets worldwide. This phenomenon is known as: a. Cultural stratification c. Cultural diffusion b. Cultural relativism d. Cultural imperialism ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 90
OBJ: Cultural Change
65. In the article “Jihad vs. McWorld,” Benjamin R. Barber points out that “in November of 1991 Switzerland’s once insular culture boasted best-seller lists featuring Terminator 2 as the #1 movie, Scarlett as the #1 book, and Prince’s Diamonds and Pearls as the #1 record album.” Many people worry that the prominence of American culture goes beyond the media and represents the wholesale imposition of American values on other cultures, a process called: a. Culture war c. Cultural imperialism b. Ideal culture d. Counterculture ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 88–90 OBJ: Cultural Change
66. As a way of facilitating social change, tweets and hashtags are a new social phenomenon in which people are able to use social media in an effort to: a. organize and protest political policies. b. communicate with a small group of people. c. purchase items. d. promote a fashion brand. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 89
OBJ: Cultural Change
TRUE/FALSE 1. Sociologists claim that culture is the lens through which we perceive and evaluate what is going on in the world around us. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 73
OBJ: What Is Culture?
2. Even when sociologists study their own cultures, they often engage in the process of “othering” the people they study. ANS: T
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 73
OBJ: What Is Culture?
MSC: Remembering 3. Norms are symbolic culture in action. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 79
OBJ: Components of Culture
4. Negative sanctions can only be imposed by an authoritative body or formal institution. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 80
OBJ: Components of Culture
SHORT ANSWER 1. List at least four examples of symbolic culture. ANS: Examples could include gestures, language, signs, values, norms, sanctions, folkways, laws, taboos, and/or mores. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 77–80 OBJ: Components of Culture MSC: Remembering 2. Give an example of a gesture within your culture that may not translate into another culture’s body language. ANS: The textbook uses the example of the “thumbs up” sign, which expresses praise or approval in the U.S. but may be considered obscene in South America or Asia. Similarly, the “A-OK” sign communicates praise in the U.S. but is not acceptable in parts of Italy. The “middle finger” is considered obscene in the U.S. but means nothing to people living in Brazil. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 77
OBJ: Components of Culture
3. Describe the difference between a positive sanction and a negative sanction. ANS: Positive sanctions reward people for conforming to cultural norms. Examples of positive sanctions include smiles, praise, and awards. Negative sanctions punish people for violating norms. Examples of negative sanctions include frowns, disapproval, and incarceration. DIF: Easy REF: Page 80 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Components of Culture
4. Describe cultural relativism. ANS: Cultural relativism is a way of understanding other cultures on their own terms, rather than from the perspective of our own culture. Unlike ethnocentrism, cultural relativism enables us to see other cultures clearly without making value judgments. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 74
OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
MSC: Remembering 5. What is an example of ethnocentrism? ANS: If we travel to another country, the people there may choose to eat a certain type of food that we would consider abnormal for consumption. For example, if you travel to Scotland and are asked to try haggis, you will likely feel repulsed, because you have been culturally conditioned to respond in this manner to foods that we consider odd in the U.S. In Scottish culture, however, haggis is a perfectly acceptable thing to eat—in fact, it is a cultural tradition. This is an example of ethnocentrism because you would be judging another culture based on the standards of what is considered “normal” in your own culture. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 74
OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
6. Describe an example of how mainstream values can change or fall out of favor. ANS: A group’s mainstream values are based on public consensus about what is good or bad. For example, smoking cigarettes was not universally looked down upon in the 1980s; people could even smoke in restaurants and public places. But today, because of the change in social understanding of the health risks, and because of higher insurance premiums for smokers, there is a strong aversion to participating in this type of unhealthy behavior. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 79
OBJ: Components of Culture
7. The term “culture wars” refers to the extreme clashes in values that occur when there are conflicting viewpoints about efforts to change core values in society. Give an example of how social commentators in the media can facilitate a culture war. ANS: The textbook uses the example of how social commentators have debated issues such as the appropriateness of Miley Cyrus’s “twerking” during the MTV Video Music Awards. Many commentators felt that exposure to these forms of sexually suggestive behavior is breaking down the moral fiber of impressionable teenagers. Others argued that Cyrus is old enough to be free to explore her individualism and that parents should take responsibility for their children’s morality. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 85 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Variations in Culture
8. How is culture shock useful in helping sociologists see that even what is most familiar to us can be bizarre? ANS: We are dependent on culture for survival, and practicing our own culture becomes “second nature.” Culture shock can help us look at our own culture in new ways, rather than taking it for granted. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 73–74 OBJ: What Is Culture? | Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism MSC: Remembering
9. What is culture? ANS: Culture is the total way of life of a group of people. DIF: Easy REF: Page 73 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Culture?
10. Because of Western cultural imperialism, American media companies broadcast shows in other countries that may clash with those countries’ traditional cultural values. What are some examples of American cultural values exported through the media that people in non-Western parts of the world might find distasteful? ANS: Examples could include materialism, democracy, capitalism, Christianity, individualism, and sexual freedom. DIF: Easy REF: Page 91 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: American Culture in Perspective
ESSAY 1. Both sociologists and anthropologists study culture. Explain how sociology differs from anthropology and why cultural relativism is important for the sociologist. ANS: Answers should start by emphasizing that anthropologists tend to study cultures that are very different from their own, whereas sociologists tend to study their own cultures. However, answers should also mention that sociologists may have a tendency to engage in the process of “othering” groups within their own societies by studying unusual or deviant aspects of the culture. To avoid this, and the ethnocentrism that is inherent in it, sociologists need to practice cultural relativism by studying both the strange and the familiar without making value judgments. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 73–74 OBJ: What Is Culture? | Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism MSC: Analyzing 2. Culture is a very broad concept, so sociologists usually divide it into the concepts of material culture and symbolic culture. List and describe the major components of symbolic culture. ANS: The elements of symbolic culture fall into two groups, each consisting of three parts. The first group includes signs, gestures, and language. Signs are symbols that are designed to meaningfully represent an idea and to convey information. Gestures refer to body language and nonverbal communication. Good answers will emphasize that gestures are culturally specific. Language is probably the most significant component of culture, because it is the basis of all symbolic culture and is what allows us to communicate and to pass culture from one generation to the next. The best answers might mention the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which argues that language does not just reflect culture but actively structures thought and perception. The second group of elements includes values, norms, and sanctions. Values are a set of shared beliefs about what is good and bad; norms are the rules and guidelines for carrying out those beliefs; and sanctions are the means of enforcing norms. Norms may be formal, like laws, or informal, like folkways and mores. Sanctions may be positive or negative.
DIF: Easy REF: Pages 77–80 OBJ: Components of Culture MSC: Remembering | Applying 3. Language is the most important element of symbolic culture, but its role in social life is still hotly debated among sociologists. Describe the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and its position about the role of language in creating social life. ANS: The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, or the principle of linguistic relativity, reverses the standard assumption about the relationship between language and perception. Instead of sensory perception suggesting the need for words to describe it, the hypothesis suggests that our language helps structure our perception and therefore controls what our senses notice. For example, a native Colombian perceives a lemon as both a lemon and a lime. People in the U.S. see a distinct difference between a lemon and a lime. DIF: Easy REF: Page 78 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Components of Culture
4. Values and norms are symbolic culture in action. Describe the difference between values and norms, and then describe the different kinds of norms. ANS: Values are a cultural group’s shared beliefs about what is worthwhile and desirable, good or bad, beautiful or ugly. Norms are the rules and guidelines about acceptable behavior that develop out of those values. Norms can be formal or informal. Formal norms, such as laws, are always codified in some way, shape, or form. Informal norms are ordinary, everyday conventions and are usually unspoken. Informal norms range from folkways, the least strictly enforced, to mores, which are more strictly enforced because they relate to the core values of the group. The most extreme form of mores are taboos, which are so deeply ingrained that most people don’t even like to think about violating them. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 79–80 OBJ: Components of Culture
5. Explain the difference between subcultures and countercultures, and give an example of each. ANS: Both subcultures and countercultures can be seen as distinct from the mainstream or dominant culture. However, while a subculture has its own values, norms, and practices, they do not contradict or stand in direct opposition to the beliefs of the mainstream culture. A counterculture, on the other hand, has beliefs, values, and practices that are incompatible with or in direct opposition to the mainstream culture. Some countercultures attempt to bring about social change; others simply try to live outside of mainstream society. For example, people who engage in activities like LARPing (live action role playing) would be considered members of a subculture, whereas people who have joined hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, would be considered a counterculture. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 83
OBJ: Variations in Culture
6. Cultures around the world are changing at an increasingly rapid pace. How does a cultural group change through contact with other cultures?
ANS: There are three principal concepts associated with cultural change resulting from contact between societies. Cultural diffusion occurs when one culture begins to adopt the tools, beliefs, and/or practices of another culture that it has been exposed to. Cultural leveling happens when formerly distinct cultures become increasingly similar. Cultural imperialism refers to the imposition of the cultural beliefs and practices of a more economically powerful group onto a less powerful group. Within these types of cultural change, it is more likely that the flow of practices and ideas goes from the more dominant group to the less dominant group. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 88–91 OBJ: Cultural Change MSC: Understanding 7. What is ethnocentrism and how does it impede our understanding of other cultures? What kind of attitude should we take instead? ANS: Ethnocentrism causes us to judge other groups and individuals by using our own culture as a yardstick for normality, thus making any other culture “abnormal.” This attitude also makes it more difficult for us to see the strangeness in our own culture. “Body Ritual among the Nacirema” may be mentioned to make this point. We should adopt the attitude of cultural relativism instead of ethnocentrism, because relativism forces us to judge each culture on its own terms, and it opens up a wider variety of views. DIF: Easy REF: Page 74 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
8. How are ideal culture and real culture different? Give an example of a situation in which ideal culture and real culture separate from each other. ANS: The difference between ideal culture and real culture is the distinction between the norms and values that members of a cultural group espouse and the patterns of behavior that exist in everyday life—in other words, the difference between how people think they should behave and how they actually do behave. Any example should describe a situation in which some important value that is nearly universally held is contradicted by people’s actual behavior. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 85
OBJ: Variations in Culture
9. Give an example of hegemony in contemporary culture. Define hegemony and then explain, in detail, what makes your example hegemonic. ANS: Hegemony is defined as the cultural aspects of social control whereby the ideas and values of the dominant social group are accepted by all members of a society. Many examples can show how a particular value, idea, or way of doing things has been disseminated down from the dominant social group and accepted in all levels of society. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 82
OBJ: Variations in Culture
10. How has ethnocentrism affected your lived experiences? What do you think a more culturally relativist approach to your example would look like?
ANS: Answers should demonstrate the value judgment of “abnormal” or “better than,” which is part of ethnocentrism, and the fact that a culturally relativist approach would remove that value judgment from the example. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 74 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
CHAPTER 04: SOCIALIZATION, INTERACTION, AND THE SELF MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The nature vs. nurture debate helps us understand: a. the contradictions between primary and secondary group socialization. b. the complex interaction between hereditary traits and social learning. c. why biology has nothing to do with human potential. d. how biology determines physical characteristics, whereas social learning alone determines a person’s personality and habits. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 97
OBJ: What Is Human Nature?
2. The indie rock band the Halo Benders once sang: Part environment And part heredity What we’re born with And what’s been fed to me What issue is being referenced in this song? a. The nature vs. nurture debate c. Dramaturgy b. Impression management d. Role conflict ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 97
OBJ: What Is Human Nature?
3. Which of the following statements reflects the best understanding of the nature vs. nurture debate? a. Nature matters, but nurture is far more important, because socialization accounts for far more of the variation between people. b. Nature is responsible for some traits, like intelligence and athletic ability, while nurture is responsible for emotional traits. c. Nature and nurture are not opposing forces, but they constantly modify each other as part of a larger interactive process. d. Nature only plays a role in the purely physical aspects of our lives, such as height, weight, and eye color. ANS: C MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 97
OBJ: What Is Human Nature?
4. Children who are raised without human interaction, or with a minimum of human contact, are referred to as ________ children. a. feral c. cognitively disadvantaged b. institutionalized d. environmentally challenged ANS: A DIF: Easy Socialization MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 98
OBJ: The Process of
5. Several cases of children who grew up in extreme social isolation, such as the case of Genie in 1970, suggest that: a. most of our mental capacities, and perhaps even the ability to think, are learned through social interaction. b. human intelligence is almost entirely determined by heredity.
c. the effects of isolation at an early age are easily reversible if caught in time. d. the effects of extreme isolation in children are irreversible if the situation isn’t corrected by the time the child is five years old. ANS: A DIF: Moderate | Difficult REF: Pages 99–100 OBJ: The Process of Socialization MSC: Understanding 6. The term “socialization” refers to: a. the lifelong process by which people learn the norms, values, and beliefs of their culture. b. the fact that human nature is essentially self-centered and must be unlearned. c. the interaction between different societies’ cultures. d. the process by which individuals come to know one another. ANS: A DIF: Easy Socialization MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 97–98 OBJ: The Process of
7. Which of the following is one of the goals of socialization? a. To ensure that society self-evaluates b. To teach norms, values, and beliefs c. To teach people how to avoid incarceration d. To teach the skills necessary to satisfy our love of technology ANS: B DIF: Easy Socialization MSC: Remembering
REF: Pages 97–98 OBJ: The Process of
8. What happens to individuals who are not socialized? a. They are likely to produce their own words and therefore have a much larger vocabulary than the average person. b. They are devoid of many of the qualities we associate with being human. c. They have a much harder time with reading and math. d. They are more likely to divorce. ANS: B DIF: Easy Socialization MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 97–98 OBJ: The Process of
9. Which of the following statements about the process of socialization is true? a. It eventually stops, generally around adulthood. b. The process is reciprocal: society shapes the individual and the individual shapes society. c. It stays consistent over time. d. It stays consistent in most social settings. ANS: B Socialization MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Pages 97–98 OBJ: The Process of
10. Parents often buy their children gender-specific toys. Boys get action figures that encourage active and aggressive play; girls get dolls and toy ovens that encourage domesticity. This is part of what process? a. Personality c. Social isolation b. Socialization d. Status conflict ANS: B Socialization
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 97–98 OBJ: The Process of
MSC: Applying 11. Victor of Aveyron was a feral child who wandered out of the woods in 1800 when he was approximately twelve years old. Victor was incapable of talking and he never fully adjusted to life with other humans. This case shows the importance of: a. Impression management c. The superego b. Positive sanctions d. Socialization ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: The Process of Socialization
REF: Pages 98–100 MSC: Applying
12. How do sociologists define the self? a. The part of an individual that is displayed to other members of a society b. Only the private innermost parts of the mind that are not usually shown to others c. The experience of an individual’s personal identity, distinct from other people d. The parts of the human mind that are created through interactions with parents or guardians ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 100
OBJ: Theories of the Self
13. Recent research by marine biologists suggests that bottlenose dolphins have names for themselves. Scientists played sounds they had identified as the names of particular dolphins, putting them through a synthesizer so that they did not sound like the voices of particular dolphins. The researchers found that dolphins would respond to the names of other dolphins that they were related to or associated with, but they ignored the names of strangers. This discovery suggests a much greater degree of self-awareness in aquatic mammals than was previously suspected. If this research holds up, what does it suggest about dolphins? a. They go through stages of socialization. b. Significant others are as important to dolphins as they are to us. c. The ocean may be like a frontstage area, in Goffman’s terminology. d. They have a sense of self similar to that of humans. ANS: D MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 100
OBJ: Theories of the Self
14. What was Sigmund Freud’s greatest contribution to the understanding of the self? a. His use of the terms “generalized other” and “significant other” b. His theory of the unconscious mind c. His theory of the looking-glass self d. His research on feral children ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 100–102 MSC: Understanding
15. According to Sigmund Freud’s theoretical perspective, what are the parts of the mind? a. The looking-glass self and the dual nature of self b. The dual nature of the self, the significant other, and the generalized other c. The significant other and the generalized other d. The id, the ego, and the superego ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 100–101 MSC: Remembering
16. According to Sigmund Freud, which part of the mind is composed of biological drives and consequently is the source of psychic energy? a. The looking-glass self c. The ego b. The id d. The superego ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 100
OBJ: Theories of the Self
17. In his book The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud suggested that: a. thoughts must originate in both the id and the superego. b. the conscious level of awareness is but the tip of the iceberg and that just below the surface is a far greater area of the mind, the subconscious and the unconscious. c. dreams result from inconsequential superstitions and have to be “worked through” in order for analysis to succeed. d. people are in control of their own dreams and can consciously choose to steer them in one direction or another. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 100
OBJ: Theories of the Self
18. In the psychoanalytic theory developed by Sigmund Freud, which part of our mind is responsible for representing culture within us and serving as the moral component of our personality? a. The id c. The superego b. The ego d. The unconscious ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 101
OBJ: Theories of the Self
19. Which part of the mind of feral children would Sigmund Freud expect to be most fully developed? a. The psychosexual side c. The ego b. The id d. The superego ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 100
OBJ: Theories of the Self
20. Here is a quote from Freud, describing a part of the mind as he theorized it: It is the dark, inaccessible part of our personality, what little we know of it we have learnt from our study of the dream-work and of the construction of neurotic symptoms. . . .We all approach [it] with analogies: we call it a chaos, a cauldron full of seething excitations. Which part of the mind was he talking about? a. The id c. The superego b. The ego d. The conscience ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 100–101 MSC: Applying
21. Which part of the mind would Freud have described as being like a type of conscience that punishes misbehavior with feelings of guilt? a. The id c. The superego b. The ego d. The brain ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 101
OBJ: Theories of the Self
22. Sigmund Freud once said that the id was like a wild horse and that the ________ was like a rider astride the horse, struggling to keep it under control. a. id c. superego b. ego d. libido ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 101
OBJ: Theories of the Self
23. The concept of the looking-glass self explains: a. why it is so difficult to see ourselves as others do. b. how we develop a self-concept based on our perceptions of others’ judgments of us. c. how young children come to realize that they have a separate identity. d. why we respond to the generalized other. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 102
OBJ: Theories of the Self
24. “Each to each a looking-glass, / Reflects the other that doth pass.” This poem, associated with sociologist Charles Cooley, indicates that our sense of self originates in: a. basic biological drives. b. the first stage of sexual development. c. genetics. d. interactions with other people. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 102
OBJ: Theories of the Self
25. What do sociologists call the idea that all individuals act like mirrors to each other? a. Status c. The unconscious b. The looking-glass self d. The particular other ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 102
OBJ: Theories of the Self
26. Which of the following is one of the steps in Charles Cooley’s model of the looking-glass self? a. We try to interpret other people’s reactions to our presence and our presentation of ourselves. b. We imagine our lives like a movie. c. We experience ourselves in private. d. We imagine how we look in popular fashions. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 102
OBJ: Theories of the Self
27. Imagine a child who consistently gets mediocre grades and is often picked last for a team when games are played at recess. However, he likes to make silly jokes and play pranks, and he notices that people laugh when he does those things. The child starts to think that others are laughing with him, not at him. This is part of the process that Charles Cooley called: a. backstage. c. the looking-glass self. b. the preparatory stage. d. impression management. ANS: C MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 102
OBJ: Theories of the Self
28. If a college student plans to go to graduate school because she thinks of herself as having excellent critical thinking skills and a brilliant mind, where would Charles Cooley’s theory of the looking-glass self suggest that she got these ideas? a. These ideas are mostly genetic, part of the structure of her personality that she was born with. b. These ideas came from fellow students and teachers expressing admiration. c. These ideas came from the ease with which she understood new concepts. d. These ideas came from the inherent confidence that comes with truly exceptional mental abilities. ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 102
OBJ: Theories of the Self
29. According to the symbolic interactionist George Herbert Mead, the generalized other is: a. the inability of very young children to differentiate between themselves and others. b. the guidelines and expectations that are associated with a particular role in society. c. an understanding of the rules that govern a network of different players in related roles. d. the role toddlers take on when they graduate from the meaningless imitation of infancy to the play stage of young childhood. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 102–103 MSC: Understanding
30. According to the symbolic interactionist George Herbert Mead, why is playing organized games an important part of an older child’s development of the self? a. Game playing involves learning emotional self-control. b. Game playing reinforces the primary group ties that are essential to emotional well-being. c. Game playing teaches strict obedience to rules and norms. d. Game playing involves learning to anticipate and coordinate with other players’ actions. ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
31. The dual nature of the self, according to George Herbert Mead, refers to the idea that: a. there is both a conscious nature and an unconscious nature of the self. b. We have both a public self and a private self. c. we experience the self as both subject and object. d. there is both a social side and an instinctual side to the self. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
32. When a child can internalize the expectations of other specific people, she has learned to: a. overcome the looking-glass self. b. take the role of the particular or significant other. c. take the role of the generalized other. d. follow the rules of games. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 102–103 MSC: Understanding
33. According to George Herbert Mead, what are children learning when they begin to take the perspective of a generalized other in their games? a. The values and beliefs of their parents b. The behaviors associated with particular roles
c. How to imitate things d. The attitudes and expectations of society as a whole ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
34. Susie isn’t old enough to go to school yet, but she loves to play house. She has a toy stove and she pretends to be a mother. Sometimes, when that gets boring, she goes outside, takes a garden hose, and pretends to be a firefighter. George Herbert Mead would say that Susie is: a. in the play stage. c. her own generalized other. b. in the game stage. d. aware of the roles of others. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 102–103 MSC: Analyzing
35. According to George Herbert Mead, in what way is a game of football like society? a. In both football and society, individuals have to take into account the roles and points of view of everyone else. b. In both football and society, there are winners and losers. c. Both football and society involve hierarchy and rules that help the elite maintain their status. d. Both football and society use hegemonic power to maintain order. ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
36. Which theorist argued that if people define a situation as real, it is real in its consequences? a. W. I. Thomas c. George Herbert Mead b. Erving Goffman d. Charles Cooley ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
37. A student sitting through a boring class glances over at a friend and rolls his eyes. What would Erving Goffman call this? a. A personal front c. An expression of behavior b. Impression management d. Backstage ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 104
OBJ: Theories of the Self
38. Which of the following is true of expressions given, as defined by Erving Goffman? a. They are typically verbal and intentional. b. They are typically nonverbal. c. They often include facial expressions, body language, and style of dress. d. They are usually beyond the control of the individual who is giving them. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 104
OBJ: Theories of the Self
39. Which of the following is true of expressions given off, as defined by Erving Goffman? a. They are usually verbal. b. They are always under the control of the person who is giving them off. c. They often happen so quickly that the brain cannot process them. d. They are typically nonverbal, but they are observable in various ways.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 104
OBJ: Theories of the Self
40. Erving Goffman theorized social life as a kind of con game in which we work to control the impressions others have of us. What did Goffman call this process? a. Impression management c. Cooling the mark out b. Definition of the situation d. Expressions of behavior ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 104–105 MSC: Remembering
41. Because impression management relies so much on strategies of performance, scholars have called Erving Goffman’s ideas: a. Psychoanalysis c. Self-centered society b. The dual self d. Dramaturgy ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 104–105 MSC: Remembering
42. Appearance, manner, style of dress, race, gender, and age are all elements of: a. an individual’s personal front. c. expressions given. b. setting or region. d. the superego. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 105
OBJ: Theories of the Self
43. Sociologists examine financial collapses, such as those of the 1930s, in which rumors of insolvency, when believed by enough depositors, resulted in real bank failures. What sociological concept describes this phenomenon? a. Expressions given off c. Dramaturgy b. The Thomas theorem d. The generalized other ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
44. When you play high-stakes poker, it is silly to tell your opponents that you have a good hand. However, particularly good poker players say they can read other players’ “tells”—the subtle and unintentional facial expressions, mannerisms, and body language that reveal what they are thinking. What would Erving Goffman call tells? a. Expressions given off c. Expressions given b. The dual nature of the self d. The social construction of reality ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 104
OBJ: Theories of the Self
45. When we try to understand how other people define a situation, why might expressions given off seem like more trustworthy guides than expressions given? a. Expressions given off are easy to use in deceptive ways. b. We tend to believe that it is harder to manipulate expressions given off. c. Expressions given are almost never intentional. d. Expressions given off are almost always verbal and intentional. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 104
OBJ: Theories of the Self
46. Many people are afraid of picking up hitchhikers. Imagine that to get a ride, a hitchhiker makes a suitcase out of a gasoline can so that he looks like he’s a stranded motorist rather than a hitchhiker. A sociologist would say that the hitchhiker was working on: a. expressions of behavior. c. expressions given off. b. impression management. d. expressions given. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 104
OBJ: Theories of the Self
47. A famous monologue from Shakespeare’s As You Like It begins: All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts Which theory of social life could be seen as taking its inspiration from these lines? a. Agents of socialization b. Dramaturgy c. The psychosexual stages of development d. The social construction of emotions ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 104–105 MSC: Evaluating
48. A waitress is hired at the local branch of La Maison de la Casa House. On her first day, she is given strict instructions to always wear black pants with a white shirt, to never carry a notepad, and to always address customers as “Sir” or “Madam.” All of these things are elements of the waitress’s: a. Backstage c. Role strain b. Looking-glass self d. Personal front ANS: D MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 105
OBJ: Theories of the Self
49. The University of California, Santa Barbara, is located near the Pacific Ocean, and many students live within walking distance of the beach. Although the students feel that it’s perfectly normal to wear a bathing suit while at the beach, most of them put on a cover-up, or wrap themselves in a towel, to make the short walk back to their apartments. This is because the beach, unlike the street, is a(n) ________ where wearing nothing but a bathing suit is considered normal and acceptable. a. agent of socialization c. generalized other b. front d. region ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 105
OBJ: Theories of the Self
50. Which of the following sources of socialization forms the foundation for all other socializing agents? a. The family c. School b. Peer groups d. The mass media ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 107
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
51. Churches usually teach their members rules, often codifying these rules into formal commandments to be followed. Because of this, churches can be called: a. Dramaturgists c. Total institutions
b. Part of the media ANS: D MSC: Applying
d. Agents of socialization DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 107
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
52. Which of the following agents of socialization has the most enduring, lifelong impact on the individual? a. The family c. The media b. Peers d. School ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 107
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
53. Why does the family have such a powerful impact as an agent of socialization? a. Respect for parents is one of the key values of modern society. b. No matter what stage of life we are in, the family plays an important role in our everyday lives. c. The family is where we begin the socialization process before there are any other competing influences. d. Family values are strong today in the United States. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 107
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
54. What are some examples of things students learn from a school’s hidden curriculum? a. Vandalism, truancy, and other forms of deviance b. Punctuality, neatness, and discipline c. Math, reading, and science d. Civics and the principles of American government ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 108
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
55. Many of us have fond memories of kindergarten, perhaps because there was more time for activities like making art from macaroni and singing songs. However, a sociologist might point out that kindergartners are not just being taught about arts and crafts. They’re also being taught how to be students: how to sit still, take orders, remain in their seats, and behave in school. In other words, they are learning skills that will be necessary for the rest of their education. What are these other things that are taught in kindergarten called? a. Expressions of behavior c. Theories of the self b. The hidden curriculum d. The ego ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 108
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
56. As children get older, which agent of socialization tends to replace parents as their most intense and immediate influence? a. Peers c. Schools b. The media d. Religion ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 108
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
57. Research on teen smoking and other deviant behaviors has found that the most important factor in statistically predicting whether a teen will take up a particular deviant behavior is the presence or absence of peers who also engage in that behavior. This is probably because the other teens are acting: a. in ways that are closely connected to the family. b. in cooperation with schools and the media. c. as the most powerful long-term force in their friends’ lives. d. as agents of socialization. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 108
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
58. What did Harvard Medical School researchers conclude about the effects of the media on young people in Fiji, who until recently lacked widespread access to television? a. Television had few effects when it was first introduced, but it will probably be a significant long-term influence. b. Television affected young women’s body image. c. Television increased the level of teen violence. d. Television had almost no effect whatsoever. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Agents of Socialization
REF: Pages 108–109 MSC: Understanding
59. In 2000 Campbell Soup Company launched an ad campaign that showed prepubescent boys offering soup to prepubescent girls. The girls declined because they were concerned about their calorie intake, but the boys explained that “lots of Campbell’s soups are low in calories,” which made them OK for the girls to eat. The ads were pulled after parents expressed concern. Why were parents worried? a. The calorie count was deceptive. b. Soup isn’t part of a healthy diet. c. The ads taught girls to worry about their weight and negatively affected their body image. d. Even if they are low in calories, soups are packed full of preservatives and sodium, which is very bad for the skin. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Agents of Socialization
REF: Pages 108–109 MSC: Applying
60. Which of the following is an example of a total institution? a. A college c. A family b. A prison d. A workplace ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 111
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
61. What is the relationship between Sister Pauline Quinn’s program, in which prison inmates train service and therapy dogs, and sociological concepts of the self and of interaction? a. The process of training dogs helps resocialize prisoners. b. The program now has branches in almost every prison in the United States, demonstrating globalization. c. Quinn’s program was founded on Freudian principles, including the idea of the id, ego, and superego. d. The original research on Quinn’s program was done by George Herbert Mead, who laid the groundwork for research on the self and interaction. ANS: A
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 112
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
MSC: Applying 62. Sister Pauline Quinn’s dog-training program benefits everyone involved: the dogs, the prisoners, the prisons, and people with disabilities. With this in mind, Quinn called the program: a. “Part of a chain reaction of good” b. “The best way to reduce crime without spending more money” c. “Part of a larger social movement directed at shutting down penal establishments” d. “A start, but only a start, at reshaping the way that inmates are treated in this country” ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 112
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
63. Young army recruits arriving at boot camp are about to enter which of the following? a. A total institution c. An open institution b. An orientation course d. A partial institution ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 111
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
64. Why are adults unable to be completely socialized? a. There will always be new situations and new roles to learn. b. People are spending more and more time in school. c. The family and schools do a poor job of socializing children. d. Adults tend to watch more television than adolescents. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Agents of Socialization
REF: Pages 110–111 MSC: Understanding
65. Which of the following is not an example of an altered life circumstance that will require a significant degree of resocialization? a. Going away to college c. Retiring b. Getting a promotion at work d. Joining a gym ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Agents of Socialization
REF: Pages 110–111 MSC: Understanding
66. Resocialization is particularly severe when people are cut off from their previous relations with society and their former identities are stripped away. Which of the following is an example of a life change that would lead to this more dramatic form of resocialization? a. Remarriage c. The birth of a first child b. Retirement d. Entry into a total institution ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 111
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
67. Which of the following is an example of resocialization? a. A teenager being pressured by his friends to take up smoking b. Ads for fast food that air during Saturday morning cartoons to convince children to eat more cheeseburgers c. Parents teaching their children how to behave around company d. A stay-at-home mother becoming paralyzed in a car accident ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 111
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
68. A position in a social hierarchy that comes with a set of expectations is called:
a. A role b. A stereotype ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
c. An agent of socialization d. A status REF: Page 111
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
69. Which of these statements about roles is true? a. A role involves behaviors. b. A role doesn’t involve hierarchy. c. A role doesn’t involve status. d. A role is earned or imposed in some way. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Statuses and Roles
REF: Page 111 |Page 113 MSC: Applying
70. The term “master status” is defined as: a. a set of behaviors that are associated with a particular position. b. a status that seems to override all other statuses a person may possess. c. a set of expectations that are attached to a specific role. d. a perspective that allows a person to understand many other people’s points of view. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
71. What sort of status would a physical disability be? a. An achieved status c. An embodied status b. A multiplicative status d. An ascribed status ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
72. How does a person come to possess an achieved status? a. An achieved status is earned. b. An achieved status is located in the physical body. c. An achieved status is unalterable, so it is always present. d. An achieved status is inherited from our parents. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
73. Role conflict occurs when: a. we have multiple roles that are in conflict with each other. b. a role has contradictory expectations that lead to conflict within ourselves. c. we have a role that requires us to constantly challenge other people, resulting in a great deal of conflict. d. we have a role that generates a great deal of controversy and conflict within our social circle. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
74. When a parent has to decide between being on time for work or helping his child with a homework assignment, he is experiencing: a. Role conflict c. Resocialization b. Role-taking emotions d. Role strain
ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
75. In 1998 former NFL linebacker Chris Spielman was forced to choose between staying with his sick wife or playing professional football. What sort of sociological phenomenon was he experiencing? a. The unconscious c. A dual self b. Role conflict d. Role strain ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
76. A traffic cop pulls over a speeder, only to discover that the driver is a close friend. The police officer is torn, because her professional obligations demand that she punish the speeder but her personal obligations suggest that she should give a friend a break. This is an example of: a. Ego strain c. Role conflict b. An expression of behavior d. Role strain ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
77. A high school football coach is worried about how he should handle his roster. On the one hand, it’s his job to try to win as many games as possible, which means playing the best players; on the other hand, his contract also requires him to try to allow every member of the team to meaningfully participate. The tension he feels is the result of: a. Role strain c. Role conflict b. The definition of the situation d. Emotion work ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
78. A female police officer who struggles with commanding respect from male colleagues while also presenting herself in traditionally feminine ways may be experiencing: a. Stereotyping c. Role conflict b. Bigotry d. Role strain ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
79. A research study examined how teachers at community colleges handled retirement. The study found that the unique culture of such institutions had a significant effect on how retirees coped with their new situation. Which of the following could be the title of a paper written about this study? a. “The Role-Exit Process of Community College Faculty: A Study of Faculty Retirement” b. “Role Strain and Teacher-Student Conflict: A Study of Faculty Anger Management” c. “Role Conflict in Community College Faculty: A Study of Faculty-Administration Arbitration” d. “The Dramaturgical Structure of Community College Teaching: Life after Retirement” ANS: A MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
80. Which of the following is an example of a feeling rule? a. Going to an anti-war protest c. Cleanliness is next to Godliness b. Boys don’t cry d. Fasting for religious purposes ANS: B
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 114
OBJ: Emotions and
Personality MSC: Applying 81. According to the sociological explanation of emotions, which of the following statements about grief is true? a. Both the experience of grief and the expressions of grief are universal. b. Neither the experience of grief nor the expressions of grief are universal. c. Neither the experience of grief nor the expressions of grief have any social component. d. The experience of grief is universal, but expressions of grief are cultural. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Emotions and Personality
REF: Pages 114–115 MSC: Analyzing
82. Some researchers have argued that in highly individualistic cultures, such as that of the United States, the emotion of shame is usually triggered by individual actions, whereas in more collectivist cultures, like Japan’s, shame is linked to groups. This would seem to indicate that: a. the United States is far more dramaturgically inclined than other cultures. b. Japanese people have more trouble with emotion work than Americans do. c. emotions have a strong genetic component. d. emotions aren’t always merely personal, because the expression of emotions can also be social and cultural. ANS: D Personality MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 114
OBJ: Emotions and
83. What do sociologists call it when a person’s job requires him to manage his feelings as part of his official duties? a. Socialization c. Emotion work b. Feeling rules d. Role taking ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Emotions and Personality
REF: Page 114 |Page 116 MSC: Remembering
84. Before we can experience role-taking emotions, we must: a. understand the role of the particular other. b. be able to see things from another person’s point of view. c. be resocialized into a new role with new norms and values. d. avoid role strain and role conflict. ANS: B DIF: Moderate Personality MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 114
OBJ: Emotions and
85. If a bride is upset on her wedding day because her family members don’t seem excited enough for her, sociologists might argue that the family members are violating: a. their role as socializers. b. the primary task of impression management. c. a feeling rule. d. the social contract. ANS: C Personality MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 114
OBJ: Emotions and
86. One of the most striking contrasts in restaurants is between the demeanor of cooks and that of servers. Servers are paid to be nice, pleasant, and courteous. Cooks, on the other hand, are usually not required to act this way. The part of a server’s job that does not apply to a cook is called: a. interactional context c. the social construction of emotions b. emotion work d. being an agent of socialization ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Emotions and Personality
REF: Page 114 |Page 116 MSC: Applying
87. Why is it increasingly difficult to use sociological models that assume that interaction involves copresence? a. Increasingly, interactions are characterized by globalism. b. The family has taken on more importance in status development. c. Copresence requires cooperation, which is increasingly rare in today’s polarized political and cultural climate. d. New technology makes it much more common to interact with someone without being physically in the same place. ANS: D DIF: Easy Contexts MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 114
OBJ: New Interactional
88. Kenneth Gergen coined the term “the saturated self” to describe the type of self that results from: a. exposure to more and more points of view and sources of information. b. having multiple responsibilities and serious role strain. c. repeated incidents of role conflict. d. being an active agent, not just a passive receiver of influence. ANS: A DIF: Moderate Contexts MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 117
OBJ: New Interactional
89. Increasingly, even very significant events in our lives take place online. It is now common to hear stories of couples breaking up through an instant message or even a text message. Compared with similar interactions in the past, what is missing from these interactions? a. The superego c. Emotion work b. Copresence d. Impression management ANS: B Contexts MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 114
OBJ: New Interactional
90. Which of the following is one of the most important lessons we learn from the family? a. How to develop our own interests c. Emotion work b. Gender roles d. Perceptions of body shape ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 108
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
91. Someone who has gotten a divorce after a long marriage and now wants to start dating again may find that many of the norms of dating have changed. Behaviors like splitting the check or talking about safe sex may be new for this person. This process of having to learn and adjust to the new rules of dating is an example of: a. Adaptation c. Resocialization b. Copresence d. Impression management
ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Agents of Socialization
REF: Pages 110–111 MSC: Applying
92. A person who leaves her job of twenty years to retire is undergoing what process? a. Role conflict c. Role exit b. Adult socialization d. Role strain ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 113
OBJ: Statuses and Roles
TRUE/FALSE 1. According to sociologists, our genetic makeup determines what kind of personality and character traits we develop in life. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 97
OBJ: What Is Human Nature?
2. In the nature vs. nurture debate, both sides are partially right. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Pages 97–99 OBJ: What Is Human Nature?
3. Our sense of self is largely created through social processes. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 100
OBJ: Theories of the Self
4. Agents of socialization are mutually exclusive and do not overlap. ANS: F DIF: Easy OBJ: Agents of Socialization
REF: Pages 107–109 MSC: Understanding
5. Formal subjects like math and reading are part of schools’ hidden curriculum. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 108
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
6. When children pretend to be a firefighter, mommy, or doctor, they take on the role of the generalized other. ANS: F DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of the Self
REF: Pages 102–103 MSC: Understanding
SHORT ANSWER 1. Describe how people undergo resocialization when they move from one place, job, or life situation to another. ANS:
When adults move from a familiar life situation to a new, unfamiliar one, they need to learn and adjust to the new norms, values, behaviors, and expectations that come with the new environment. This process is called resocialization. For example, if you move from a customer service job to a marketing job, you learn to move away from assisting clients to trying to persuade clients to purchase a product. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 110–111 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
2. The term “total institution” refers to institutions that strip people of their previous identities in order to resocialize them. Describe this process. ANS: Total institutions sever people from their relations with society in order to systematically suppress their previous identities and create new, more desirable ones. For example, a prison is a total institution, because it cuts inmates off from the rest of society in order to strip them of their identities as criminals and reform them into law-abiding citizens. DIF: Easy REF: Page 111 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
3. Why did Charles Cooley believe that the self is created largely through social interaction? ANS: Cooley believed that our concept of self develops through our perception of what other people think of us, an idea he called the looking-glass self. DIF: Easy REF: Page 102 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Theories of the Self
4. Describe how television can be a powerful and covert agent of socialization. ANS: Television can communicate covert messages that teach us norms and values, and this can have a powerful influence on our behavior. The textbook gives the example of how television presents idealized images of the human body as being the norm. As a result, watching television may influence us to go on a diet or get plastic surgery, believing that our natural appearance is unacceptable in our society. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 110–111 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
5. Cases in which children have been raised in social isolation demonstrate that people require socialization to fully develop into functioning human beings. In the case of Genie, describe how isolation affected her development. ANS: Genie was not exposed to language, so she did not develop this essential tool for human interaction. She also lacked physical development, because she was malnourished and was often tied to a piece of furniture, which severely restricted her movement. She lacked social skills and was fearful of strangers, even displaying some forms of animal-like behavior. DIF: Moderate Socialization
REF: Pages 98–100
OBJ: The Process of
MSC: Remembering 6. What is the looking-glass self? ANS: The looking-glass self is Charles Cooley’s term for how people act as mirrors to each other and how this reflection of the way we think other people perceive us creates our concept of the self. According to Cooley, the looking-glass self develops through a three-step process: we imagine how we appear to others, we imagine how they are assessing us, and then we internalize these interpretations to experience feelings about ourselves. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 102 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Theories of the Self
7. According to the symbolic interactionist George Herbert Mead, young children develop a distinct sense of self through the process of taking the role of the particular or significant other. Describe how children engage in this role-taking process. ANS: Young children learn the guidelines and expectations associated with a variety of roles. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 102–103 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Theories of the Self
8. According to Erving Goffman’s concept of dramaturgy, how can a particular social setting make a great deal of difference in how we interact with other people? ANS: In dramaturgy, a specific social setting, or region, provides a context for the types of props, mannerisms, and demeanor that are socially acceptable in that setting. For example, a female student would not come to class wearing a bikini, but she is free to wear one in a swim setting. Similarly, she would probably not take a computer and textbook to the pool. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 104–105 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of the Self
9. According to Charles Cooley, why can there be no sense of self without society? ANS: In his theory of the looking-glass self, Cooley argued that we depend on socialization and interaction with others to develop a concept of who we are in our surroundings. DIF: Easy REF: Page 102 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Theories of the Self
ESSAY 1. Many natural scientists argue that human behavioral traits can be explained through genetics. Many social scientists believe that human behavior is learned and shaped through social interaction. Which view is correct? Justify your answer. ANS:
Both views contain elements of truth. For example, the textbook cites research that suggests that the hormone testosterone can affect behavior, but also that testosterone levels rise and fall in response to social cues. There is a complex relationship between nature and nurture. Either one alone is insufficient to explain what makes us human. Heredity determines our basic potential, but it is primarily our social environment that determines whether we will realize or fall short of our potential, or develop new potential. We are subject to social influences from the moment we are born, and these influences only increase over time. In part because the influence of social contact happens so gradually, and to some extent unconsciously, we don’t always notice what or how we are learning. DIF: Moderate MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 97–99 OBJ: What Is Human Nature?
2. What happens to the development of feral children who are raised without significant social contact? What does this demonstrate about the importance of socialization? ANS: The text cites the case of Genie, who was sequestered by her father in her family’s California home. The mother, a deaf-mute, visited Isabelle only to care for her basic needs and communicated with her using only gestures. Consequently, Genie did not learn to speak and communicated by making low croaking sounds. When she was finally discovered by the authorities, it was found that, in almost all ways, Genie had failed to develop as a normal child. Her behavior could only be described as primitive and bizarre, although there was never evidence that she had a physical or mental disability. It took years for her to acquire language and learn to interact with others. This case demonstrates that without socialization, we are almost totally devoid of the qualities that are normally associated with being human. DIF: Moderate Socialization MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 98–100
OBJ: The Process of
3. Chapter 4 presents theories of the self by Sigmund Freud, Charles Cooley, and George Herbert Mead. Describe the social component of each of these three theoretical perspectives. ANS: In Freud’s model, the social component of the self is the superego, which is formed as a result of parental guidance, especially through rewards and punishments. Cooley’s model is much more thoroughly social than Freud’s; his concept of the looking-glass self emphasizes the constant role of social interaction in the formation and maintenance of a sense of self. For Mead as well, the self is created through social interaction. In particular, his ideas of the generalized other and of the dual nature of the self both point to the role that social interactions have in developing our sense of self. DIF: Difficult MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 100–103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
4. According to George Herbert Mead, how does the self develop? Which important developmental markers or milestones does he highlight? Give examples. ANS:
According to Mead, the development of the self unfolds in several stages as we move through childhood. First is the preparatory stage. Children younger than age three lack a completely developed sense of self, so they have difficulty distinguishing themselves from others. Children begin the development process by simply imitating others around them (for example, by making faces or playing patty-cake) without fully understanding the meaning of their behavior. After age three, children enter the play stage of development, when they start to pretend to be a mommy, a firefighter, a princess, or a doctor. This is referred to as taking the role of the particular or significant other. As children learn the behavior associated with being a mother or a doctor, they internalize the expectations of those particular others and begin to gain new perspectives in addition to their own. By the early school years, children begin to take part in organized games. Each child must follow the rules of the game, which means she must simultaneously take into account the roles of all the other players. Mead calls this taking the perspective of the generalized other. Thus, children begin to understand the standards that are common to a social group—their playmates—and to see themselves from others’ viewpoints. By taking the perspective of the generalized other, children are able to see themselves as objects. They gradually learn to internalize the expectations of the generalized other for themselves and to evaluate their own behavior. This is the beginning of understanding the attitudes and expectations of society as a whole. DIF: Moderate MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 102–103
OBJ: Theories of the Self
5. What did Charles Cooley mean by the phrase “the looking-glass self”? How does his concept apply to your status as a student? ANS: The looking-glass self is Cooley’s belief that we all act like mirrors to each other, reflecting images of ourselves back to one another. For Cooley, there could be no sense of self without society, for there are no individual selves without corresponding “others” to provide us with our looking-glass self-images. Cooley theorized that we gain our self-images in three steps: 1. We imagine how we look to others—not only physically, but also how we present ourselves. The idea that we have of ourselves is particularly important in relation to significant others such as parents, bosses, professors, friends, and partners, because we care about how we look to them. 2. We imagine other people’s judgments of us. We try to picture others’ reactions and attempt to interpret what they must be feeling. We ask ourselves, “What is their opinion of me?” 3. We experience feelings about ourselves based on our perceptions of other people’s judgments. We respond to the judgments we believe others make about us without really knowing for sure what they think. And we’re not always right; we may draw unrealistic conclusions. But, according to Cooley, it is these perceptions, not reality, that determine the feelings we ultimately have about ourselves. The social looking-glass—the way we see ourselves reflected back from others and the feelings we develop as a result of what we imagine they see in us—forms our concept of self. Applying this concept to student life, good answers will include the students’ internalization of their performance on course assessments (quiz or test scores, research papers, etc.), as well as reactions from both the instructor and other classmates to their presence inside and outside of the class environment. DIF: Moderate MSC: Evaluating
REF: Page 102
OBJ: Theories of the Self
6. What is the Thomas theorem? Restate it in your own words and provide an example of its application.
ANS: The Thomas theorem states that “if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.” In other words, the way people define a situation becomes its reality for them. The textbook gives the following example: suppose you’re walking down the street and you witness a woman slapping a man in public. What are the possible meanings of that situation? It could be a fight or spousal abuse, or it could be a joke or a friendly greeting, depending on how hard the slap is. It could be that the man has just passed out and that the woman hopes to revive him. The participants could be actors shooting a scene from a film. Each of these interpretations leads to a different set of potential consequences: you might intervene, call the police, laugh, ignore it, summon paramedics, or ask for an autograph, depending on which meaning you act upon. Each definition of the situation lends itself to a different approach, and the consequences are real. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 103–104
OBJ: Theories of the Self
7. According to Erving Goffman, people define situations interactionally through expressions of behavior, which are the tools we use to project our definition of a situation to one another. Explain what Goffman means by expressions given and expressions given off. ANS: What Goffman calls expressions given are typically verbal and intended; most speech falls into this category. Almost all of what we say we mean to say, at least in the moment we say it. Only in situations of extreme emotional response—such as fear, pain, and ecstasy—might we make an unintended utterance. Expressions given off, like the eye roll and the nod, are typically nonverbal but observable and may be intended or unintended. Things like facial expressions, mannerisms, body language, and styles of dress are important indicators to others about the definition of a situation. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 104 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of the Self
8. Describe the process of impression management as defined by Erving Goffman. ANS: Goffman saw social life as a sort of con game in which we work at controlling the impressions others have of us. Like players on a stage, we act our parts and use all of our communicative resources (both verbal and nonverbal) to present a particular impression to others. We say and do what we think is necessary to communicate who we are and what we think, and we refrain from saying and doing things that might damage the impression we want others to have of us. It is this focus on the performance strategies of impression management that has led scholars to refer to Goffman’s central idea as dramaturgy. Good answers should be able to talk about dramaturgy in terms of the frontstage and backstage, as well as the front and region. As in the theater, we use tools to aid in impression management. The front is the setting that helps establish the particular meaning of a situation (like a classroom for teaching or a bar for drinking). The region is the specific social setting that provides the interactional context in which our impression management performance takes place. (For example, you would not want to present yourself to others in the classroom the same way you would present yourself in a bar.) Our personal front—appearance, manner, style of dress, gender, race, and age—helps establish the definition of the situation as well. Backstage is where we prepare for our performance, and frontstage is where we present our performance to other people.
The best answers will also remember what the textbook said about people who are disturbed by Goffman’s view of our interactions and its suggestion that people are always acting and never being honest about who they are. The text argues that although some people deliberately deceive others in their presentation of self, everyone must present some type of self in social situations. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 104–106
OBJ: Theories of the Self
9. Describe how the four major agents of socialization have shaped your life experiences. ANS: All answers should include how students’ family, peers, schooling, and exposure to mass media have shaped their life experiences and how these sources of socialization overlap—for example, how what students learned as children at school overlapped with what they learned at home. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 107–109
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
10. What is resocialization? Give an example of a circumstance in which resocialization would happen. ANS: The textbook defines resocialization as the replacement of previously learned norms and values with new ones, a process that happens to adults as the circumstances of our lives constantly change over time. Examples could include changing jobs, getting married or divorced, becoming a parent, losing a job or retiring, facing a serious health problem, and dealing with the physical decline of our body when we grow old. The most dramatic examples of resocialization are found in total institutions, such as prisons, cults, mental hospitals, and in some cases boarding schools, nursing homes, monasteries, and the military. In total institutions, residents are severed from their previous relations with society, and their former identity is systematically stripped away and reformed. There may be different ends toward which total institutions are geared, such as creating good soldiers, punishing criminals, or managing mental illness, but the process of resocialization is similar: all previous identities are suppressed, and an entirely new, disciplined self is created. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 110–111 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Agents of Socialization
11. How do you think new forms of technology will change the role and significance of the four major agents of socialization? Give examples. ANS: Any competent answer should be able to identify the family, peers, schools, and the media as the four most important agents of socialization. Students should also talk about the changes in technology that have led to new interactional contexts for socialization—especially the way in which much of our interaction no longer requires copresence. Email, instant messaging, text messaging, and other electronic communications are becoming increasingly important at younger and younger ages. Social networking sites are also important. In light of this, these new forms of technology will increase the importance of peers and the media as agents of socialization and decrease the influence of schools and the family. DIF: Moderate Contexts MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 114–117
OBJ: New Interactional
12. In Chapter 4, the Thomas theorem is discussed in the section about Erving Goffman. Why do you think this is? How does the Thomas theorem help introduce Goffman and his theory of dramaturgy? ANS: Good answers should discuss how both the Thomas theorem and Goffman’s dramaturgy focus on how people define situations. Both theories focus on the way we have to define each situation for ourselves, and how these definitions affect our actions and behavior. Thomas theorized that “if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.” In other words, there are many possible ways we can define the meaning, or reality, of a particular situation, and each possible definition lends itself to different actions that have very real consequences. Goffman theorized that we define situations through our social interactions with other people. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 103–106
OBJ: Theories of the Self
13. The satirical newspaper The Onion once ran a story with the headline “Man Reading Pynchon on Bus Takes Pains to Make Cover Visible.” The story went on to describe a bus passenger who was reading a book by the critically acclaimed, but difficult and confusing, author Thomas Pynchon. Instead of holding the book on his lap, he held it directly in front of his face so that the cover was visible to everyone, and he occasionally glanced around to see if anyone noticed. What would Erving Goffman say about this? ANS: Any good answer should start by pointing out the ways in which this is an example of Goffman’s theory of impression management. Like an actor in a play, the literary bus rider is using all of his communicative resources (in this case, mostly nonverbal) to present a particular impression of himself to other people. Good answers might also mention that the bus is the man’s front (the setting that helps establish a particular meaning) and that the book is part of his region (the elements that help establish the boundaries of interactional context). He is clearly using a “prop” to help establish a context for his performance. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 104–105
OBJ: Theories of the Self
CHAPTER 05: SEPARATE AND TOGETHER: LIFE IN GROUPS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. All left-handed people in the United States would be classified as a(n): a. category c. aggregate b. crowd d. group ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
2. Members of which of the following think of themselves as belonging together while also interacting with each other? a. An aggregate c. A category b. A group d. A queue ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
3. How do sociologists distinguish a group from a crowd? a. A group doesn’t necessarily share any common attribute. b. A crowd doesn’t necessarily feel a shared identity. c. A group doesn’t have ongoing social relations. d. Members of a crowd don’t interact with one another. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
4. Which of the following would be considered a group in the sociological sense? a. A collection of sightseers at a tourist attraction b. A high school chess club c. A crowd gathered at a crime scene d. A line at the grocery store ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
5. Which of the following is an aggregate? a. An extended family with members living in three different states b. The audience at a Broadway show c. A Little League baseball team d. A bird-watching club ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
6. Sociologists would not consider fans of the rock musician Bruce Springsteen to be a group. Why not? a. They won’t form any lasting relationships with one another. b. They share no meaningful features. c. They don’t find themselves in the same physical location. d. They don’t interact in any meaningful way. ANS: A
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
MSC: Applying 7. Which type of group is characterized by long-term, intimate, face-to-face relationships? a. A primary group c. A reference group b. An in-group d. A secondary group ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
8. Which of the following statements about secondary groups is true? a. They involve intimate, face-to-face interaction. b. They tend to be based on specific roles or activities. c. They are usually small and long-lasting. d. Their values become fused into a person’s identity. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
9. Which of the following is a characteristic of a primary group? a. They are larger and more anonymous than secondary groups. b. They are often formal or impersonal. c. They tend to be based on specific roles or activities. d. They depend on emotional intimacy for their existence. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
10. One of the baristas at José’s local coffee shop always greets him by name and usually notices his mood. Once when he was upset about something at school, he confided in her. She now asks how school is going and seems to care about his answer. How would we characterize her relationship with José? a. She is a “consequential stranger” and bridges the gap between his primary and secondary groups. b. She is a member of his primary group. c. She fits neatly into the model of a secondary group. d. She is a member of the bourgeoisie. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 124
OBJ: What Is a Group?
11. What type of group provides most of our emotional satisfaction? a. Secondary groups c. Out-groups b. Reference groups d. Primary groups ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
12. If a person belongs to a group in which the members are mostly anonymous to one another, that group is almost certainly a: a. secondary group c. professional group b. primary group d. social network ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
13. People who associate with each other on a regular basis for no other reason than to spend time together are usually members of a: a. a primary group c. a reference group b. a secondary group d. a social network ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
14. Many sociologists have worried that the modern economy demands both geographic and occupational mobility, which in turn means that industrial and bureaucratic organizations have become the norm. What sort of groups might become less common if people have to move many times in their lives for work? a. Crowds c. Categories b. Secondary groups d. Primary groups ANS: D MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
15. John gets a job with a large firm that audits small businesses. While working there, he becomes friends with Dave, who invites him to attend a weekly poker game. The game soon becomes a meaningful part of John’s social life. Some weeks the game is the only thing he has to look forward to. This is an example of: a. the absolute distinction between primary groups and secondary groups. b. the way secondary groups produce nearly anonymous relationships. c. the way primary groups can lead to membership in secondary groups. d. the way secondary group ties can lead to the close personal ties of primary groups. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
16. Some students at a college form an intramural softball team. They play other teams from their school and from the area every Sunday in a conveniently located park. If a sociologist wanted to determine whether the team was a primary group or a secondary group, what might she consider? a. The age of the players b. The innate skill of the players c. The shared hobbies of the players d. The importance of winning to the players ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
17. What do sociologists call the webs of direct and indirect ties that connect individuals to others who may influence them? a. Social networks c. Inner circles b. Reference groups d. In-groups ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 124
OBJ: What Is a Group?
18. The sociologist Duncan Watts examined the way people may change their minds about whom to vote for based on the opinions of friends and acquaintances. What concept was Watts studying? a. Social networks c. Charismatic authority b. Bureaucracy d. Rationalization ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 124
OBJ: What Is a Group?
19. The sociologist Joseph Conti studied the World Trade Organization as a social network. According to Conti, how is power measured within this type of social network? a. The most powerful members are those who most often win their disputes with other members. b. The most powerful members are those who have the most connections to other members. c. The most powerful members are those who are involved in the fewest disputes with other members. d. The most powerful members are those who can most often change the minds of other members. ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: What Is a Group?
REF: Pages 124–125 MSC: Understanding
20. In “The Strength of Weak Ties,” what are the implications of Mark Granovetter’s findings? a. A person with high SES is likely to have direct ties to people with low SES. b. We rely on weak ties for much of our social networks. c. Weak ties almost always are long-lasting and durable. d. People tend to form homogeneous social networks. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 125
OBJ: What Is a Group?
21. In a Peruvian campaign to improve public health in rural areas, one key challenge was to convince isolated villagers to boil their drinking water in order to kill parasites. In a pilot study, this effort largely failed. Government caseworkers lectured the villagers about germ theory, but villagers associated hot foods with illness and didn’t like the taste of boiled water. The only families who adopted the practice were not well integrated into the village and had few connections to their neighbors. What does this example demonstrate? a. That the need for more virtual communities is declining b. That social ties don’t just connect us to others but also influence our behavior c. That modernization attempts largely fail without modern technology d. The McDonaldization of society ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: What Is a Group?
REF: Pages 124–125 MSC: Applying
22. Mark Granovetter has argued that the people you know best are likely to possess only information you already have. This is why he believed that when it comes to finding employment, it is advantageous to have: a. a commitment to hard work and a determination to succeed. b. casual acquaintances who are connected to different social networks. c. a prestigious education in order to gain access to lucrative occupations. d. a high degree of cultural and social capital. ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 125
OBJ: What Is a Group?
23. Simon Langlois studied government employment in Quebec. He found that even though the government had made efforts to formalize recruitment, more than 40 percent of the people he surveyed found their jobs through personal contacts. In the majority of those cases, the personal contacts were fairly casual acquaintances, not close friends. What principle is demonstrated here? a. The strength of weak ties c. The role of group cohesion b. The power of strong triads d. The power of groupthink
ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 125
OBJ: What Is a Group?
24. Why would sociologists who study social networks and employment pay attention to the frequency with which a person has been in contact with each member of his social network? a. To measure the homogeneity of the network b. To determine if groupthink is an issue in a particular social network c. To see if a particular tie is strong or weak d. To see just how extensive the network is ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: What Is a Group?
REF: Pages 125–127 MSC: Applying
25. In terms of job leads and social networks, how are men’s networks different from women’s? a. Women are more likely to tell other women in their network about job opportunities. b. If a woman’s network has more women than men in it, she is less likely to hear about job openings. c. If a man’s network has more women than men in it, he is less likely to hear about job openings. d. If a woman’s network has more men than women in it, she is less likely to hear about job openings. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 125
OBJ: What Is a Group?
26. The definition of what constitutes a group is being transformed as a result of new technology and the Digital Revolution. Which of the following is evidence of this? a. Websites c. Self-help groups b. Chat rooms d. Civic groups ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 125–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership? MSC: Applying 27. Social networks can influence people through contagion. What does that mean? a. When connection leads to disease or infection, sociologists call it contagion. b. The influence of various social networks is contagious. Networks tend to mimic each other over the long run. c. This borrows from a biological model: if people are weak, they are likely to “catch” the influence of their social network. d. When people are connected to a social network, what happens in that network is more likely to affect them. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 125
OBJ: What Is a Group?
28. If group members share information and advice, provide support to one another, and have common interests but never meet in person, what kind of group are they a part of? a. A reference group c. A secondary group b. A social network d. A virtual community ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Pages 126–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership? MSC: Understanding 29. How have social networking websites affected social groups? a. They diminish the importance of primary groups but not secondary groups.
b. They make primary groups expand to include many more members than before. c. They minimize the importance of secondary groups, especially those that are associated with shared interests or education. d. They help people make the most of both their primary and secondary groups. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 126–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership? MSC: Understanding 30. How have social networking websites affected people’s relationships with one another? a. They have diminished the importance of our primary groups. b. They have increased our loneliness and detachment from each other. c. We now value technologies more than relationships. d. They have made us no more or less detached from one another than we were before social media existed. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 126–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership? MSC: Understanding 31. Robert Putnam’s research can be exemplified by his description of a decline in bowling leagues. Which of the following might serve as evidence that Putnam’s concerns about anomie are overblown? a. The increasing number of hours people spend engaged with electronic media. b. The decline of movie theaters and the subsequent rise of services like Netflix. c. The sharp spike in the suicide rate in Eastern Europe over the past two decades. d. The growth of online support groups to help people who have rare diseases share information and emotional support. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 125–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership? MSC: Evaluating 32. Émile Durkheim worried that in an increasingly fragmented modern world, individuals would feel less and less connected to groups, which would lead to: a. the rise of hate groups. c. anomie, or normlessness. b. a need for new types of etiquette. d. unemployment. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 125 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership?
MSC: Remembering
33. According to Robert Putnam, what does the decline in bowling leagues indicate? a. Increasing anomie and a decline in collective bonds b. A shift from secondary groups to primary groups c. The increasing irrelevance of reference groups d. A decline in physical exercise and an increase in inactive lifestyles as a result of electronic media ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 125–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership? MSC: Remembering 34. Members of a table tennis club in upstate New York seem to have come together as much for connections with others as for the love of the game. This club can be viewed as a counterpoint to the message of Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone because it is an example of: a. the way we continue to be socialized by the media in adulthood. b. a type of civic engagement that brings people together. c. the strength of weak ties. d. the importance of primary groups in our social lives.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 125–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership? MSC: Applying 35. What do sociologists call patterns of interaction between groups and individuals? a. Rationalization c. In-group solidarity b. Group dynamics d. Anomie ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 128
OBJ: Group Dynamics
36. Although individuals always feel loyalty toward their in-group, under what circumstances would this loyalty be particularly strong? a. When the in-group is particularly large b. When the individual has belonged to the in-group for a short time c. When the out-group is from another city than the in-group d. When the differences between the in-group and the out-group are sharply defined ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 129
OBJ: Group Dynamics
37. All over Los Angeles, you can see cars sporting a bumper sticker that says, “My favorite teams are UCLA and whoever’s playing USC.” What is this an example of? a. Group dynamics c. Bureaucratic rationalization b. Hostility toward an out-group d. The use of a reference group ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 129
OBJ: Group Dynamics
38. Robert Merton pointed out that we remember Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s great heroes, as being frugal, thrifty, and sparing, yet some people might describe these same traits differently when a member of some other racial or ethnic group possesses them. For example, Merton suggested that some white Americans who would describe Lincoln this way might describe an Asian American who has these same qualities as being stingy, miserly, and penny pinching. What explains this double standard? a. Because of historical change, standards of behavior that were considered appropriate in Lincoln’s time are now looked down upon. b. Lincoln was miserly, but he is remembered differently because American textbooks are not permitted to say negative things about presidents. c. Lincoln was a truly remarkable individual who acted in these ways for selfless reasons, something everyday people can’t hope to do. d. For these white Americans, Lincoln was a member of their racial in-group, whereas an Asian American would be a member of the out-group. ANS: D MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 129
OBJ: Group Dynamics
39. When people attend high school class reunions, they often compare their own personal and professional successes and failures with those of their former classmates. This means that classmates are a(n): a. reference group. c. professional group. b. secondary group. d. identity group. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 129–130 MSC: Applying
40. Groups that we use as standards to evaluate ourselves—either positively, in terms of the qualities we aspire to achieve, or negatively, in terms of the qualities we wish to avoid—are called: a. reference groups. c. in-groups. b. out-groups. d. networks. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 129–130 MSC: Remembering
41. What do sociologists call a group that provides standards by which an individual can judge his own accomplishments? a. A secondary group c. A reference group b. A social network d. A primary group ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 129–130 MSC: Remembering
42. A twenty-eight-year-old woman is on the verge of a big promotion at work. Because she didn’t finish college until she was twenty-five, she wonders about getting her career moving, especially because the entry-level job she currently has is not impressive. She decides to attend her ten-year high school reunion only if she is promoted. If her old high school classmates can have this much influence on her decision to attend the reunion, what do sociologists say they represent? a. A group that has successfully responded to bureaucratic constraints b. A reference group c. A primary group d. A particularly cohesive group ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 129–130 MSC: Applying
43. The Twenty Statements Test asks respondents to make twenty true statements about themselves that begin with the phrase “I am.” Why is this test discussed in a chapter about social groups? a. It was developed to measure the extent to which individuals follow the norms of their primary groups. b. It helps sociologists understand the extent to which group norms constrain individuals. c. It helps to map social networks by establishing what social ties exist between people. d. It was developed to measure the extent to which we base our identity on membership in groups. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 130–133 MSC: Understanding
44. Sociologists are interested in how social groups have changed over time. Of particular note is the degree to which individuals base their identities on group membership. How has this changed in recent American history? a. Americans today are more likely to base their self-concept on group membership. b. The degree to which Americans base their identities on group membership has changed very little in the past few decades. c. Americans today are more likely to base their identity on secondary groups. d. Americans are less likely to identify themselves as group members today than in the past. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 130–133 MSC: Understanding
45. People today are more likely to identify themselves through personal characteristics than through group membership or affiliation. Why is this cause for concern to some sociologists?
a. People who identify themselves through personal characteristics are less likely to try to achieve their goals and advance themselves. b. People who identify themselves through personal characteristics are more likely to blindly follow orders and bow to peer pressure. c. People who identify themselves through personal characteristics are more likely to have large social networks and maintain connections to their communities. d. People who identify themselves through personal characteristics might care less about the common good. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 130–133 MSC: Understanding
46. Which of the following statements would be most convincing to a sociologist if you were trying to explain the shift from A-mode and B-mode responses to C-mode responses on the Twenty Statements Test? a. Americans have become more and more generous over the years, and their answers reflect a desire to give something back. b. People care less about what researchers think about them, so they are more likely to answer honestly, admitting that they’ve always been selfish. c. The accelerated pace of social change makes it increasingly difficult to think about the self in terms of group membership. d. There has been a fundamental shift in individual values and psychology that has led to a long-term change in American social structure. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 130–133 MSC: Evaluating
47. The sense of solidarity, or team spirit, that an individual feels toward her group is called: a. expressive leadership. c. Anomie. b. group cohesion. d. instrumental leadership. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 133
OBJ: Group Dynamics
48. Which of the following is a factor that can lead to increased group cohesion? a. Shared values c. Apathy toward the group as a whole b. Unique traits d. Differing goals ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 133–134 MSC: Remembering
49. If a sociologist measured group cohesion within a neighborhood and found a high level of group cohesion, which response would you LEAST expect to find on the survey? a. “Overall, I find this neighborhood very attractive.” b. “If my neighbors were planning something, I would think of it as something ‘we’ were doing rather than something ‘they’ were doing.” c. “I feel a sense of loyalty to my neighbors.” d. “I feel comfortable in all sorts of neighborhoods.” ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Group Dynamics
REF: Pages 133–134 MSC: Evaluating
50. When group members withhold their reservations and criticisms for the sake of consensus, they are engaging in: a. group solidarity c. groupthink
b. laissez-faire decision making ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
d. expressive leadership REF: Page 134
OBJ: Group Dynamics
51. What sort of group dynamic may have led officials at NASA to ignore warnings and launch the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded shortly after takeoff? a. Groupthink c. Social influence b. Peer pressure d. Group cohesion ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 134
OBJ: Group Dynamics
52. What is the danger of too much group cohesion? a. It leads to endless rounds of discussion that tend to preclude any real action. b. It makes group members more susceptible to anomie, or normlessness. c. It reduces the degree to which members are attracted to the group. d. It can lead to groupthink, in which dissenting opinions are strongly discouraged. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 134
OBJ: Group Dynamics
53. Penn State leaders quashed child sexual abuse rumors, dissent, and complaints about assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky in order to uphold the reputation of the university’s award-winning football program. This action to preserve public image over protecting the safety of young children was a result of: a. a primary group c. groupthink b. anomie, or normlessness d. a reference group ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 134
OBJ: Group Dynamics
54. Which of the following is best suited to preventing groupthink? a. A leader who encourages and rewards the presentation of alternative opinions b. A strict meritocracy in which only the best and brightest are hired c. Strict control over the flow of information into and out of an organization d. A strong leader who controls every aspect of the decision-making process ANS: A MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 134
OBJ: Group Dynamics
55. The Solomon Asch experiment, in which groups of participants were asked to compare the lengths of lines, demonstrated that: a. an authoritarian leader can strongly influence group members. b. groups have great power to induce conformity. c. the larger the group is, the less each member has a sense of individual responsibility. d. peer pressure emerges when a group’s task is relatively difficult or demanding. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 135 MSC: Understanding
56. When individuals are members of groups, they are influenced by other members. What do sociologists call this? a. Internalization c. Peer pressure b. Commodification d. Rationalization
ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 134 MSC: Remembering
57. What is the strongest type of conformity that can occur as a result of social influence or peer pressure? a. Abnegation c. Internalization b. Identification d. Compliance ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 135 MSC: Understanding
58. The textbook cites the example of a DUI offender who attends AA meetings in accordance with a court order but is doing so to avoid a jail sentence or hefty fine, not because he believes it truly matters. What do sociologists call this kind of conformity? a. Identification c. Proscription b. Internalization d. Compliance ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 134 MSC: Applying
59. What percentage of the subjects in the Asch experiment were “independents” who refused to give the wrong answer? a. 1 percent c. 50 percent b. 25 percent d. 95 percent ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 135 MSC: Remembering
60. What was the Asch experiment measuring? a. The power of peer pressure b. The extent of social networks c. The value of teamwork compared with individual effort d. The type of organization that can best achieve social goals ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 135 MSC: Understanding
61. Unlike Asch’s experiment, which yielded different results when other researchers tried to replicate it decades later, a recent replication of Milgram’s experiment had virtually the same results. What important implications does Milgram’s research have for contemporary society? a. It demonstrates how the power of conformity can still lead to real-life crimes of obedience, like Abu Ghraib and the telephone hoax at fast-food restaurants. b. It demonstrates how people can avoid social influence that would lead to criminal actions. c. It challenges the notion that authoritative figures have any real power over personal decisions. d. It demonstrates that people who cave to social pressure have major character flaws, which helps employers avoid poor employees. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 138 MSC: Understanding
62. In 1978 Jim Jones, the leader of the People’s Temple cult, forced more than 900 of his followers to commit suicide at gunpoint by drinking poisoned Flavor Aid. In the run-up to this event, Jones had strictly enforced discipline, mocking and ridiculing anyone who expressed doubts, at times even having doubters sedated. This extreme effort to enforce conformity is an example of:
a. the expressive self. b. bureaucracy. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
c. peer pressure. d. an out-group. REF: Pages 134–135 MSC: Applying
63. Imagine that one of your professors has a large collection of countercultural T-shirts, including one that reads, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for heroin.” The professor makes sure to never wear this shirt to class, though, because she wants to keep her job and avoid being yelled at by her department chairperson. What is this kind of conformity called? a. Identification c. Internalization b. Compliance d. Groupthink ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 134 MSC: Applying
64. Graduate students almost never attend graduate school at the institution where they were undergraduates, which means that a new graduate student is almost always living in a new and unfamiliar town. Therefore, it’s logical that many new grad students form social bonds among themselves and share activities, such as gathering after class for beer and pizza. If a new grad student doesn’t like beer or pizza but accompanies the group anyway because he wants to make friends, this is an example of: a. internalization c. shared values b. compliance d. identification ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 134 MSC: Applying
65. When someone joins the Green Party and then starts recycling old plastic bags because she believes it can help save the environment, this is an example of what type of conformity? a. Social networks c. Compliance b. Internalization d. Social atomism ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
REF: Page 135 MSC: Applying
66. When a large group is asked to complete a task, individual members often neglect their responsibilities, because it is impossible for any one person to receive credit or blame. This phenomenon is called: a. regression toward the mean. c. group polarization. b. groupthink. d. social loafing. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 139 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Remembering
67. Why does actual group productivity never equal potential productivity? a. The tasks that groups usually work on are not very interesting, which decreases motivation. b. Time is lost to coordinating and organizing group members. c. Group members never identify with the group thoroughly enough to give it their full attention. d. There is no way to recognize group members for their efforts. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 138–139 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership MSC: Understanding
68. Which of the following phenomena is a reason why group efficiency declines as groups increase in size? a. Social loafing c. Socialization b. Rationalization d. Identification ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 139 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Understanding
69. Which of the following strategies could be used as a way to minimize social loafing? a. Ensuring that no one in the group has a particularly interesting or rewarding job b. Ensuring that all group members are well educated and have the proper training c. Finding ways to recognize individual effort d. Adding more members to the group ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Understanding
70. What does social identity theory suggest about teamwork? a. Teamwork and efficiency are at their best when tasks are repetitive and boring. b. Teamwork is most efficient when there is little or no recognition of individual effort. c. The most efficient teams are made up of members who have a strong shared social identity. d. The most efficient teams are made up of primary group members. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Understanding
71. Have you ever grumbled because your instructor assigned group work? One of the biggest problems associated with group assignments is that one person often ends up doing most of the work while others take it easy. This is called: a. Anomie c. Social loafing b. Social identity d. Compliance ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 139 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Applying
72. Which of the following strategies might help solve, or at least alleviate, the problem of social loafing? a. Assigning more group members to a project b. Giving names to teams and T-shirts to their members c. Randomly assigning members to teams d. Making sure dissent is never welcome or tolerated ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Evaluating
73. What kind of power is exhibited by a police officer who pulls over a suspect after a high-speed pursuit? a. Coercive power c. Traditional power b. Influential power d. Charismatic power ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership 74. Which of the following is a quality of charismatic leaders? a. They inherit their position of power.
MSC: Applying
b. Their personal qualities don’t really matter. c. They can’t be replaced by legal proceedings. d. They possess strength of conviction. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Remembering
75. Leaders whose personal style makes them more task oriented or goal oriented and less concerned with people’s feelings are called: a. expressive leaders c. traditional leaders b. charismatic leaders d. instrumental leaders ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Understanding
76. What kind of leadership style is typically expected of women in contemporary society? a. Expressive leadership c. Family leadership b. Rational leadership d. Proscriptive leadership ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Pages 140–141 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership MSC: Remembering 77. Which of the following authority figures still derives legitimacy from traditional sources? a. Your landlord c. The mayor b. Your parents d. A traffic cop ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Applying
78. What kind of power is a football coach wielding when he threatens to kick a player off the team unless the player works harder? a. Influential power c. Bureaucratic power b. Coercive power d. Charismatic authority ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Applying
79. According to Max Weber’s typology of power, what type of authority is wielded by a king? a. Legal-rational authority c. Traditional authority b. Influential power d. Charismatic authority ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Remembering
80. Unlike either traditional authority or legal-rational authority, charismatic authority is rooted in: a. the efficiency and rationality of a particular way of doing things. b. an economic system that focuses on rules and regulations. c. the personal qualities of the leader. d. birthright. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Remembering
81. Around the third week of a college class, a professor decides she’s had enough, is tired of dealing with bureaucracies, and wants out. So one day, instead of coming to class, she flies to Tahiti and sells souvenirs on the beach. If this happened, the college would simply assign a substitute to finish the course. What does this tell you about the nature of the authority wielded by a professor? a. It is a legal-rational authority. b. It is ultimately backed by coercion. c. It is primarily supported by persuasion. d. It is based on the personal qualities, or charisma, of the individual professor. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Applying
82. A producer for a cable news show is feeling insecure. She complains to her boss that she isn’t very smart and that she only does well because she’s scared of being yelled at. Her boss tells her to stop whining and not worry about it. He says, “I’m a results-based guy. I don’t care why it works, as long as it works!” What leadership style do you think her boss has? a. Charismatic c. Instrumental b. Expressive d. Legal-rational ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Evaluating
83. In 2009 the Detroit Pistons fired head coach Michael Curry. Most sources agreed that Curry lost his job because of squabbles with players, as well as tensions between team members and the coaching staff. This was especially upsetting because Curry’s main strength was supposed to be his ability to communicate well with players and command their respect. What type of leadership was Curry lacking? a. Expressive c. Legal-rational b. Instrumental d. Traditional ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Applying
84. A nightclub has several types of employees, each with a specialized task. Bartenders make drinks, bouncers check identification, bussers clear away used glasses, and so on. A shift supervisor is in charge, and a manager is in charge of the shift supervisor. At work the employees check the bulletin board, where their boss posts memos explaining changes in the rules. The bouncers are the most popular employees, because they usually let their friends in for free, even if their friends don’t have ID. In many ways, the club is a bureaucracy, but there is at least one significant element of bureaucratic organization missing. What is it? a. Specialization c. Formal written communication b. Hierarchy d. Impersonality ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 141–142
85. Which of the following is an example of bureaucratic organization at colleges and universities? a. Deans teaching sociology courses b. Professors choosing which text to use in class c. Students being issued ID numbers d. Soccer coaches being hired because of interest rather than talent ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 142
OBJ: Bureaucracy
86. Which of the following statements about bureaucracies is true? a. They are organized in a way that breaks down hierarchies of management so that all members feel a sense of equality with one another. b. Their rules are written carefully so as to never impede the purpose of the organization. c. People who work in bureaucracies may feel alienation as a result of being treated in terms of roles, rules, and functions, rather than as individuals. d. Unlike Weber’s prediction, few organizations today are structured as bureaucracies. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 141–142 OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Understanding 87. In all probability, the sociology professor who is giving this test would be totally unable to grade a test given in the chemistry department. What aspect of bureaucracy does this illustrate? a. Impersonality c. Rules and regulations b. Specialization d. Hierarchy ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Pages 141–142 OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Understanding 88. According to Robin Leidner in Fast Food, Fast Talk, how do fast-food restaurants rationalize the process of providing food to customers? a. They ask employees to always use customers’ first names. b. They tailor each workstation to an employee’s unique personal qualities. c. They focus on giving each customer a unique eating experience. d. They have developed standardized scripts for employees to use when dealing with customers. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 142–143 OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Remembering 89. What term did the sociologist George Ritzer use to describe the spread of rationalization and bureaucratic ways of operating into everyday life? a. The spirit of capitalism c. Bureaucratic creep b. Legal-rational authority d. McDonaldization ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Pages 142–143 OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Remembering 90. A high school decides that its band needs to wear uniforms. To be more efficient, the school only buys uniforms in three sizes and forces students to pick the size that comes closest to fitting. What does this exemplify? a. Rationalization c. Group dynamics b. Virtual communities d. Network theory ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 142
OBJ: Bureaucracy
91. Which of the following is an example of McDonaldization, as George Ritzer used the term? a. A worker says, “Sometimes I felt just like a robot. You push a button and you go this way. You become a mechanical nut.” b. A small farmer who raises organic free-range chickens says, “Sometimes it’s really hard waking up before dawn and working to keep your flocks healthy, but in the end it’s very rewarding, both emotionally and financially.” c. An apprentice who makes guitars in a workshop says, “You would never believe the hard work, the discipline, that go into the making of a single guitar, often custom made, for a
specific client. It takes hundreds of hours of hard, careful labor, every step deliberated.” d. A guest at a bed-and-breakfast said, “It was marvelous, the innkeepers treated us like family. It was so comfortable and friendly, and charming and romantic.” ANS: A MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 142
OBJ: Bureaucracy
92. Activists sometimes advocate living “off the grid,” which, in its simplest form, means living without buying electricity and water from utility companies. However, they also admit that living off the grid is getting harder and harder, because there simply isn’t enough affordable land in places where it would be feasible to do so. This means that most Americans have to: a. live in the suburbs. b. live in apartments. c. ride bicycles. d. deal with utility company bureaucracies. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 143–145
93. Google has implemented employment policies like increasing the use of women interviewers for female job applicants and expanding maternity leave from three months to five in order to hire and retain more female employees. Which characteristic of bureaucracy is Google attempting to address with these changes? a. Technical competence c. Hierarchy b. Impersonality d. Specialization ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 143
OBJ: Bureaucracy
TRUE/FALSE 1. Secondary groups cannot be geographically dispersed. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
2. Our social networks consist of just our closest friends and family. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 124
OBJ: What Is a Group?
3. There is a social tie between my best friend’s uncle and me even though I’ve never met him. ANS: T MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 124
OBJ: What Is a Group?
4. There are many members of social groups who are not influenced by peer pressure. ANS: F DIF: Easy OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure) SHORT ANSWER
REF: Page 134 MSC: Understanding
1. Explain how primary groups and secondary groups are not always distinct and unique from one another. ANS: Answers should include an explanation of how personal relationships that are found within primary groups can be a direct outgrowth of secondary groups, such as making friends with co-workers, and/or an explanation of “consequential strangers” who may become a familiar and essential part of our everyday lives. DIF: Moderate MSC: Evaluating
REF: Page 123
OBJ: What Is a Group?
2. What important role did Émile Durkheim suggest that social groups perform for individuals? ANS: Durkheim believed that social groups provide norms that guide our everyday lives, keep us connected, and place necessary limits on our individual actions. Without these norms, we would experience a state of anomie or alienation. Ultimately, he argued that groups serve as an anchor to the social world and help keep us alive. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 125 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership?
MSC: Understanding
3. Explain the criticism of Robert Putnam’s concern about the decline of participation in bowling leagues and what that means for U.S. society, using the example of virtual communities. ANS: Putnam’s concerns hinged on Americans’ decreased participation in the type of civic engagement that serves to connect community members and keep anomie at bay. However, his critics argue that our social connections haven’t necessarily disintegrated; rather, the resources that we use to form them have changed. For example, new technological developments enable individuals to form collective bonds through virtual communities. In other words, Putnam’s critics would argue that even though the way we achieve social bonds has changed, the bonds are not going away. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 125–127 OBJ: Separate from Groups: Anomie or Virtual Membership?
MSC: Applying
4. How does the size of a group affect how it operates and the sorts of relationships that are possible within it? ANS: The smaller the group is, the more likely it is to be based on intimate, personal ties. The larger the group is, the more impersonal it becomes, and it is more likely to be based on rules and regulations. DIF: Easy REF: Page 129 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Group Dynamics
5. Which type of group is more stable, a triad or a dyad? Explain why. ANS: A triad is more stable than a dyad. In a dyad, if one person decides to leave the group, the group no longer exists. In a triad, conflict between two people can be mediated by a third member.
DIF: Easy REF: Page 129 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Group Dynamics
6. How might strong identification with, and loyalty to, an in-group result in discrimination against members of an out-group? ANS: Social cohesion and loyalty can intensify when differences between groups are strongly defined between the “us” of the in-group and the “them” of the out-group. Such definitions may give in-group members a feeling of superiority that can result in discrimination, such as the denial of opportunities and privileges to members of the out-group. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 129 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Group Dynamics
7. Why do people follow prescriptions and proscriptions? ANS: We follow prescriptions, doing the things we’re supposed to do, to gain acceptance and approval (positive sanctions). We follow proscriptions, avoiding the things we’re not supposed to do, to avoid rejection and disapproval (negative sanctions). DIF: Moderate REF: Page 134 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
8. What does the fact that recent replications of Solomon Asch’s experiment yielded different results than those of the original research say about the role of social pressure in American culture? ANS: Patterns of behavior can change over time. As a result, different generations may respond differently to social pressures. At the time of the original Asch experiment in the 1950s, American culture placed greater value on conformity. Today our culture places greater emphasis on the value of individualism. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 135 | Page 138 OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure) MSC: Analyzing 9. How does the immense value that some cultures place on “the group” contribute to honor killings? ANS: Society provides cultural norms that guide the behaviors of individual members. In some cultures, norms that place strong emphasis on family values and see the group as more important than the individual can contribute to honor killings. When the family is seen as more important than its individual members, these cultural norms dictate that a family member who is believed to have dishonored the group must suffer severe punishment, even death. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 136 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure)
10. If two people worked together to create the test you are now taking, would it have been produced twice as fast than if it were written by one person? Explain. ANS:
Not necessarily. According to social psychologist Ivan Steiner, actual group productivity can never reach potential group productivity, because there will be losses in the team process. The time and energy that are needed to organize and coordinate efforts between two people would decrease efficiency. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 138
OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
11. Why is sociologist George Ritzer critical of what he calls the McDonaldization of society? ANS: Ritzer is concerned that the hyperrationalized features of bureaucracies are spilling into other areas of everyday life. He is also critical of the dehumanizing features of McDonaldization, and he fears that it is leading to what Max Weber called the “iron cage” of bureaucracy. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 142
OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Understanding
ESSAY 1. Explain how reference groups work. Give an example of a reference group in your own life. ANS: A reference group provides standards by which an individual evaluates his own personal attributes. A reference group can set or enforce norms for a person, and it can also provide a standard of comparison against which she evaluates herself. A common reference group is the family. We often try to “live up to” the standards of our parents, siblings, and extended family members. If we do not see ourselves as having the qualities of a “true” family member, we may adopt a negative self-image. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 129–130
OBJ: Group Dynamics
2. What is the Twenty Statements Test, why was it developed, and what does it analyze? ANS: The Twenty Statements Test (TST) was developed by the social psychologist Manfred Kuhn in the 1950s as a way of determining the degree to which we base our self-concepts on our membership in different groups. In the 1950s and ’60s, people who took the test were more likely to give B-mode responses—that is, to identify themselves as having important group or institutional roles and affiliations. In the 1970s and ’80s, researchers used the TST to study the changing self-images of Americans. The studies found that people who took the test in these decades were more likely to give C-mode responses; in other words, they were more likely to identify themselves as individual actors, rather than as members of social institutions and structures. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 130–133 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Group Dynamics
3. What is groupthink and how does it work? Provide an example from the textbook. ANS:
Groupthink is a group dynamic that affects decision making. It is most likely to occur when highly cohesive groups demand absolute conformity and punish members who violate group norms or threaten to undermine consensus. Although groupthink helps maintain group solidarity, it can also short-circuit the decision-making process, letting a desire for unanimity prevail over critical reasoning. Under the influence of groupthink, a group may begin to feel invulnerable and morally superior. Members who would otherwise wish to dissent may instead censor themselves and cave in to peer pressure. The textbook cites the Challenger disaster, the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the Penn State child sexual abuse scandal as examples of groupthink. DIF: Easy REF: Page 134 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Group Dynamics
4. Describe the three types of conformity that can result from peer pressure. ANS: Social psychologists argue that social influence (peer pressure) results in three kinds of conformity: compliance, identification, and internalization. Compliance, the mildest kind of conformity, occurs when a person goes along with something in a particular instance because he expects to gain rewards or avoid punishments—for example, attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to avoid a jail sentence for drunk driving, not because you want to become a member of AA. When people comply, however, they don’t actually change their own ideas or beliefs. Identification, a somewhat stronger kind of conformity, results from a person’s desire to establish or maintain a relationship with a person or a group—for example, attending AA meetings because you identify with the group members, not just because you are required to attend. When identification occurs, a group member wants to be like others in the group. Therefore, she conforms to the group’s wishes or demands and follows its behavior. Internalization, the strongest kind of conformity, occurs when we adopt the beliefs or actions of a leader or a group and make them our own—for example, practicing the principles of the AA twelve-step program because you believe it is morally right. When internalization occurs, people believe in what they are doing, and their actions are consistent with their beliefs. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 134–135 OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure) MSC: Understanding 5. What was the Asch experiment? What conclusions did Asch draw from it? What have researchers in recent decades found when trying to replicate Asch’s results? ANS: In the 1950s, Solomon Asch gathered groups of seven or eight college students to participate in what he called an experiment on visual acuity under varying conditions. In fact, only one of the students in each group was a real research subject, while the others knew ahead of time how they were supposed to act. During the experiment, the participants in the group were asked to look at sets of three straight lines and to match the length of a fourth line to one of the other three. In each case, the real research subject was the last to give an answer. At first, all the participants gave the same correct answers each time the task was repeated. After a few rounds, however, the confederates began to give the same consistently wrong answers. They were completely unanimous in perceiving the line lengths incorrectly. Despite the fact that the answers were obviously wrong, most of the subjects felt considerable peer pressure to comply with the rest of the group. The best answers to this question will approximate some of the statistics given in the textbook. One-third (33 percent) of the subjects went along with the group response at least half the time; in all, 73 percent of the subjects complied at least once, and only 25 percent of the subjects never yielded to the majority opinion.
In a debriefing after the experiment, some of the subjects reported that they assumed that the rest of the participants were right and they were wrong. Other subjects knew they were right but did not want to appear different from the rest of the group. Almost all of the subjects were greatly distressed by the discrepancy between their perceptions and those of the other participants. From this experiment, Asch and other sociologists have concluded that peer pressure is extremely powerful. Clearly, it can be difficult to resist peer pressure and to maintain independence in a group situation. Today, however, Asch’s experiment is seen as reflecting the cultural values of the 1950s. Researchers in recent decades who attempted to replicate Asch’s results found much lower rates of compliance. This suggests that there has been a shift in the cultural and historical context of how we think about the value of conformity. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 135| Page 138 OBJ: Social Influence (Peer Pressure) MSC: Evaluating 6. According to social psychologist Ivan Steiner, actual group productivity can never equal potential productivity. Why not? ANS: The textbook identifies two major sources of inefficiency that come with the group process, and both get worse as the group’s size increases. The need to organize team members, such as coordinating activities and delegating responsibilities, is one potential source of inefficiency, because it takes up time and energy that could have been applied to accomplishing the task at hand. Another source of inefficiency is the phenomenon known as social loafing, which means that as more individuals are added to a task, each person does less work. Furthermore, as more people become involved in a project, it becomes harder to discern individual effort. If it is impossible for any one person to receive either credit or blame, motivation usually suffers. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 138–140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Understanding
7. What is social loafing? How could it affect a group of college students who are working on a group presentation? What would be some possible solutions for preventing this problem? ANS: Social loafing means that as more people are added to a project, the perception of individual effort and contribution lessens. This discourages people from contributing at the same rate that they would if they had been working on the project alone. In college projects that involve group effort, some students will do less of the work, relying on their peers to complete what is necessary for the project. As a result, the students who are doing most of the work may feel resentful about the lack of contributions from their classmates. Solutions to the problem of social loafing include recognizing individual effort, finding ways to make a group task more interesting or personally rewarding, and developing a group identity. It is not always possible to make a task more meaningful, but social identity theory suggests that group performance can almost always be enhanced by creating a sense of shared group identity. Having a social identity, as opposed to a personal identity, involves thinking and feeling like a representative of a group or team and wanting to belong to the group, rather than simply keep company with it. According to this model, the most efficient teams, or those that have the best teamwork, are characterized by the greatest social identity among their members, because this identity increases motivation and places the needs of the group above purely personal concerns. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 138–140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Evaluating
8. Imagine that you are in charge of a football team. Several of the players, including the quarterback and the running back, get most of the glory when the team succeeds. However, other players, like the linebackers, have to do a lot of very hard and highly skilled work in order for the team to win. Use the insights you have gained from Chapter 5 to describe what steps you would take to motivate the linebackers to work hard. ANS: Any good answer should draw on the “Teamwork” section of Chapter 5, which discusses the problem of social loafing. There are three basic solutions to this problem: recognizing individual effort, finding ways to make a task more interesting or personally rewarding, and trying to increase group identity among team members. The best answers should find ways to apply all three of these approaches, but any good answer should mention practical applications for giving the linebackers more recognition for their work and making them feel more like an important part of the team. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 138–140 OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
MSC: Applying
9. What are the three different types of authority identified by Max Weber? Explain the premise of each. ANS: Max Weber argued that authority can be traditional, legal-rational, or charismatic. Traditional authority is based on custom, birthright, or divine right and is usually associated with monarchies. Kings and queens have power because they have inherited the throne, both through lineage and by divine appointment. Monarchs’ personal qualities don’t matter, and they cannot be removed or replaced by legal proceedings. Legal-rational authority is based on laws, rules, and procedures, not on a leader’s heredity rights. Modern presidencies and parliaments are based on legal-rational authority. Charismatic authority is based on a leader’s remarkable personal qualities. Rules and traditions are unnecessary for the establishment of a charismatic leader; indeed, this kind of leader can be a revolutionary, breaking rules and defying traditions. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 140 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Working Together: Teams and Leadership
10. List the specific organizational characteristics that Max Weber associated with bureaucracies. ANS: 1. Specialization: all members of a bureaucracy have extremely specialized roles and tasks. 2. Technical competence: all members of a bureaucracy are specially trained for their specific roles. 3. Hierarchy: bureaucracies always feature high-ranking managers who supervise lower-ranking subordinates. 4. Rules and regulations: all bureaucracies have a system of rules and regulations that are designed to make all operations as predictable as possible. 5. Impersonality: in a bureaucracy, rules come before people; no individual receives special or personalized treatment. 6. Formal written communication: in bureaucracies, documents such as memos (or email messages) are the heart of the organization and the most effective way to communicate. DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 141
OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Remembering
11. What does George Ritzer mean by “the McDonaldization of society”?
ANS: Ritzer coined this phrase to describe how the rationalized features of bureaucracies are trickling down into our everyday life. He argues that the impersonal, rule-based organizational principles that are particular to bureaucracies have permeated more and more of our social world: people participate in hyperefficient, predictable, calculated, and automated interactions all day long. Ritzer is critical of the dehumanizing aspects of McDonaldization, and he hopes that increased awareness of this process will help us avoid becoming trapped in what Max Weber called the “iron cage” of bureaucracy. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 142
OBJ: Bureaucracy MSC: Understanding
12. In 2007 the rock band Nine Inch Nails announced that it had severed all ties with the record industry. The front man, Trent Reznor, announced that “Nine Inch Nails is now totally a free agent” and that it was a “great pleasure to be able to finally have a direct relationship with the audience as I see fit.” The band went on to release a free album on the Internet and encouraged Web surfers to “remix it, share it with your friends, post it on your blog, play it on your podcast, give it to strangers, etc.” In what ways can the band’s actions be understood as a reaction to the negative aspects of bureaucracy? ANS: There are several ways this question might be answered. First, the textbook uses the Burning Man festival as an example of a response to bureaucratic constraint, so a creative answer might compare the band to the festival, seeing Nine Inch Nails as attempting to do something similar. The textbook argues that: [Burning Man] is a freewheeling experiment in temporary community, where there are no rules except to protect the well-being of participants (“burners”) and where everyone gathers together to celebrate various forms of self-expression and self-reliance not normally encountered in everyday life. . . . Much of what is appealing about Burning Man is that it challenges many of the norms and values of mainstream society, especially those associated with conformity, bureaucracy, and capitalism. An answer in this vein might argue that Nine Inch Nails is likewise trying to build a community where there are fewer rules for creating and distributing music, and where both artists and listeners can freely express themselves and challenge the norms and values of mainstream society—in this case, the capitalism and bureaucracy of the record industry. Another, less creative but equally correct response might simply take the six elements of a bureaucracy that Max Weber identified and discuss how Nine Inch Nails is reacting against them. This answer would almost certainly concentrate on elements like hierarchy, rules and regulations, and impersonality, all of which the band seems to be trying to get away from. DIF: Difficult MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 143–145
OBJ: Bureaucracy
CHAPTER 06: DEVIANCE MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Which of the following would sociologists consider the best definition of deviance? a. actions that are harmful to society c. criminal activities b. violations of social norms d. immoral or unethical behaviors ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
2. In order for a behavior, trait, or belief to be considered deviant, it must: a. inspire feelings of revulsion or disgust. b. depart from a norm and generate a negative reaction. c. cause harm or injury to someone. d. violate a law. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
3. Today, using the wrong fork to eat a salad at a dinner party would NOT usually qualify as deviance. Why NOT? a. American society no longer has rules and etiquette governing which utensil to use for salads. b. Most dinners are eaten with friends, who do not apply sanctions for deviant behavior. c. There are not norms governing food and eating. d. It is not a serious enough norm violation to provoke sanctions. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
4. Traditionally, most of the sociological literature on deviance focuses on: a. crime. c. the extremely wealthy. b. mental illness. d. the emotional appeal of deviant acts. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
5. In the United States today, many people are bothered by “double dipping,” or dipping food of which you have already taken a bite into a sauce others are using. Mythbusters examined double dipping and found that the risk of sharing germs is negligible. Is double dipping still deviant? a. Now that the myth has been debunked, double dipping is no longer deviant. b. Double dipping is still deviant whenever it receives a negative reaction. c. Double dipping is always, under all circumstances, a deviant act. d. Double dipping is still a deviant act, as it is considered rude even if no one cares about it or reacts to it. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
6. What is one reason imprisonment was such a rare type of punishment before the nineteenth century? a. Earlier societies did not have sufficient resources to operate prisons. b. Earlier societies believed that physical punishments like branding were more likely to
deter future crime. c. Earlier societies were crueler and therefore more accepting of harsh physical punishment. d. Earlier societies believed that punishments like shunning and banishment were more humane. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
7. According to Chapter 6, in colonial America, corporal punishments like branding or amputation were commonly used. What were these punishments designed to do? a. They were designed to mark the offender. b. They were designed to maximize pain and suffering. c. They were designed to make the offender unmarryable. d. They were designed to satisfy the bourgeoisie. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 152
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
8. Which of the following is true regarding prison as a mechanism for punishing crime? a. Throughout history, most societies have used prison to punish the most serious crimes. b. Historically, only relatively humane and ethical societies have used prison as a form of punishment. c. Prison was rarely used before the nineteenth century. d. Prison is commonly used as a punishment because it is extremely cost-effective. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
9. The Amish have neither the resources nor the desire to use prison as a sanction against members of their community who violate the rules. What sanction do they use instead? a. Offenders are flogged or put in stocks to be publicly humiliated for a short period of time. b. Monetary fines are used for most norm violations. c. Meidung, or shunning, is used, a process whereby no one within the community will associate or even talk with a rule breaker for a set period of time. d. The offender is mandated to provide physical labor for the community. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
10. In colonial America, a pickpocket might have had a hand cut off as punishment. Why was this particular method of punishment chosen? a. The hand is a part of the body that can usually be safely amputated without risk of infection. b. It was easy and convenient. c. It was considered symbolically appropriate to remove the part of the body most directly connected with the crime. d. It was considered one of the most painful punishments that could be administered. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 152
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
11. Although branding is no longer used as a form of punishment in the United States, some subcultures have adopted it as a form of body art. This demonstrates that: a. what is considered deviant changes over time. b. many people find punishment desirable.
c. some acts are simply inherently deviant. d. deviant acts of the past become mainstream acts of the future. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 152
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
12. Imagine that a powerful and influential person decided to heavily tattoo her own face with symbols and images that told parts of her life story. Would she be treated as a deviant? a. No, powerful people are often allowed to do things others find strange. b. Yes, any culture would consider that to be a deviant act. c. No, there are several cultures where this sort of behavior is very common. d. Yes, it would be in the United States, though there are other cultures that would consider it normal or desirable. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 152
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
13. Many people, especially young women, worry about maintaining a tan. Sometimes, if they do not have the time to tan naturally, they go to a tanning salon or use chemicals to simulate a tan. In some cultures, this might seem bizarre, which can help us realize that: a. the line between beauty and deviance is fluid and changes across time and place. b. there are some types of body modification that are never tolerated anywhere. c. the rest of the world keeps backward practices and superstitions. d. people who get fake tans are deviant. ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 152
OBJ: Deviance across Cultures
14. Which of the following describes how deviance can be explained from the functionalist perspective? a. Deviance breaks down social cohesion and leads to revolution. b. Deviance makes it easier for the upper class to control the poor. c. Deviance helps the upper class maintain its power and influence in society. d. Deviance clarifies moral boundaries and affirms norms. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
15. When a politician is caught cheating on his spouse, there are usually serious consequences, and sometimes the politician is forced to resign from his office when his constituents loudly express their unhappiness with such behavior. According to Emile Durkheim, what function does this reaction serve? a. It helps to deter politicians from cheating in the future. b. It helps to clarify moral boundaries, reinforcing the idea that marital infidelity is wrong. c. The anger and public outcry helps to rehabilitate the offender so he will not give in to the temptation to cheat in the future. d. It helps to protect the family members of the politician, who need scrutiny and media coverage in order to move on. ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
16. Many Americans are outraged by the number of illegal immigrants who enter the country every year, despite the fact that some studies show that such immigrants are, on the whole, economically beneficial. What function would this anger serve in our society?
a. It completely prevents illegal immigration. b. It helps to punish people who violate immigration laws, as widespread anger makes it easier to pass harsh immigration laws. c. It ensures that most business owners will never employ illegal immigrants. d. It helps to promote social cohesion, as our society can come together in shared anger at a relatively small group of outsiders. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
17. Merton’s typology of deviance outlines the strain that people experience as they attempt to access cultural goals through legitimate, institutionalized means. Of the following, which category illustrates gangsters and con-artists? a. conformity c. ritualism b. innovation d. retreatism ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
18. Because laws represent the interests of those in power, crimes committed by the upper classes are typically treated more leniently than crimes committed by the lower classes. This argument is consistent with: a. differential association theory. c. principled deviance. b. conflict theory. d. functionalist theory. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 155
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
19. Samantha believes that our criminal law excuses big corporations for polluting the planet, manufacturing unsafe products, and manipulating prices. At the same time, she sees homeless people imprisoned for stealing food, which she believes we should all have access to regardless of wealth. Samantha has taken a ________ perspective to explain the way deviance is viewed in society. a. structural functionalist c. conflict theory b. symbolic interactionist d. retreatist ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of Deviance
REF: Pages 155–156 MSC: Applying
20. What theory argues that punishments for rule violators are unequally distributed, with those near the top of society subject to more lenient rules and sanctions than those at the bottom? a. labeling theory c. functionalist theory b. conflict theory d. symbolic interactionism ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of Deviance
REF: Pages 155–156 MSC: Remembering
21. According to conflict theory, why are vagrancy laws passed? a. to improve public health by preventing the spread of disease b. to prevent the sort of crime that is often associated with vagrant populations c. to ensure that someone is paying attention to the homeless so they receive help and assistance from the government d. as a way of targeting groups who threaten society’s elites ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of Deviance
REF: Pages 155–156 MSC: Understanding
22. Stealing avocados, or almost any other agricultural product, is a felony in California if the product is worth more than $100. Supporters of the law believe it is the only way to protect farmers from vagrants and transients who can ruin the viability of small farms. However, if you believe that such laws target homeless people who have little power in society and are simply trying to eat, then you are probably a: a. conflict theorist. c. symbolic interactionist. b. functionalist. d. follower of Robert Merton. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of Deviance
REF: Pages 155–156 MSC: Applying
23. If an upper-middle-class, white college student is sentenced to rehab for the same drug crime that a lower-class, black man is sentenced to jail for committing, what might a conflict theorist conclude about deviance? a. Differential levels of punishment are functional, as they keep the most productive members of society out of jail. b. We need to punish criminals from the lower class more harshly, as they are more likely to re-offend. c. The two criminals probably had very different motives for committing their crimes, and this explains the difference in punishment. d. The rules are applied unequally, and those with power or influence are punished much less harshly. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of Deviance
REF: Pages 155–156 MSC: Evaluating
24. According to the structural strain theory of deviance as articulated by Robert Merton, what is one of the principal reasons people turn to deviant behavior in the United States? a. There are a lot of people with inborn antisocial tendencies. b. American society is very lax in enforcing laws. c. Deviant behavior is glamorized in the media and therefore becomes increasingly attractive to young people. d. The goal of success is shared by a majority of people, but not everyone has equal means for achieving that goal. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
25. In Office Space, the character Peter Gibbons spends much of the movie trying to find unconventional and even illegal ways of making more money. According to Robert Merton’s typology, into what category does Peter fit? a. ritualist c. innovator b. rebel d. retreatist ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
26. Robert Merton developed structural strain theory to explain why deviance happens. To what sort of strain does the theory’s name refer? a. strain between deviant and nondeviant citizens b. strain between social norms that are codified in laws and those that are not c. strain between different value systems within a society d. strain between socially approved goals and the means an individual has for realizing them
ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of Deviance
REF: Page 154 |Page 163 MSC: Understanding
27. Robert Merton’s structural strain theory sees deviance as the result of a person’s position in a social structure. What do you think Jack Katz, author of Seductions of Crime, would say about structural strain theory? a. Merton’s analysis fails because it does not understand that some people will reject both mainstream cultural goals and the institutionalized means to achieve them. b. Merton’s analysis was correct, in that background factors are almost always the most effective way to predict who will commit deviant acts. c. A focus on social position misses the emotional appeal that a deviant act has for an individual. d. Merton needs to look at a broader range of background factors, including age and sexuality. ANS: C MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
28. If you decided that you could never get into a good school and therefore could never get a good job, you might decide to sell crack cocaine instead as a way to make a living. According to Robert Merton, what sort of deviant would you be? a. a conformist c. an innovator b. a ritualist d. a rebel ANS: C MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
29. In the 1960s Timothy Leary famously advised everyone to “turn on, tune in, and drop out,” and, although he insisted that it meant more, most people assumed he was telling them to “get stoned and abandon all constructive activity.” How would Robert Merton’s structural strain theory classify someone who took this advice? a. as a ritualist c. as an innovator b. as a retreatist d. as a rebel ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
30. The parents of a deviant child often want to find some way to excuse their offspring’s behavior, and it is common to hear them say, “He just fell in with a bad crowd.” Which symbolic interactionist theory of deviance does this explanation most closely resemble? a. differential association c. self-fulfilling prophecy b. labeling theory d. structural strain theory ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 156
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
31. Nowhere to Grow by Les Whitbeck and Dan Hoyt explored the lives of homeless and runaway teens in the Midwest. The authors found that “associating with deviant peers” had a dramatic effect on a wide range of deviant behaviors, including increasing “the likelihood of serious substance abuse almost 32 times.” What theory of deviance considers the way such interpersonal relationships help to predict deviant behavior? a. self-fulfilling prophecy c. differential association b. retreatism d. labeling theory ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 156
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
MSC: Applying 32. The idea that individuals learn to be deviant by interacting with others who are already deviant is called: a. conflict theory. c. differential association theory. b. self-fulfilling prophecy. d. labeling theory. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 156
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
33. The fact that many individuals who engage in deviant behaviors have NEVER associated with other deviants is evidence against which theory? a. self-fulfilling prophecy c. conflict b. differential association d. structural strain ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
34. In “On Being Sane in Insane Places,” David Rosenhan describes how: a. although it may be difficult for the rest of us, psychiatrists can easily differentiate between those who are sane and those who are insane. b. researchers posing as “pseudopatients” in a mental hospital, but otherwise acting normally, were nonetheless treated as insane by the hospital staff. c. mental patients were unable to determine who among them were really researchers posing as “pseudopatients.” d. researchers, working in mental hospitals, started to develop higher rates of mental illness. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 157
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
35. According to labeling theory, why were none of the pseudopatients in David Rosenhan’s “On Being Sane in Insane Places” discovered? a. They all were mentally ill, at least to some extent. b. They were too “clean-cut” to be considered mentally ill. c. They were well coached in the symptoms real patients would experience. d. Once a person has been labeled “mentally ill,” it is very hard for anyone to see past the label. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 157
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
36. Which group of people within the hospital were able to tell that the pseudopatients in David Rosenhan’s “On Being Sane in Insane Places” were NOT actually mentally ill? a. only the older, more experienced doctors b. the other patients c. the nursing staff d. the orderlies ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 157
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
37. What happened to the pseudopatients in David Rosenhan’s “On Being Sane in Insane Places”? a. Several of them finally had to break out. b. One of them turned out to be genuinely mentally ill and was never released. c. They were all released once doctors realized that they were not actually mentally ill.
d. They were all finally released, but the diagnoses were that their “illnesses” were “in remission.” ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 157
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
38. Under what circumstances does a deviant label lead from primary to secondary deviance? a. when the deviant label is applied by a large number of people b. when the deviant label is applied by someone very powerful c. when the deviant label is internalized d. when the deviant label is applied later in life ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 157
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
39. In his book Streetwise, Elijah Anderson argues that young African American men are more likely to be arrested because: a. they commit more flagrant crimes. b. they are more likely to engage in deviant behavior. c. they are more likely to be poor. d. both police and community members perceive them as more criminal than others. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
40. How do self-fulfilling prophecies work? a. We respond not only to the objective features of a situation but also to its meaning. Once meaning has been assigned to our behavior, the consequences of that behavior are determined by the meaning. b. We learn to be deviant through our interactions with others who break the rules. c. We tend to respond to the physical and social marks that discredit our identities and leave us vulnerable to negative social judgments. d. Our social locations are a crucial factor in determining how others see us; therefore, social status is the most important determinant of deviance. e. Our backgrounds do not determine deviance; rather, the in-the-moment emotional experience of a deviant action makes it seem like a good or bad idea. ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
41. When David Rosenhan designed the experiment he described in “On Being Sane in Insane Places,” he gave very specific instructions to his research assistants to be honest and truthful about everything except in claiming they were hearing voices and giving a fake name. Why was it important that they NOT use their real identities? a. What they were doing was illegal, and they needed to have cover identities. b. They could walk away from their assumed identities, and in so doing walk away from their labels as well. c. They could keep doctors from finding their medical records and exposing them as fakes. d. They did not want to be recognized by acquaintances. ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 157
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
42. A person arrived at a company party dressed in a bunny costume, only to discover that the party was not a costume party. Although he had been tricked by a co-worker, from then on everyone saw him as crazy and eccentric, and eventually he came to think of himself in this way too. The initial mistake at the party is an example of: a. stigma. c. a self-fulfilling prophecy. b. primary deviance. d. tertiary deviation. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 157
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
43. W. I. Thomas famously argued that “if men define situations as real, then: a. others will label them as deviant.” b. it will lead to tertiary deviance.” c. they will be forced to provide evidence.” d. they are real in their consequences.” ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
44. What did Robert Merton call a prediction that came true only because the prediction was made? a. a defining prophecy c. a self-fulfilling prophecy b. a Thomas prediction d. a labeling prophecy ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
45. Asian American students are more likely to be placed in Advanced Placement classes, score higher on exams, and be expected to excel in education. This is called the: a. stereotype promise. c. tertiary deviance. b. self-fulfilling prophecy. d. stereotype threat. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
46. Brooke is a Ph.D. candidate in the field of nanophysics. She is aware that only 4 percent of physics professionals are women. Many assume this is due to women having an inability to comprehend complex mathematics. Knowing this, Brooke actually scores below her male counterparts on exams, thus affirming the idea that women have difficulty with physics. Brooke is experiencing: a. the stereotype promise. c. tertiary deviance. b. a self-fulfilling prophecy. d. the stereotype threat. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
47. David Rosenhan argues that misdiagnosis is particularly a problem for psychologists, as a diagnosis of a mental illness is as influential on the patient as it is on his or her relatives and friends. It should not surprise anyone that the diagnosis acts as a(n): a. act of tertiary deviance. c. gesture of passing. b. sign of structural strain. d. self-fulfilling prophecy. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
48. Which kind of departure from the norm would have a stigmatizing effect on an individual’s identity? a. physical disability c. left-handed preference
b. colorblindness
d. wearing shoes that do not match
ANS: A DIF: Easy Identity MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
49. In what aspects of stigma are symbolic interactionists interested? a. how people manage their stigmatized identities on an everyday basis b. which stigmas are fair and which are unjustly applied c. how stigma always leads to positive life outcomes d. how stigma leads to increased self-esteem ANS: A DIF: Moderate Identity MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
50. The poet Lucy Grealy had a series of operations as a child that eventually resulted in the removal of one-third of her jaw. As a result she experienced: a. stigma. c. strain. b. passing. d. rebellion. ANS: A Identity MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
51. Shortly after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, there were a number of attacks on Arab Americans (and people who were mistakenly identified as Arab Americans), because their identity had become stigmatized. What sort of stigma was this? a. moral c. religious b. symbolic d. tribal ANS: D Identity MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
52. When the suburb of Lakewood, California, was first built in 1950, it refused to sell houses to Jewish families, as well as African Americans and Hispanics. However, within a few years, the developers reversed this policy and started selling homes to families regardless of religious faith or ethnicity. What does this tell us about stigma? a. Stigma leaves permanent marks on those it affects. b. Stigma is only a problem in areas where money is involved. c. Stigmatized identities can be overcome through passing. d. Stigmatized identities change over time. ANS: D Identity MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
53. Dan Savage, a nationally syndicated sex advice columnist, has repeatedly expressed his frustration with gay men who describe themselves in personal ads as “straight-acting, straight-appearing.” He believes that these men need to be open about who they are rather than attempting to manage their stigmatized identities by: a. passing. b. in-group orientation. c. deviance avowal (twisting the truth).
d. symbolic interactionism. ANS: A Identity MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
54. Although gays and lesbians in the United States have always been stigmatized, there are several different ways in which individuals have chosen to manage that stigma. When gay rights activists chant the slogan, “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it,” what strategy are they using? a. passing c. bureaucratic mediation b. assimilation d. in-group orientation ANS: D Identity MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 160
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
55. Some light-skinned African Americans have dealt with stigma by passing as white. But many African Americans could not pass, and others refused to do so; consequently, when they attempted to deal with stigma, they were much more likely to do so via in-group orientation. Which of the following actions would be an example of in-group orientation? a. using chemical products to straighten curly hair or lighten skin b. joining a radical group that advocated black separatism and wanted most African Americans to leave the United States c. focusing attention on athletics or other areas where African Americans were more likely to experience success d. embracing James Brown’s song, “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” ANS: D Identity MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 160
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
56. Which of the following is a strategy for someone with a stigmatized identity to blend in with a group that does NOT experience stigmatization? a. retreat c. interactionism b. escapism d. passing ANS: D DIF: Easy Identity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
57. According to Erving Goffman, stigmatized individuals who do not believe that they should have to change or conceal their identities to make “normal” people more comfortable have: a. deviance plus. c. self-esteem. b. in-group orientation. d. out-group orientation. ANS: B DIF: Easy Identity MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 160
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
58. When studying deviance, sociologists often focus on the most obvious and extreme forms of deviant behavior. What are the consequences of this approach? a. Only those deviant individuals who embrace their deviant labels will be studied. b. Only the deviant behaviors of the rich and powerful will be studied. c. The values and norms of the powerful are left unexamined, while the deviance of the poor is scrutinized.
d. Few, if any, of the most serious problems in a given society can be identified. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
59. Sociologists who study deviance tend to focus only on the most extreme and obvious forms of deviance. What is this approach sometimes called? a. the outsider’s approach b. the Marxist approach c. the structural functionalist approach d. the nuts and sluts approach ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
60. What did Verta Taylor and Leila Rupp do in order to gain a naturalistic understanding of drag queens for their book Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret? a. conducted extensive life-history interviews b. videotaped a great number of performances c. performed statistical analysis of the surveys they handed out to audiences at the drag shows they attended d. took the stage and performed with the drag queens they were studying ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
61. In Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn, Karen McCarthy Brown studied practitioners of the Vodou religion living in the United States. However, she went far beyond the usual role of scientific observer and became a member of the religious group she was studying. She also gave her key informant, Mama Lola, veto power over certain elements of her work. Why would this be helpful? a. It helped her learn all the secrets that practitioners of Vodou would not tell outsiders. b. It gave her better insight into how to convert practitioners away from Vodou. c. It helped her set aside her preconceived notions about Vodou in order to understand it on its own terms. d. It would not be helpful; without doubt, it crippled her ability to make objective judgments. ANS: C MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
62. Most sociological studies of deviance focus on elements of an individual’s background that would predispose her to act in deviant ways. What is the key problem with such an approach? a. It cannot explain why some people with very similar backgrounds act differently. b. It requires a great deal of statistical analysis. c. It focuses too much on the emotional appeal of certain types of crime. d. It requires psychiatric evaluations. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
63. Instead of solely examining background factors, what does the sociologist Jack Katz think sociologists should study when trying to understand deviance? a. the deviant’s own experience of committing a deviant act b. the correlation between deviance and poverty c. the way deviance tends to be handed down through generations
d. the role poverty plays in encouraging deviance ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
64. According to Jack Katz, aside from material objects, what do muggers gain from their crimes? a. He argues that they are often trying to return to prison, where they feel more secure. b. He argues that they seek power and control over their victims. c. He argues that they mug for a sense of satisfaction and excitement. d. He argues that they mug for a steady living that allows them to eventually move up in social status. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
65. According to Jack Katz in Seductions of Crime, why might teenagers shoplift? a. They feel strain between their means and the goals society tells them are desirable. b. They want the thrill of getting away with breaking the rules. c. They come from a low socioeconomic class. d. Young people are inherently predisposed to crime. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
66. Given Jack Katz’s theory of crime, what do you think would be the best subtitle for his book Seductions of Crime? a. The World of the New Urban Poor b. Social Structure and Anomie c. Moral and Sensual Attractions of “Doing” Deviance d. Pursuits and Careers of Persistent Thieves ANS: C MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
67. Construction crews are constantly annoyed at the way people, mostly teenage boys, steal orange cones and flashing pylons that mark construction zones. According to Jack Katz, why does this sort of deviance happen? a. The thieves find these items aesthetically appealing but do not know where to buy them. b. The thieves are afflicted with a psychological disorder like kleptomania, which compels them to steal. c. The thieves are usually planning on reselling the materials on the black market. d. This sort of deviance produces a rush of energy and excitement. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
68. Which of the following statements helps explain how Jack Katz’s book Seductions of Crime explained deviance in a new way? a. Conflict theorists have frequently argued that differences in economic resources give elites the ability to control the coercive apparatus of the state. Pronounced economic differences also provide elites with a need to maintain order. b. Three decades ago, criminologists widely decried the failure of rehabilitative efforts to reduce recidivism. This “nothing works” attitude permeated the field of criminal justice, and a period of punitive justice was ushered in. c. The social science literature contains only scattered evidence of what it means, feels,
sounds, tastes, or looks like to commit a particular crime. d. Society should be considered as a cross between the cultural “goals” it believes its members should strive for and the “means” that are believed, legally or morally, to be legitimate ways in which individuals should attain these goals. ANS: C MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
69. According to Jack Katz, there are several reasons why adolescents might shoplift, the first being the material appeal of the objects that are taken, but more importantly, they: a. can gain entrance to gangs if they are successful. b. are often carrying out a vendetta against a particular store or small business owner. c. regard “getting away with it” as a demonstration of personal competence. d. usually need to make money by selling the objects they steal. ANS: C MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 163
OBJ: Studying Deviance
70. Your professor was raised during a time when derogatory language and condescending thoughts were often written in public bathroom stalls. In contemporary society, people utilize social media as an enhanced form of condescending attacks known as: a. catfishing in local chatrooms. b. harassment, both sexual and emotional. c. demanding others remain on fleek. d. cyberbullying. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 165
OBJ: Studying Deviance
71. What do we call norm violations that are codified into law? a. crimes c. violent crimes b. taboos d. mores ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 166
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
72. An individual who works at a bookstore routinely takes home ballpoint pens and Post-it notes, uses the copy machine to make personal copies, and makes long-distance phone calls on the store’s line. However, he would never consider stealing money from the cash register, even if he knew he could get away with it. What is this behavior called? a. business nonconformity c. partial deviance b. pilfering d. misdemeanor deviance ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 165
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
73. The vast majority of crimes come to the attention of the police in response to citizen complaints. If citizens do not think a crime is serious enough or feel that nothing can be done, they do not usually bother to inform the authorities. This means that there might be serious bias in the: a. symbolic interactionist theory of deviance. b. way conflict theorists understand deviance. c. value of punishment for deterrence. d. Uniform Crime Report. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 166
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
74. Which of the following might make sociologists doubt that higher crime rates in urban areas, as reported by the Uniform Crime Report, actually reflect higher levels of criminal activity? a. Police are more likely to concentrate their efforts in such areas. b. Poor people are more likely to be the victims of crime. c. Police tend to be less suspicious of poor people. d. Poor areas tend to lack jobs and receive less funding for their schools. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 166
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
75. Which of these factors makes sociologists question the relationship between youth and crime? a. Official crime statistics show that middle-aged people commit a large percentage of the crimes in our society. b. Young people may commit crimes that are more visible and therefore are arrested more often. c. Young people may commit more property crimes, but older people commit more violent crimes. d. Young people are stronger and more fit, so they can actually find jobs instead of resorting to criminal activity for income. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 168
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
76. What evidence shows that the number of women who commit crimes is related to social structure? a. Female arrest rates have remained remarkably steady over the course of American history. b. Male and female arrest rates tend to change at about the same rate. c. There are approximately as many women in prison as men. d. As women have gained greater power in the labor market, female arrest rates have increased. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 168
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
77. Martha Stewart was convicted of obstruction of justice after lying to the FBI during an investigation of her sale of ImClone Systems stock, whose value dramatically fell immediately after she sold it. Her conviction was unusual, as this sort of white collar crime is much more likely to be dealt with in civil, rather than criminal, court. How does the tendency to deal with white collar criminals in civil court bias our understanding of the demographics of crime? a. It causes us to underestimate the number of property crimes committed each year. b. It encourages us to equate cash register honesty with real honesty. c. It leads us to overestimate the relationship between poverty and crime. d. It creates a false relationship between gender and crime. ANS: C MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 168
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
78. How does the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report measure crime? a. A random sample of citizens are asked what crimes they have been the victims of in the past twelve months. b. A random sample of police officers are asked what crime levels they have observed. c. Every crime reported by over seventeen thousand law enforcement agencies in the United States is tabulated. d. The convictions of every district attorney in the United States are tabulated.
ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 166
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
79. For what is the Uniform Crime Report used? a. to assign federal law enforcement funding to different areas b. to understand all the norm violations that occur c. to understand sentencing guidelines as they relate to race and class d. to make comparisons in crime rates between years and geographic regions ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 166
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
80. According to the Uniform Crime Report, murder is most likely to be committed by a: a. dating partner. c. stranger. b. friend or relative. d. gang member. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 167
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
81. What is the justification for harsh sentencing guidelines, like California’s “three strikes” law? a. deterrence of future crime b. rehabilitation of the criminal c. retribution for crimes in proportion to their damage d. the reform of individual criminals ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 169
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
82. In the United States, what do legislatures, police, courts, and prisons make up? a. the full state system c. positive deviance b. the deviance system d. the criminal justice system ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 169
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
83. Many people today argue that convicted sex offenders should be chemically castrated or held in protective custody beyond their original sentences. What is the logic of these punishments? a. incapacitation c. retribution b. deterrence d. rehabilitation ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 171
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
84. How do sociologists define positive deviance? a. deviance that relates to a criminal record b. deviance that actively harms someone physically c. instances where a rule violation is, or seems to be, an admirable act that should be supported d. the form of acts that come with secondary deviance ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 169
OBJ: “Positive” Deviance?
85. Today, ecoterrorists in America have taken many radical actions, including burning down ski lodges, blowing up Hummers, freeing lab animals, and chaining themselves to trees. These actions are often seen as extremely deviant, but many of the perpetrators believe that in the future they will be hailed as heroes, in which case their actions will be seen as: a. positive deviance. c. violent crime. b. symbolic deviance. d. in-group orientation. ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 171
OBJ: “Positive” Deviance?
TRUE/FALSE 1. Sociologists can say that deviance is relative because whether a behavior is considered deviant depends upon the historical, cultural, and/or situational context in which it occurs. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
2. Sociologists argue that no behavior, not even one designed to kill a great number of people, is inherently deviant. ANS: T DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
3. When sociologists use the term “deviant,” they are making both a social and a moral judgment. ANS: F DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
4. Throughout history, prison has been the most common means of punishment for criminals and deviants. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
SHORT ANSWER 1. According to sociologists, why is deviance related to the societal response to a behavior, rather than to the behavior itself? ANS: Answers may vary. Norms change over time and society may react negatively to behaviors that were once accepted. For example, marijuana was legal in the United States when the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp. A decade ago marijuana was viewed as a harsh drug. Today, those ideas are evolving as we consider marijuana use for medical and even recreational purposes. Marijuana never changed, but the social response to people using it has shifted over time. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 151–152 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Defining Deviance
2. In what ways is deviance a social judgment, rather than a moral judgment?
ANS: Norms are relative to particular cultures. What is deviant in our culture may be completely accepted, even expected, in other societies. No behavior is seen as inherently wrong, as groups vary in values and norms and the manner in which they employ social control. DIF: Easy REF: Page 151 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Defining Deviance
3. Provide an example that illustrates a behavior that would have been considered deviant for women 200 years ago but is part of normal culture today. ANS: Answers will vary. One possible answer is as follows: women who did not marry at an early age were seen as spinsters and people were frequently uncomfortable around these women, as they did not have a social understanding of how one was to engage with single, older women. Today, many women wait until their 30s, 40s, even 50s for their first marriage, and it is acceptable due to the changes in our labor force over the past 200 years. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
4. As societies change and different groups gain access to power, what does this do to our perception of deviance? ANS: Answers may vary. One possible answer is as follows: branding was once used to mark slaves and criminals. Once society began to view these practices as morally corrupt, as a result of minority groups gaining more access to human rights, the symbol was adopted by fraternities. Fraternities are using this once-oppressive symbol as a badge of honor and voluntary act of pride. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 152 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Defining Deviance
5. Although prisons were not introduced as a method of punishment until the nineteenth century, we have seen our country grow to house more inmates than any other country in the world today. Who is benefiting financially from the incarceration of so many inmates? ANS: Prisons are expensive to run because they serve as a way for guards, nurses, wardens, administrative assistants, educators, and so on to receive an income. Police officers are paid to apprehend criminals, lawyers are paid to represent criminals, and judges are paid to sentence criminals. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 151
OBJ: Defining Deviance
6. Why do functional theorists suggest that deviance helps to clarify moral boundaries and affirm social norms? ANS: Deviance reminds us of what we consider “correct” in terms of behavior during social interaction. People are able to form communities when they recognize their own moral standards as varying opinions on criminal behavior are visible in the media.
DIF: Moderate REF: Page 154 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
7. According to Howard Becker, there are no inherently deviant acts, only societal reactions to acts that make them deviant. Describe an instance where one person could be seen as a hero and another person could be labeled a criminal, even though they are engaging in the same behavior. ANS: Answers may vary. One possible answer is as follows: if a soldier comes back from war he is labeled a hero, not a murderer. We are aware that killing is part of a soldier’s job, but we do not label it in a similar manner to murder in our communities. When someone kills his or her spouse, he or she is labeled as a murderer and viewed as violent and untrustworthy. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 156
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
8. How do peer groups serve as “bad influences” during the process of social learning? Which theory of deviance attempts to explain this phenomenon? ANS: Differential association theory describes how simple peer pressure can lead to deviant behavior. If a teenager is exposed to petty theft, he or she may begin to shoplift with his or her friends. DIF: Easy REF: Page 156 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
9. According to labeling theory, the labels people are given affect their own and others’ perceptions of them. How does this process lead to more deviant behaviors? Provide an example to explain your answer. ANS: Answers may vary but should include an explanation of primary and secondary deviance. One possible answer is as follows: primary deviance is the behavior that gets someone labeled in our society. You may have a person under twenty-one become intoxicated from alcohol, then he or she receives a deviant label from that one social event. If this individual continues to drink in excess before the legal drinking age, he or she moves into a deviant identity, also known as secondary deviance. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 156
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
10. In what ways might a man experience the stereotype promise in the nursing field? ANS: Answers may vary but could include the following: men are expected to perform certain nursing duties more easily than women. There is an assumption that they can lift more weight. Due to this assumption, doctors will focus on enriching a male nurse’s skills, versus a female nurse. This eventually leads to most male nurses performing better in the field, due to the extra attention and skill development. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 159
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
11. In what ways might a Caucasian basketball professional experience the stereotype threat in the NBA? ANS: Answers may vary. One possible answer is as follows: we often hear “white people can’t jump,” and as stereotypes map our social landscape, we have expectations for people’s abilities based off their ascribed statuses. Caucasian athletes may worry that they do not possess the same skills as their teammates, which causes them to perform poorly. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
12. Due to stigmatization, some light-skinned African Americans have attempted to pass as white. What is the process of passing, and what was the historical motivation for African Americans to pass as white? ANS: Considering the legal structure in the South before the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans were often stigmatized for their ascribed racial status. People who could pass socially as Caucasian would often choose to in order to be afforded the privileges that Caucasians were able to access. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 159 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant Identity
13. Considering the sport “murderball,” what are the primary social focuses of quadriplegic athletes? ANS: Quadriplegics perform a type of heteromasculinity, often talking about their sexual conquests and self-stimulation. Although this tends to be a very important focus, they are also close with family members who assisted them through rehabilitation, and hold important the bonds they have forged with teammates through empathy and competition. In doing so, the athletes attempt to reframe their physical disabilities as inconsequential. DIF: Easy REF: Page 162 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant Identity
14. What did David Matza do differently than the “nuts and sluts” approach of studying the powerless and impoverished? ANS: Matza developed a style of research called naturalism. Matza considered the diversity and complexity that often makes social research difficult to study, but offers a more honest look at how groups like the outlaw bikers and strippers are more than simply a powerless, impoverished population. DIF: Easy REF: Page 163 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Studying Deviance
15. Why are young people more likely to get arrested? ANS:
Younger people, specifically those in their late teens, are seen as more suspicious by both law enforcement and the community. They tend to engage in crimes that are more visible, such as vandalism and theft. Even though statistics suggest they are more likely to commit crimes, sociologists are aware that older individuals also deviate, but use methods that are more elusive, such as fraud and embezzlement. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 168 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
ESSAY 1. Explain the concept of cash register honesty. Provide two examples to explain your answer. ANS: People who practice cash register honesty would probably never steal money or valuable goods from their employers, even when presented with the perfect opportunity. But they would not hesitate to steal less valuable items like pens or Post-it notes from the office, to waste time on the clock surfing the Internet, to take long breaks, or to sneak out of work a little early. A good answer will also mention that a majority of people practice cash register honesty and that most of them would be shocked at the idea that these little indiscretions make them less than honest. DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 168
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
2. What is positive deviance? How does its existence support functionalist thought? ANS: Positive deviance is a principled act that is considered deviant in the context in which it is committed but is later reinterpreted as appropriate or even heroic. A good answer might use the example of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white man, to illustrate how a deviant act can ultimately help redefine social justice within a society. In the case of Rosa Parks, her act of civil disobedience played a key role in starting the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and putting an end to institutionalized segregation. A good answer might also mention the example of Hugh Thompson, Lawrence Colburn, and Glenn Andreota, the three American soldiers who brandished their weapons against fellow American troops in order to save the lives of innocent civilians during the Vietnam War. In both examples, deviant behavior was later widely recognized as heroic and, especially in the case of Rosa Parks, served the function of helping to redefine a flawed value system in the United States. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 171 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: “Positive” Deviance?
3. There are many competing and often incompatible ideas about how to best deal with criminal behavior. Deterrence, revenge, incapacitation, and rehabilitation are all believed by some to have merit. Discuss the ways in which these different methods for dealing with deviance reflect the different ways in which society views criminals. ANS: Those who believe in deterrence think of criminals as calculating people who think ahead and analyze the cost of their crimes against the benefits. Those who support retribution think criminals deserve to be punished quid pro quo. Those who advocate for incapacitation believe criminals are dangerous and should be permanently removed from society. Those who argue for rehabilitation believe criminals are people who can work toward their own personal transformations.
DIF: Moderate REF: Page 169 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
4. Crime statistics can sometimes be misleading. Explain some potential problems with crime statistics that draw conclusions about the criminal behavior of certain class, age, or ethnic groups. ANS: While statistics tell us that crime rates are consistently higher in poor, urban areas, many sociologists argue that this does not necessarily mean there is more crime in these areas, rather that police assume there is more crime and concentrate their efforts there, resulting in higher arrest rates. Statistically, young people are much more likely to commit crime, but sociologists argue that the stereotypical image of a criminal is often of a young person, making police more likely to target that group. Also, the elderly may be committing crimes that are more difficult to detect, like embezzlement or fraud. Statistics also paint a picture of a crime-ridden African American community. But sociologists argue that Robert Merton’s self-fulfilling prophecy and class variables may be responsible for the crime rate among African Americans. DIF: Easy MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 167–168
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
5. When an individual or a group is labeled as deviant, they are often stigmatized and acquire what Erving Goffman called a “spoiled identity,” devaluing them and often excluding them from normal social interaction. Illustrate the different ways that stigmatized individuals and groups cope with their stigmatization. ANS: Symbolic interactionists break down coping strategies of stigmatized individuals and groups into four categories: passing, in-group orientation, outsiders, and deviance avowal. A good answer should mention all four. Passing means attempting to conceal a stigmatized deviation. Believers in in-group orientation reject the standards that mark them as deviant and propose new standards. Outsiders do not try to conceal their stigma or change standards; instead, they choose to be called deviant, as is the case for many subcultures that live outside of mainstream society. Those who practice deviance avowal identify themselves as deviant and create their own labels. DIF: Easy Identity MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 159–160
OBJ: Stigma and Deviant
6. Robert Merton advanced the idea that labeling can bring about self-fulfilling prophecies: that inaccurate beliefs, if repeated loudly and frequently enough, can become true. Compare the ideas of Merton and those of sociologist Elijah Anderson, who believed that a self-fulfilling prophecy has contributed to racial conflict in the United States. ANS: Deviant labels are powerful and can override other aspects of individual identity. Labels can affect how we see ourselves, how others see us, and even how social and institutional policies are formed. A good answer should mention Anderson’s Streetwise, which demonstrated how the belief that young black men from the inner city commit more crimes made itself true. This self-fulfilling prophecy worked, according to Anderson, because it cast a cloud of suspicion over young, black city dwellers so that police became more likely to arrest them and citizens became more likely to report them for committing crimes. DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 158
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
MSC: Evaluating 7. Howard Becker’s labeling theory argues that no act is deviant until a society labels it as deviant. Explain why Becker and other sociologists, like David Rosenhan, author of “On Being Sane in Insane Places,” believe that labeling can have long-lasting effects on the individual who is labeled a deviant. ANS: A deviant label can have long-lasting effects on how society sees an individual and how that individual sees himself. Good answers should mention David Rosenhan’s “On Being Sane in Insane Places,” where a group of healthy individuals entered psychiatric facilities on the false pretense of hearing voices. These individuals were kept in treatment programs long after they stopped faking symptoms, and were even labeled schizophrenics in remission upon their release. Answers might also mention the concepts of secondary and tertiary deviation, the idea that being labeled a deviant can cause an individual to repeat deviant behavior, and the manner in which some individuals are able to reject or transform the stigma attached to a deviant label. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 157–158 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
8. In his structural strain theory, Robert Merton argues that people who do not have the financial or cultural means to achieve the goals that society sets out for them (for example, financial success) are more likely to adopt deviant behavior. Explain the different ways in which, according to Merton, these people deal with their limited resources and express their deviant behavior. ANS: Merton’s structural strain theory argues that the rewards of conformity (professional and financial success, for example) are only available to people who pursue approved goals through approved means. Those who cannot or do not follow the approved path are considered deviant and are broken into four groups. Innovators pursue an approved goal, like financial success, through a deviant means, like dealing drugs. Ritualists use an approved means but do so without hope of achieving any real success, like showing up at a respectable but dead-end job every day. Retreatists, like hermits and dropouts, reject approved goals and means and live outside of conventional society. Rebels also reject society’s goals and means but advocate their own radical alternatives, creating their own altogether different means and goals. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 154
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
9. Conflict theorists believe that society’s definition of deviance is designed in such a way that people with the most power will be seen as most “normal” and even idealized by the rest of society, while those with the least power will more often be considered deviant and subject to the negative sanctions that come with a deviant identity. Give two examples of how laws can target people with less power and label their behaviors or lifestyles as deviant. ANS: Conflict theorists argue that rules are unequally applied and that punishments for those who violate the rules are unequally distributed, with the crimes of the poor and powerless being more often and more severely punished. A good answer will cite the work of William Chambliss, who noted that vagrancy laws have been used to target the homeless, the unemployed, and racial minorities; that, until very recently, some states in the United States still had sodomy laws on the books in order to target same-sex couples; and that the 2006 decision of Rochester, New York, mayor Robert Duffy to crack down on violent crime by imposing a curfew on youth living in the city left more affluent suburban teens untouched.
DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 155–156
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
10. Structural functionalists like Emile Durkheim believe that every aspect of a social structure does something to help maintain the stability of society. According to Durkheim, what are some of the “functions” of deviance within a society? ANS: Durkheim argues that deviance helps societies clarify their social boundaries; without “wrong” behavior, how would we know the difference between right and wrong? Any answer should mention this idea, as well as Durkheim’s notion that deviance can help promote societal cohesion (that is, a community unites in the face of crime). A good answer might also relate these notions to the example, given in Chapter 6, of how Americans reacted to the Terry Schiavo case. Although Americans were divided on the essential issue of whether Schiavo should have been allowed to live in a persistent vegetative state, they were fairly united in the belief that the U.S. government should not have intervened. DIF: Easy REF: Page 154 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of Deviance
11. Osama bin Laden was probably the most reviled figure in American culture for a decade. How does the sociological idea of deviance help us understand why, in some cultures, he was celebrated as a hero? ANS: Sociologists define deviance not in terms of inherently immoral acts but in terms of a particular society’s reaction to acts. Any answer should discuss the idea that Americans would naturally see the attacks of September 11 and the killing of thousands of their fellow citizens as an act of evil, but that in some cultures, Americans are seen as the enemy, so the victims of September 11 are casualties of a just war. Howard Becker’s labeling theory of deviance further delineates why certain people are framed as deviant in particular contexts. DIF: Easy REF: Page 151 |Page 156 OBJ: Defining Deviance | Theories of Deviance
MSC: Applying
12. Chapter 6 describes several ways in which the Uniform Crime Report may present an inaccurate picture of the demographics of crime. Describe the sources of bias that lead to these inaccuracies. Are these biases better explained by conflict theory or functionalism? Justify your answer. ANS: The Uniform Crime Report is biased by class, race, and age because if law enforcement officials and citizens expect certain types of people to be criminals, they will more likely be investigated, accused, and treated as such. Additionally, these expectations help to determine where law enforcement concentrates its efforts, and the more police look for crime, the more they will find. This is an insight that is much more compatible with conflict theory, which argues that rules are applied unequally in our society. DIF: Difficult MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 166–167
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
13. Let’s say that a rash of thefts is occurring in a suburban neighborhood. It is determined that a group of teenage boys from the community have been stealing items from unlocked cars. The perpetrators are caught within a few short weeks. According to the information in Chapter 6, which factors likely made them initial suspects? What factors made it more likely that they would behave in this way? ANS: Answers may vary but could include the following: Chapter 6 indicates that age and gender are demographic factors that influence people’s perceptions about who is or is not a criminal. Being male and being young are both factors that increase those perceptions. Teenagers are disproportionately represented among people arrested for crimes in the United States. Although the text indicates that men are more likely to commit crimes and to be arrested, it is important to note that female arrest rates are on the rise. The chapter also mentions Merton’s concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy potentially influencing young people to act in ways they believe they are perceived. If young men are expected to be the ones that engage in these types of acts, it will influence the likelihood of them doing so. DIF: Moderate MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 167–169
OBJ: Crime and Punishment
CHAPTER 07: SOCIAL CLASS: THE STRUCTURE OF INEQUALITY MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Which of the following is one of the basic principles of social stratification? a. Low-level groups often have basic access to the rewards and privileges of higher-level groups. b. With each new generation, families’ social positions start anew. c. All societies stratify according to wealth accumulation. d. It is maintained through beliefs that are widely shared in a society. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 182 OBJ: Social Stratification and Social Inequality
MSC: Remembering
2. Sociologists often point out that systems of stratification in the United States systematically favor white men. Sometimes people contest this, pointing to wealthy and powerful black women like Oprah Winfrey or Toni Morrison. A valid counterpoint to this argument is that: a. black women are often the exception to this tendency. b. Winfrey and Morrison have higher social status because of other markers of class that they inherited, like regional accents. c. stratification is a characteristic of a society rather than a reflection of individual differences. d. women like these must have inherited a high social status from their parents. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 182 OBJ: Social Stratification and Social Inequality
MSC: Applying
3. Which is true of social mobility in a caste system? a. Social mobility is common with hard work. b. A great deal of social mobility occurs. c. A small but significant percentage of each generation will experience upward social mobility. d. There is little or no chance of social mobility. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 183
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
4. Apartheid is a specific example of what system of social stratification? a. caste c. slavery b. class d. racial ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 183
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
5. What system of stratification is commonly used in capitalist societies? a. gender c. social caste b. social class d. slavery ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 184
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
6. What criteria does a social class system use to stratify its members?
a. b. c. d.
heredity and employment status occupational attainment and gender wealth, property, power, and prestige race
ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 184
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
7. What is the relationship between social class and race, ethnicity, gender, and age in the United States today? a. Race and ethnicity are more important than any other factor in determining social class. b. These multiple dimensions of status and inequality intersect to shape who we are and how we live—a concept known as intersectionality. c. These other variables matter for members of the upper class but not for members of the middle or lower classes. d. These variables matter for members of the lower class but not for members of the upper or middle class. ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 184
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
8. What do most Americans claim about their class status? a. They are upper class. b. They are lower class. c. They are middle class. d. They do not feel they have a class status, or they are unaware of it. ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Social Classes in the United States
REF: Page 185 MSC: Remembering
9. The upper class makes up just 1 percent of the total U.S. population, but its total net worth is greater than that of ________ of the rest of the population. a. 10 percent c. 90 percent b. 53 percent d. 99 percent ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Classes in the United States
REF: Page 185 MSC: Remembering
10. Which of the following is true of the upper class in the United States today? a. They are a largely self-sustaining group and rarely add new members. b. They are comprised mainly of skilled workers in technical fields. c. They make up about 30 percent of the population. d. They usually work in executive, managerial, and professional jobs. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Classes in the United States
REF: Page 185 MSC: Remembering
11. To what social class do “white collar” workers (workers employed in technical and lower-management positions) belong? a. the working class c. the middle class b. the lower class d. the upper-middle class ANS: C
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 186
OBJ: Social Classes in the United States
MSC: Remembering
12. What sorts of jobs are usually available to members of the lower-middle class? a. technical or professional jobs c. blue collar jobs, or manual labor b. executive or managerial positions d. lower-management jobs ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Classes in the United States
REF: Page 186 MSC: Remembering
13. An accountant with a college degree and a license from the state accounting board works for the Department of Defense as a senior auditor. He makes about $100,000 a year and will soon retire with benefits and a pension. To what class would you expect him to belong? a. upper class c. middle class b. working class d. upper-middle class ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Classes in the United States
REF: Page 186 MSC: Applying
14. Mother Teresa was a person with tremendous power and prestige, yet she was very poor. Mother Teresa is an example of which of the following? a. status inequality c. status contradiction b. status inconsistency d. status reversal ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Social Classes in the United States
REF: Page 187 MSC: Applying
15. Which system of social stratification was in the final stages of breaking down when Karl Marx developed his ideas? a. feudalism c. slavery b. capitalism d. communism ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 187
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
16. According to Karl Marx, what social relations matter most in a capitalist system? a. family and kin c. economic relations b. community bonds d. nationalistic bonds ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 187
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
17. Karl Marx spent much of his life attempting to describe and understand how capitalism works. In one particularly vivid passage, he described in this way the turbulence he saw as inherent in capitalism: “All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses his real condition of life and his relations with his kind.” What sort of relationships did he think his readers had with other people? a. relationships of community and religion b. relationships based on social bonds and solidarity c. economic relationships d. cultural relationships ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Theories of Social Class
REF: Pages 187–188 MSC: Applying
18. Which of the following demonstrates Karl Marx’s conviction that social inequality would continue to grow? a. “No one knows who will live in this cage in the future, or whether at the end of this tremendous development entirely new prophets will arise, or there will be a great rebirth of ideas and ideals, or, if neither, mechanized petrification, embellished with a sort of convulsive self-importance.” b. “The modern laborer . . . instead of rising with the process of industry, sinks deeper and deeper below the conditions of existence of his own class. He becomes a pauper, and pauperism develops more rapidly than population and wealth.” c. “A religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, i.e., things set apart and forbidden—beliefs and practices which unite in one single moral community called a Church, all those who adhere to them.” d. “For the metropolis presents the peculiar conditions which are revealed to us as the opportunities and the stimuli for the development of both these ways of allocating roles to men.” ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Theories of Social Class
REF: Pages 187–188 MSC: Applying
19. How is Max Weber’s idea of social class different from Karl Marx’s? a. Weber did not believe that owning the means of production mattered in any way. b. Weber believed that class status was inherited and was an extension of the old feudal system. c. Weber believed that wealth was the only factor that mattered, regardless of how that wealth was acquired. d. Weber believed that wealth, power, and prestige could all affect a person’s social class. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of Social Class
REF: Pages 188–189 MSC: Analyzing
20. Although they make very little money, priests, ministers, rabbis, imams, and clergy are often very prestigious members of their communities. Which social theorist first suggested that this is an important element of class status? a. Karl Marx c. Pierre Bourdieu b. Emile Durkheim d. Max Weber ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Theories of Social Class
REF: Pages 188–189 MSC: Remembering
21. What does Pierre Bourdieu call the tendency of social class to be passed down from one generation to the next and consequently remain relatively stable over time? a. the invisibility of poverty c. ideology b. slavery d. social reproduction ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
22. What are the tastes, habits, and expectations called that children “inherit” (or learn) from their parents and that help to achieve material success in life? a. cultural capital c. social welfare b. ideology d. education
ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
23. If an individual takes adult education classes, attends lectures and concerts, or travels to Europe, what might he or she be trying to gain more of? a. cultural capital c. tennis shoes b. souvenirs d. wealth ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
24. In House of Yes, a play by Wendy MacLeod, the character Marty brings his fiancée, Lesly, to meet his family. She comes from a different class, which leads to exchanges like this one between Lesly, Marty, and Marty’s two siblings, Anthony and Jackie: Anthony: Would you like a glass of Liebfraumilch? Lesly: No thank you. I’ll just have a glass of wine. Marty: That’s the name of the wine. Lesly: Oh! [laughs] I do not speak French. Jackie: Who does? Anthony: You do. Jackie: Oh, that’s right, I do. According to Pierre Bourdieu, Marty’s siblings are unhappy with Lesly because she does not have enough: a. hubris. c. social capital. b. cultural capital. d. integrity. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
25. Many sociologists in the 1960s noticed that economic obstacles alone were not sufficient to explain disparities in the educational attainment of children from different social classes. Which concept was introduced to explain these disparities? a. the American Dream c. status inconsistency b. cultural capital d. class consciousness ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
26. What school of social thought insists that all social structures, including systems of stratification, are built out of everyday interactions? a. functionalism c. Weberianism b. symbolic interactionism d. conflict theory ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
27. How do observers determine someone’s socioeconomic status when meeting him or her for the first time? a. his or her speech and gestures c. his or her gender b. his or her age d. his or her parents’ occupations ANS: A
DIF: Easy
REF: Pages 191–192
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
MSC: Understanding
28. It is often said that you can always tell a millionaire by her shoes. She may dress like a slob in every other respect, but someone from the upper class is bound to have expensive, custom-made footwear. Whether this is true or not, it helps demonstrate the way we: a. try to “better ourselves” by increasing the amount of cultural capital we possess. b. allow relative levels of prestige to determine our class status. c. make split-second judgments about who people are and what social status they occupy based on their appearances. d. surrender to the impersonal forces of the market. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Theories of Social Class
REF: Pages 191–192 MSC: Applying
29. When young people go away to college, it is often the first time they make friends with people of substantially different class statuses. Sometimes this leads to tension when the wealthier member of a friendship is oblivious to his or her friend’s class status and suggests activities that are beyond the friend’s means. This tension results from a lack of: a. historical materialism. c. prestige or power. b. status inconsistency. d. everyday class consciousness. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 192
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
30. Symbolic interactionists stress the way we make “snap judgments” about other people’s class statuses. Since we are aware that other people are judging us, we often pay close attention to what cues we display. Given this, why did Paul Fussell decided to measure class status with a “living room scale” rather than assessing some other part of the house? a. The living room is a part of the house the whole family uses. b. The living room is where we receive guests. c. The living room is where the most expensive furniture goes. d. The living room is where the television is usually found. ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 192
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
31. What do sociologists call awareness of our own and others’ class statuses? a. class consciousness c. false consciousness b. ideology d. cultural capital ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 192
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
32. What does Paul Fussell’s living room scale attempt to measure? a. judgment c. social class b. the pace of interaction d. ideology ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 192
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
33. According to Chapter 7, what general predictions can sociologists make about a person’s life prospects if all that is known is the person’s social class? a. what quality of education he or she will receive
b. his or her college major c. if he or she will be a “dog person” or a “cat person” d. his or her favorite color ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 195| Page 196 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances MSC: Understanding 34. The tendency to choose romantic partners based on similarities in background and group membership is called: a. homogamy. c. reflexivity. b. background knowledge. d. heteronormativity. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 192 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
35. What is realistic about “Cinderella stories” like the film Pretty Woman? a. Prostitution is a common route to social advancement. b. Class boundaries are often crossed in marriage. c. When class boundaries are crossed, women usually marry up, while men marry down. d. Marriage customs are usually heterogamous. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 193 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
36. Greg J. Duncan and a team of researchers analyzed the effect of parental income on the academic achievement of children. Given what you have read about socioeconomic status and life chances, what do you think Duncan found? a. There was no correlation between class status and educational achievement. b. Class status helped to predict high school grades but had no relationship to later academic success. c. Children from working-class families are more likely to attend and graduate from college, as they have better work ethics. d. Parental income is strongly correlated with academic achievement, especially in low-income families. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 185|Page 196 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances MSC: Analyzing 37. Why are people more likely to marry individuals with social and cultural backgrounds very similar to their own? a. Parents and other family members always exert pressure to marry within the group. b. People spend a great deal of time alone, and therefore can have few opportunities for meeting people. c. People have greater access to individuals like themselves. d. People develop irrational fears of out-group members and are scared to date them. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 195 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
38. Homogamy, a term sociologists use to mean the tendency to choose romantic partners based on similarities in background and group membership, is very common. Why? a. We tend to have more access to people like ourselves. b. People are rebelling against the common knowledge that “opposites attract.”
c. We are hardwired to actively look for partners similar to ourselves. d. It is too difficult to raise children with people who have different backgrounds from us. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 192–193 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances MSC: Understanding 39. Why do members of the lower class exercise LESS often? a. Exercise is a luxury often accessible only to those who do not have to struggle with day-to-day existence. b. The poor are lazy. c. Poor people care less about their health. d. The lower classes do not have health problems that make exercise necessary. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 195 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
40. Given what you have read about socioeconomic status and life chances, what activity is most likely to take the place of a yoga class for a working-class woman? a. taking care of her children after work b. watching television c. meeting neighbors for drinks at the local bar d. taking a night class at a community college ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 195 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Analyzing
41. What sort of jobs can support a middle-class lifestyle in America today? a. jobs in manufacturing b. blue collar work c. jobs associated with skilled trades like carpentry d. jobs in the service, information, and technology sectors ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 197 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
42. Which of the following variables have the greatest impact on crime rates? a. poverty c. the availability of drugs b. funding for law enforcement d. population density and anomie ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 197 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
43. Being born into a lower social class means that an individual will be more likely to: a. feel at risk of being harassed by law enforcement. b. complete college, due to receiving need-based scholarships. c. beat criminal charges due to the assistance of a public defender. d. be healthy, due to access to Medicaid. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Pages 197–198 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances MSC: Understanding 44. A society where social mobility is highly restricted by formal or informal rules, like those of a caste system, is called:
a. capitalism. b. a system of achieved status. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
c. a closed system. d. an open system. REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
45. When the children of working-class parents manage to attend college and get a job in a professional field, it is an example of ________ mobility. a. intragenerational c. a lack of b. horizontal social d. intergenerational ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
46. Social mobility that occurs over the course of an individual’s lifetime is called ________ mobility. a. life-cycle c. structural b. intragenerational d. intergenerational ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
47. What do sociologists call it when an individual changes his or her career but remains within the same social class? a. vertical social mobility c. intergenerational mobility b. structural mobility d. horizontal social mobility ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Social Mobility
REF: Pages 198–199 MSC: Remembering
48. The difference between a person’s ascribed status and his or her achieved status is measured in terms of his or her: a. good fortune. c. intergenerational mobility. b. skill and personal character. d. intragenerational mobility. ANS: C MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
49. What sort of social mobility often results from losing a job? a. horizontal c. career b. upward d. vertical ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
50. Although we usually think of social mobility as a result of individual effort, during the “dot-com boom” of the late 1990s, many people became instant millionaires. This is an example of: a. structural mobility. c. savvy technological genius. b. wise investing. d. horizontal mobility. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Social Mobility
51. What do sociologists call it when large numbers of people move up or down the social class ladder as a result of changes to society as a whole? a. social welfare c. horizontal mobility b. structural mobility d. intergenerational mobility ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Social Mobility
52. The folk-pop singer Jewel is famous for having lived in her van when she first moved to San Diego and started performing in a coffee shop. Soon after she was signed by Atlantic Records, her advance allowed her to rent a house and buy a new car. Of what class-based phenomenon is this an example? a. socioeconomic status and life chances c. the culture of poverty b. apartheid d. social mobility ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Social Mobility
REF: Pages 198–199 MSC: Applying
53. A reporter who covers the police beat at a newspaper changes careers. She becomes an editor of nonfiction books and is paid the same salary as she was at the newspaper. What has she experienced? a. structural mobility c. horizontal social mobility b. intragenerational mobility d. vertical social mobility ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Social Mobility
54. Many workers at auto plants in Michigan lost their jobs when the plants closed. For the vast majority of these workers, this has resulted in: a. welfare reform. c. horizontal social mobility. b. vertical social mobility. d. intergenerational mobility. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Social Mobility
55. Patrick Radden Keefe’s The Snakehead describes (mostly) illegal immigrants to America from Fujian, a province in China. Many of the immigrants took incredible risks to get to the United States and have a hard time assimilating, but Keefe is very optimistic that their children will assimilate and have a much higher standard of living than their parents. What does Keefe believe the children will experience? a. intergenerational mobility c. structural mobility b. intragenerational mobility d. immigrant mobility ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
56. Although the United States lost many jobs in the recession of the late 2000s, many people are optimistic that the lost jobs will be replaced with others. However, even if the optimists are right, the shift in the economy may permanently alter the class status of many, as the jobs being lost are largely in manufacturing and new jobs are often in information technology, suggesting that the newly unemployed will have trouble competing for newly created jobs. If this is the case, what is it called? a. structural mobility c. intragenerational mobility
b. intergenerational mobility ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
d. absolute deprivation REF: Page 199
OBJ: Social Mobility
57. Ascribed status is usually involuntary and often assigned at birth. Achieved status is voluntary and often based on merit, ability, or achievement. What sort of status would you expect to find in a closed system? a. some ascribed status, but mostly achieved status b. mostly ascribed status c. only achieved status d. an even mixture of both achieved and ascribed status ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
58. Poverty can be defined in either relative or absolute terms. How does relative deprivation measure poverty? a. by comparing the standard of living among the poor to the basic necessities of life b. by comparing the poor to people with low socioeconomic status in other countries c. by determining if the poor have minimal food and shelter d. by comparing the poor to more affluent members of society ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
59. Poverty can be defined in either relative or absolute terms. How does absolute deprivation measure poverty? a. by considering access to food, shelter, clothing, and medical care b. by comparing the poor to more affluent members of society c. by asking which groups within a society have power and prestige d. by comparing the poor to the poor of other historical periods ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
60. In the United States, the federal poverty line is calculated using food costs, based on the cheapest possible diet that can still provide basic nutrition. What sort of measure of poverty is this? a. a measure of poverty based on conflict theory b. a measure of absolute deprivation c. a measure of relative deprivation d. a measure of social welfare ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
61. In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau defined the poverty threshold for a family of four at: a. $52,700. c. $30,500. b. $42,000. d. $24,250. ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
62. Approximately what percentage of the United States population falls below the federal poverty line? a. 3 percent c. 27 percent b. 15 percent d. 40 percent ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
63. Which of the following is a serious flaw in the way the federal government defines poverty? a. It is too complicated because it takes into account too many factors, especially the cost of housing in each major metropolitan area. b. It justifies a welfare system that supports a great number of people who simply do not want to work. c. It does not take into account regional differences in the cost of living. d. It overestimates the number of people who cannot afford basic necessities. ANS: C OBJ: Poverty
DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 199–200 MSC: Understanding
64. Which of the following population groups are associated with higher rates of poverty in the United States? a. working mothers c. people who live on the West Coast b. Asian Americans d. Hispanics ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 200
OBJ: Poverty
65. When we compare the salaries of the worst-paid members of a corporation with the salary of the CEO, what sort of measure of poverty are we using? a. relative deprivation c. absolute deprivation b. cultural poverty d. horizontal poverty ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
66. Several members of the Indian government have argued that poverty in India should be calculated according to how many calories per day people consume, not in relation to their incomes. What sort of measure of poverty would this be? a. vertical c. absolute b. structural d. relative ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
67. Barbara Ehrenreich studied the working poor, people with service jobs that paid mostly minimum wage or slightly more. Based on your study of poverty, what would she recommend that such workers do to move out of poverty? a. save at least 10 percent of their paychecks every month b. go back to school c. nothing, because there are few ways for them to move out of poverty d. collectively organize for higher wages ANS: D
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 200–201|Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
MSC: Analyzing
68. One cost-of-living indicator available on the Internet shows that a salary of $40,000 in Santa Barbara, California, is equivalent to $14,000 in Wichita, Kansas. This is primarily because of housing, which is much less expensive in Wichita. What does this difference say about how the federal government calculates poverty? a. It highlights something the poverty line shows us: that poverty is connected to the local cost of living, reflected in the differences in rates of poverty in different parts of the country. b. It shows that the poverty line is more or less accurate, because it has been recalibrated to take into account housing costs. c. It points to a flaw in the way the government calculates the poverty line, as the standard is uniformly applied without regard to regional differences. d. It points to a flaw in the way the government calculates the poverty line, as it proves there are far more poor people in the Midwest. ANS: C MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
69. A majority of Americans believe that poverty is a big problem, but addressing it is NOT a priority for most. Why NOT? a. Many people believe that poor people simply do not try hard enough. b. Many people think poverty is good for the nation. c. Many people hope that the government will fix the problem. d. Many people believe we are on track to decrease poverty. ANS: A OBJ: Poverty
DIF: Difficult REF: Page 201|Page 203 MSC: Understanding
70. The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 ended the concept of entitlements by requiring recipients of welfare to find work within two years of receiving assistance. How has this changed the lives of the poor? a. Moving from welfare to work helped single people much more than it did families or single mothers. b. Moving from welfare to work caused many former welfare recipients to plunge into homelessness. c. Moving from welfare to work did not substantially increase income levels; it simply shifted the poor from welfare to low-paying jobs. d. Moving from welfare to work increases both the self-esteem of the poor and their incomes. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 201
OBJ: Poverty
71. What is the maximum length of time a family can collect welfare based on the welfare reforms provided in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act? a. five years c. fifteen years b. ten years d. one year ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 201
OBJ: Poverty
72. Which of the following is a form of stratification in which all positions are awarded on the basis of merit?
a. democracy b. meritocracy
c. oligarchy d. technocracy
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 206 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Remembering
73. Oscar Lewis was the first to suggest that, because they are excluded from mainstream social life, the poor develop a way of life with fundamentally different values and goals, which makes it much less likely that they will ever join the middle class. This way of life is usually called: a. the culture of poverty. c. the social contract. b. the invisibility of poverty. d. oppression norms. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
74. What is the principal sociological critique of the culture of poverty? a. The poor often move into the middle class. b. The values and norms of many Americans in all class groups include attitudes of resignation and fatalism. c. It tends to blame the victims of poverty for their own misfortunes, while ignoring the structural causes of inequality. d. Some people simply have a predisposition to making poor choices regarding finances. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
75. What makes the just-world hypothesis psychologically appealing to the average person? a. It is supported by a wealth of empirical data. b. Most people’s everyday experiences teach them that society tends to distribute rewards and punishments fairly. c. Most people have a strong need to believe that the world is orderly, predictable, and fair. d. Many people develop skewed perceptions based on their worst experiences with the poor, which makes it hard for them to see things objectively. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
76. According to social psychologists, when people encounter a situation that seems to be unfair and they cannot or will not act to make things right, what do they tend to do? a. dedicate themselves to bringing about change b. try to find an authority figure who can take over the responsibility c. try to use other resources, especially financial, to rectify the problem d. convince themselves nothing bad has happened ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
77. The sociologist Susan Mayer, in What Money Can’t Buy, studied poverty and welfare and concluded that raising parental income had little effect on the future life chances of children born in poverty. Instead, she concluded that character traits in parents like “diligence, honesty, good health, and reliability” led to increased achievement in children. Which theory do her conclusions support? a. conflict theory c. feminist theory
b. structural functionalism ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
d. the culture of poverty REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
78. Drew Westen, in “The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation,” argues that when advocates of health-care reform talk about universal health care as a way to help “the uninsured” or “the underinsured,” they turn many people against universal health care because there is an underlying assumption that poor people are getting what they deserve. What do sociologists call this assumption? a. disenfranchisement c. class consciousness b. the just-world hypothesis d. the invisibility of poverty ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
79. A homeless shelter in Illinois held a “sleep out,” a protest to alert members of the general public to the dangers of letting funding for homeless shelters drop, forcing shelters to turn away people in need. The organizers of the rally saw their work as particularly important because they suspected that most residents did not realize just how many poor people existed in their community, a result of what sociologists would call: a. problematic categories. c. the latent function of welfare. b. the invisibility of poverty. d. the just-world hypothesis. ANS: B OBJ: Poverty
DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 205–206
80. According to the text, which of the following has the effect of making poverty socially “invisible”? a. political engagement b. the use of law enforcement to move the homeless away from visible locations c. highlighting successful attempts by the poor to organize d. cultural products, such as movies, that highlight the lives of the poor ANS: B OBJ: Poverty
DIF: Easy REF: Pages 205–206 MSC: Understanding
81. The practice of refusing mortgages for houses in poor and minority neighborhoods is called: a. disenfranchisement. c. residential racism. b. redlining. d. economic hegemony. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 204
OBJ: Poverty
82. How do law enforcement policies make the poor less visible? a. increasing scrutiny of the lower class b. profiling the lower class c. moving the homeless out of high-profile locations d. attacking political protests that are organized by the poor ANS: C OBJ: Poverty
DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 205–206 MSC: Understanding
83. Some municipalities in the Los Angeles area have zoning rules that prohibit multifamily dwellings and require that all homes be built on lots of a certain size. What is the effect of these policies? a. residential segregation c. homelessness b. political disenfranchisement d. social mobility ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 204
OBJ: Poverty
84. In a six-to-three vote, the Supreme Court upheld an Indiana law that required voters to present photo identification when voting. Advocates of the law believe that it will help to prevent voter fraud. Opponents believe that it is targeting the poor, who are less likely to have photo identification. What would a sociologist call this phenomenon? a. political disenfranchisement b. status inconsistency c. the ideology of the American dream d. meritocracy ANS: A OBJ: Poverty
DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 204–205
85. Who acted kindly toward John Coleman when he went undercover as a homeless person and lived on the street for ten days? a. his co-workers c. a police officer b. other homeless men d. pedestrians who gave him food ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 206
OBJ: Poverty
86. Which of the following set of characteristics can be categorized as the average minimum-wage worker? a. a teenager who works part-time b. nineteen years old, male, nonwhite, and working full-time c. thirty-five years old, female, white, and working full-time d. a post-retirement senior working full-time ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 202
OBJ: Poverty
87. Recent research by the Pew Research Center on attitudes about the government’s responsibility to help those in poverty revealed: a. Americans are largely divided on this issue, with those favoring government aid for those in poverty decreasing. b. Americans largely believe that it is the government’s responsibility to provide aid for those who are in poverty. c. the majority of Americans agree that the government should do more to help those in need. d. most Americans believe government aid does more harm than good. ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
88. What is the relationship between the American Dream and the social class system by which the United States is stratified?
a. The American Dream promises that one day social stratification will be overcome. b. People who believe in the American Dream can usually overcome the class system. c. The American Dream is a nice idea, but everyone really knows that it is just an inconsequential daydream. d. The American Dream legitimizes inequality by reinforcing the idea that everyone has the same chance to get ahead. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 206 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Understanding
89. When individuals fail to see the ways they are oppressed by the social system in which they live, Karl Marx calls it: a. false consciousness. c. hegemony. b. ideology. d. meritocracy. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 206 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Remembering
90. What is wrong with treating Oprah Winfrey as the ultimate symbol of the American Dream? a. She was born into a fairly wealthy family. b. She represents the exception rather than the rule. c. She has recently lost most of her resources and is not particularly well off. d. Her family might not have had much money but did have social connections that helped her with her career. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 207 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Understanding
91. What is the movement called that encourages people to work less, consume less, and generally “downshift” their lifestyles? a. class consciousness c. cultural capital b. the just-world movement d. the simplicity movement ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 207 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Remembering
92. The idea of the American Dream is most closely related to which of the following? a. social conflict theory c. vertical mobility b. structural mobility d. class consciousness ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 199| Page 207 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream MSC: Analyzing 93. Manohla Dargis called the movie The Pursuit of Happyness “the same old bootstraps story, an American Dream artfully told, skillfully sold. How you respond to this man’s moving story may depend on whether you find Mr. Smith’s and his son’s performances so overwhelmingly winning that you buy the idea that poverty is a function of bad luck and bad choices, and success the result of heroic toil and dreams.” What idea is being expressed here? a. that the American Dream is an ideology b. that America is a largely class-free society c. that poverty is absolute, not relative d. that most Americans will inherit their parents’ class status
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 206–207 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream MSC: Applying 94. Lilly Ledbetter, a supervisor at a Goodyear tire plant, discovered late in her career that she had been paid considerably less than any of the other people in her position. Since she was the only female supervisor, she argued that this was simple discrimination, and, assuming she was right, it shows that her workplace was NOT: a. class conscious. c. a meritocracy. b. aware of the law. d. gender biased. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 206 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Applying
95. Which of the following categories of people is most likely to believe in the American Dream? a. Baby Boomers reaching retirement age b. those with just a high school education c. whites d. those with annual household incomes exceeding $75,000 ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 207 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Remembering
96. A young doctor fresh out of medical school who looks for a position where he can work about twenty hours a week and make much less money than other doctors might be: a. lazy and selfish about helping people in need. b. part of the simplicity movement. c. experiencing structural mobility. d. not very skilled. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 207 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Applying
TRUE/FALSE 1. There have been many societies throughout history with no social stratification. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 182
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
2. Culture is a source of shared norms and values, but cultural capital can never generate profits like economic capital can. ANS: F DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Stratification
3. Some sociologists suggest that extreme wealth should be thought of as a social problem, just like extreme poverty. ANS: T DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
4. Americans are particularly lucky to live in a country where hard work and dedication promise to lift the majority of people out of poverty. ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Page 206 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Understanding
SHORT ANSWER 1. In two to three sentences, explain the system of stratification that currently exists in the United States. ANS: The system of stratification that currently exists in the United States is a social class system whereby people are ranked by their wealth, property, power, and prestige. In the U.S. class system, people are divided into upper, middle, and lower classes. People inherit the social class of their parents, but because it is an open system of stratification, during the course of one’s lifetime, he or she can move up or down levels in the strata. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 184–185 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
2. In Japan men rank higher than women in the social hierarchy. However, Yoshiko Shinohara is one of Japan’s 50 richest people and has appeared on Forbes’s Asia 50 Power Businesswoman list. Utilizing the principles of stratification, explain how both of these statements are true. ANS: Stratification is a characteristic of society rather than a reflection of individual differences. This means that despite the fact that a particular woman may rank higher than a particular man, in Japan as a whole, men rank higher than women. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 182 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Social Stratification and Social Inequality
3. In a few sentences, compare and contrast the class and caste systems of stratification. ANS: Class and caste are both types of social stratification whereby people are placed in a social hierarchy. Social class systems are found primarily in capitalist societies and rank people based upon wealth, property, power, and prestige. Although people inherit their parents’ social class position, they are also less rigid and allow people to move up or down levels in the strata. In contrast, caste systems are based upon heredity (examples include being religious, economic or political lines, or physical characteristics). However, despite what a person may achieve individually, there is little to no room to change one’s position in the social hierarchy. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 183–184
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
4. According to Max Weber, what are the three components of class? Explain each of them in your own words. ANS:
The three components of class are wealth, power, and prestige. Wealth consists of income and property; power is the ability to impose one’s will on others; prestige is the social honor granted to people because of their membership in certain groups. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 188–189 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
5. Explain Bourdieu’s postmodern theory of social reproduction and the powerful role of cultural capital. ANS: Social reproduction occurs when social class is passed down from one generation to the next, thus remaining relatively stable. This happens through the acquisition of cultural capital in which children inherit the tastes, habits, and expectations of their parents, which can either help or hinder them as they become adults. DIF: Easy REF: Page 191 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
6. What observations might people make that contribute to their everyday class consciousness? ANS: Answers may vary but should include the following: people make split-second judgments using appearance, behaviors, activities, friends, and property to assess the social class of others as well as themselves. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 191–193
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
7. Explain two ways in which belonging to a particular social class has a profound effect on almost every aspect of a person’s life. ANS: Answers may vary but should include an explanation as to how social class has such profound consequences that it is possible to make general predictions about a person’s life chances concerning education, work, crime, family, and health. Answers should elaborate on two of these five aspects. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 195–198 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
8. Briefly explain the concept of social mobility. What is the current trend of social mobility in the United States today? ANS: Social mobility is the movement of individuals or groups within the hierarchal system of social classes. Systems of stratification can either be closed, allowing for little to no social mobility, or open, where social mobility is possible. In contemporary American society, social mobility has stalled. Many Americans will exceed their parents’ income and wealth, but it will not move them into a higher social class position. DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 198
OBJ: Social Mobility
MSC: Understanding 9. In what ways does the digital divide contribute to social inequality? ANS: Answers may vary but should include the following: inequality in access to and use of digital technology has profound consequences on education and job attainment. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 205
OBJ: Poverty
MSC: Understanding
10. Contrary to popular myth, most people living in poverty are employed. Explain how the current minimum wage contributes to someone being part of the working poor. ANS: The annual earnings of a full-time, federal minimum wage worker who supports at least one dependent puts them below the federal poverty line. Despite working full-time, minimum wage earnings are not enough for many to be able to afford basic necessities. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 199
OBJ: Poverty
MSC: Understanding
ESSAY 1. The American Dream is the pursuit of material and personal success and the idea that anyone can achieve such success. How does widespread belief in the American Dream and individualism actually serve to reinforce socioeconomic barriers? ANS: An important factor in understanding the American Dream is recognizing that it is an ideology more than a reality. In other words, it is a belief system that justifies the status quo of America’s social system. Any answer should explain that belief in the American Dream reinforces social divisions by assuming that everyone has the same chance to succeed. A good answer will also mention the somewhat flawed notion inherent in the American Dream ideology that American society is a meritocracy, making it easier to see wealthy people as earning their status and poor people as deserving theirs. An answer might also mention how subscribers to the American Dream often consider people like Oprah Winfrey (who were able to make huge vertical leaps on the socioeconomic ladder) as the rule instead of the exception. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 206–207 OBJ: Inequality and the Ideology of the American Dream
MSC: Understanding
2. What do sociologists mean when they say that the homeless population of the United States is often “invisible”? ANS:
As Chapter 7 points out, in certain situations, public officials actively try to render the homeless invisible, rousting them, for example, from public spaces before a major event is set to take place. Any answer should also mention that it is difficult to determine just how many people in the United States are homeless because the Census Bureau focuses on households when it counts the population. A good answer should also mention John Coleman’s experiment as an “undercover” homeless man in New York City. Coleman noticed that most people tried to avoid even looking at him, and people he knew from his real life did not recognize him, demonstrating that feelings of discomfort and guilt on the part of more privileged classes also contribute to the invisibility of the homeless. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 205–206 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Poverty
3. Residential segregation is the geographical isolation of the poor from the rest of a city’s population. Explain how residential segregation is able to flourish in the United States and what characterizes a neighborhood that is segregated in this manner. ANS: Any answer should discuss the role of public housing projects in the promotion of residential segregation and in the characterization of segregated, low-income neighborhoods. While these HUD-funded complexes provide affordable housing to the poor, they are often densely packed apartment complexes that are typically located in economically depressed areas with high crime rates. A good answer should also mention the practice of “redlining,” whereby banks and mortgage companies discriminate against people from lower-class neighborhoods. A good answer might also mention that the phrase “the wrong side of the tracks” originated because railroad tracks often served as boundaries between black and white neighborhoods in American cities. DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 204
OBJ: Poverty
MSC: Understanding
4. Oscar Lewis’s concept of a culture of poverty suggests that a fatalistic and resigned attitude exists among the poor, leading them to accept their social status. Discuss some of the major criticisms of this controversial point of view. ANS: According to Chapter 7, one of the major problems sociologists have with Lewis’s idea is that it makes it easy to do nothing about poverty because it assumes that poverty is a cultural, rather than a structural, problem. A good answer will mention the just-world hypothesis, or people’s desire to believe in a fair world. In this way, a belief in Lewis’s culture of poverty leads people to blame poverty on the poor rather than to see the poor as victims of a system that allows them few options to change their socioeconomic status. A good answer might also mention the work of Dalton Conley, who believes that the culture of poverty ignores the entrenched structural factors that not only keep the poor in poverty but also maintain the wealth of the upper class. Conley’s research suggests that in order to truly understand the causes of poverty, we might also need to examine extreme wealth as a social problem. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 203
OBJ: Poverty
MSC: Understanding
5. Homogamy is the practice of choosing a romantic partner based on similarities in background and group membership. Why do so many people choose life partners with racial, religious, and class backgrounds similar to their own? ANS:
Any answer should mention the idea that most people have few chances to meet others from different backgrounds because we tend to work with, live near, and socialize with people whose backgrounds are similar to our own. A good answer will also mention the role of the upper class in keeping its wealth consolidated. By sending their children to expensive prep schools and posh summer camps, wealthy parents make sure their offspring will only meet and socialize with the children of other wealthy families. A good answer might also mention some high-profile examples of marriages between members of two equally rich and powerful families, like those of Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower, Kerry Kennedy and Andrew Cuomo, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 192–193 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
6. Studies show that people from relatively higher socioeconomic backgrounds tend to live longer and report feeling healthier than people from the lower classes. What are some explanations for this phenomenon? ANS: Any answer should mention the fact that people at the bottom of the social class ladder are the least likely to get adequate nutrition, shelter, clothing, and health care and are thus more likely to become ill. They are also less likely to be able to afford regular doctor visits and prescription drugs and often wait until a medical condition becomes chronic before getting treatment at an emergency room. A good answer should also mention the role of exercise. Not only are wealthier people more likely to understand the health benefits of exercise, they are also more likely to have the time and money for gym memberships than are their more disadvantaged counterparts, who are often too preoccupied with the daily struggle of paying the bills. DIF: Easy REF: Page 195 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
7. How can a person’s socioeconomic status affect his or her chances of succeeding financially and professionally? ANS: Answers may vary but should include the following: education plays a major role in what kind of job will be available to someone and how much money he or she will be able to make. Any answer should mention the idea that schools in lower-income neighborhoods often have fewer financial resources and more difficulty in attracting qualified teachers. Children’s socioeconomic statuses also affect how much school they are expected to complete, with students from higher social classes being expected to complete more school than students from lower classes. A good answer will also discuss the types of jobs most often available to people from different class backgrounds. While people from the working or lower-middle class can often earn dependable wages in a variety of blue collar jobs, those jobs are more frequently subject to layoffs during economic downturns. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 195–198 OBJ: Socioeconomic Status and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
8. Half of all children grow up to have the same socioeconomic class as their parents. Discuss the ways in which Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital influences this phenomenon. ANS:
Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital explains how the tastes, habits, expectations, skills, and knowledge passed from parent to child can either help or hinder a child as he or she grows up and finds his or her place in the world. Any answer should mention the ways in which a parent’s education level can affect a child’s educational success. For example, middle- and upper-class parents, who are more likely to be highly educated themselves, can help their children with homework, increasing the likelihood that their offspring will also get good educations and, eventually, good jobs. A good answer should also mention how cultural capital is perceived by those around us. The example outlined in Chapter 7 concerns a job interview in which an employer might be more likely to hire a candidate with good social skills and less likely to hire one with an accent that labels him or her as too “street” or too much of a “hick.” DIF: Easy REF: Page 191 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
9. According to Max Weber, the traditional source of wealth—owning the means of production—is not the only factor in determining social status. How does Weber conceptualize power and prestige? Why does he argue that power and prestige, in addition to material wealth, are important factors in determining a person’s social status? ANS: Wealth, power, and prestige are interrelated and often come together. But any answer should mention the distinctions among the three as outlined by Weber: wealth is inherited or earned, power is the ability to impose one’s will on others, and prestige is a social identity bestowed by others based on a person’s membership in some well-regarded group. A good answer will also discuss the role each factor plays in determining a person’s social status. Wealth can be, but is not always, a source of prestige because, in certain circles, prestige is tied to where wealth came from and how long it has been held. Also, power can lead to both wealth and prestige. The example outlined in Chapter 7 concerned the executives of big, publicly traded corporations. They do not own companies, but running them is a powerful and therefore prestigious and well-paid position. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 188–189 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
10. When Karl Marx wrote about inequality, the feudal system (a closed social hierarchy) was dissolving and making way for a more open system. Why was Marx so worried about the new capitalist system that was emerging? ANS: According to Chapter 7, the growth of industry in large cities was breaking down the system of birthright nobility. Any answer should discuss the emerging system of social inequality that Marx identified—a system made up of capitalist bourgeoisie, who owned the means of production, and proletariat workers, who owned their own labor. Marx was worried about this new system because he thought economic relationships were fast becoming the only social relationships that mattered. He foresaw a future in which social stratification would keep a small group of elite capitalists in power and able to exploit the working class. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 187–188 MSC: Understanding 11. Explain status inconsistency and give two examples of it. ANS:
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
Status inconsistency is the contrast between different elements of a person’s socioeconomic status. A good example of status inconsistency is when someone from a poor background earns enough wealth over his or her lifetime to become part of the upper class. A good answer will discuss some specific examples of status inconsistency, like the billionaire businessman Sam Walton, who grew up on a struggling Oklahoma farm but went on to found the Walmart franchise, or Mother Teresa, who accumulated much power and prestige, as she was among the most admired people in the twentieth century, even receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, but took vows of poverty and amassed virtually no personal wealth. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 186–187 OBJ: Social Classes in the United States MSC: Understanding 12. Most people describe themselves as belonging to the middle class, but in reality only about 30 percent of Americans are part of the middle class. Describe the typical occupations, lifestyles, and earnings of people from each of the major social classes of the United States. What do sociologists consider to be problematic about these measures? ANS: Social stratification in the United States includes six main classes: the upper class, the upper-middle class, the middle class, the working class, the working poor, and the underclass. A good answer will describe each class as follows: the upper class makes up just 1 percent of the U.S. population but enjoys more wealth than the other 99 percent combined. Members of the upper class make around $2 million dollars a year and have often inherited large family fortunes (“old money”). They are highly educated and often attend prestigious, private schools and universities. A typical member of the upper-middle class is well educated and highly skilled, and often makes around $150,000 a year. The middle class is comprised mainly of skilled white collar workers who are employed in technical and lower-management jobs, and who make around $70,000 a year. Members of the working class typically have a high school education and work in blue collar or service industry jobs earning around $40,000 a year. The working poor are made up of poorly educated, low-skill workers who make around $25,000 a year, suffer frequent unemployment and underemployment, and often need welfare to survive. The underclass is the most disadvantaged class, generally earning $15,000 or less per year, counting on charity or welfare, and often suffering bouts of homelessness. This class is most concentrated in inner cities, although numbers in the suburbs are growing. The complexity of the variables associated with socioeconomic status makes the categories problematic. People can have very high levels of education, with little to no income. Also, status inconsistency exists, as the book indicates, in the case of Mother Teresa. She lived in poverty (as avowed through her religious order) but was one of the most admired and respected people in the world during the twentieth century. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 185–187 OBJ: Social Classes in the United States MSC: Remembering 13. Not all systems of slavery were like the one seen in the United States. In some countries, slaves were not kidnapped from a distant country, and slaves and owners had the same racial and ethnic backgrounds. Discuss how this type of slavery worked and how slaves were selected from within a society. ANS: Slaves and owners shared a common ancestry in ancient Greece and Rome. Any answer should discuss the following groups of people who were enslaved in such societies: debtors who could not pay were enslaved by creditors, losers of wars were enslaved by winners, and perpetrators of crimes were enslaved as punishment and as compensation for victims.
DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 182–183 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Systems of Stratification
14. A social stratification system exists in every society. Discuss the characteristics that all social stratification systems share. ANS: Answers should illustrate the four principles of social stratification. First, stratification is a characteristic of a society and not a reflection of individual differences among its members. An individual from a lower social class can always gain more power and prestige than can an individual from a higher class, but in general the former individual is still lower on the social ladder than the latter. Second, social stratification remains in place over generations, meaning that children tend to inherit their parents’ social statuses. Third, different societies use different criteria to devise their social stratification systems. Some societies may use material wealth, while others rely more heavily on skin color or gender. Fourth, systems of social stratification continue because members of a society share a widely held belief in them. DIF: Easy REF: Page 182 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Social Stratification and Social Inequality
15. Describe and analyze Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital in terms of microsociology and macrosociology. What elements of his theory are more like conflict theory? What elements are more like symbolic interactionism? ANS: All answers should point out that Bourdieu’s theory bridges the gap between macro and micro theories. Students should be aware, on some level, that class status is structural, categorical, and external, but it is also interactionally created and sustained. Structure shapes interaction, and interaction generates structure. Specifically, students should be able to talk about the ways Bourdieu sees people as inheriting statuses from their parents and from preexisting categories (structures). For Bourdieu, this status is used to gain advantage in everyday face-to-face interactions. DIF: Difficult MSC: Evaluating
REF: Page 191
OBJ: Theories of Social Class
CHAPTER 08: RACE AND ETHNICITY AS LIVED EXPERIENCE MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. How does Tiger Woods describe his own racial identity? a. biracial c. African American b. Cablinasian d. Asian ANS: B DIF: Easy Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 212
OBJ: Defining Race and
2. In 2010, the Census Bureau allowed Americans to check more than one box when identifying their race. What percentage of the population took advantage of this and identified themselves as multiracial? a. 17.8 percent c. 12 percent b. 42.6 percent d. 2.4 percent ANS: D DIF: Difficult Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 214
OBJ: Defining Race and
3. What has modern science determined about racial categories? a. There is greater diversity between racial populations than within them. b. Biologically there is no such thing as a pure race. c. Some racial groups are genetically predisposed to be more intelligent than others. d. Some racial groups are genetically predisposed to be more athletically inclined than others. ANS: B DIF: Easy Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 215
OBJ: Defining Race and
4. How do sociologists define race? a. a group with a shared cultural heritage b. the same way they define ethnicity c. the difference between Mongoloid, Negroid, and Caucasoid people d. a social category based on real or perceived biological differences ANS: D DIF: Easy Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 216
OBJ: Defining Race and
5. How do sociologists define ethnicity? a. people who share a common physical characteristic b. people with the same skin color c. a group with a shared ancestry or shared cultural heritage d. the same way they define race ANS: C DIF: Easy Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 216
OBJ: Defining Race and
6. In the early 1900s, native-born Americans, usually Protestants, did NOT consider Irish, Italian, or Jewish immigrants to be white. What does this illustrate? a. racial passing c. the social construction of race b. an enactment of symbolic ethnicity d. racial pluralism ANS: C Ethnicity MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 216
OBJ: Defining Race and
7. What are the positive consequences of racial and ethnic categories? a. They help create hierarchy. b. They allow for split labor markets. c. They create a sense of identity and lead to feelings of solidarity. d. They help create conditions of inequality. ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 220
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
8. For a long time, the fact that immigrants from eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America tended to be shorter than native-born Americans was taken as evidence that there were inherent racial differences between these populations. However, the immigrants had children who grew up to be as tall as anyone else, and geneticists now tell us that, while there can be considerable variation in height within a group due to genetics, height differences between groups are largely caused by diet. What does this demonstrate? a. Race will always be an important way to understand physical traits. b. There are essential differences between racial populations. c. Some physical features, like blood type, are correlated with race. d. Racial differences are socially constructed and not genetic. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Defining Race and Ethnicity
REF: Pages 215–216 MSC: Applying
9. In the 1900s, there was a strong prejudice against Irish immigrants and their descendants. Editorial cartoons often depicted the Irish as physically distinct and as looking like apes. What does this tell you about the history of race in the United States? a. The Irish were once considered to be a separate race. b. Racial hostility is permanent. c. There must have been significant biological differences between early Protestant immigrants from England and Holland and Catholic immigrants from Ireland. d. Ireland must have changed a great deal over the course of the twentieth century. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Defining Race and Ethnicity
REF: Pages 215–216 MSC: Applying
10. The Brazilian census has traditionally only had four racial categories: preto, branco, amarelo, and pardo. However, in everyday life, Brazilians have many other racial categories, including moreno, mulato, neguinho, and pretinho. Most of these terms do not have an equivalent in the United States. What does this tell you? a. Race is a social construct. b. Brazil places more importance on symbolic ethnicity. c. The United States is less diverse than Brazil. d. Brazil has never used science to classify its population. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Defining Race and Ethnicity
REF: Pages 215–216 MSC: Applying
11. Displays of ethnic identity that only occur on special occasions are called: a. celebratory ethnicity. c. situational ethnicity. b. symbolic ethnicity. d. religious identity. ANS: B DIF: Easy Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 218
OBJ: Defining Race and
12. When someone of Irish ancestry who does NOT typically identify as Irish in everyday life puts on a green hat, drinks green beer, and wears a “Kiss me, I’m Irish” T-shirt on St. Patrick’s Day, it is an example of: a. posing. c. symbolic ethnicity. b. disembodied identities. d. situational ethnicity. ANS: C Ethnicity MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 218
OBJ: Defining Race and
13. How do we decide when to display situational ethnicity? a. We decide based on the holiday. c. We only consider religious holidays. b. We follow our families’ demands. d. We do a cost-benefit analysis. ANS: D DIF: Moderate Ethnicity MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 218
OBJ: Defining Race and
14. In the United States, which of the following groups would have the most freedom in choosing to display or not display its race or ethnicity? a. Asian c. African American b. Hispanic d. Irish ANS: D DIF: Easy Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 218
OBJ: Defining Race and
15. In Chicago, a city with more Polish people than anywhere else in the United States, Casimir Pulaski Day is always a very important holiday. Although not well remembered in the rest of the country, Pulaski was a Polish-born hero of the American Revolution and a cavalry general. What concept helps to explain why this holiday is so much more important to people who trace their ancestry to Poland? a. racial passing c. situational ethnicity b. symbolic ethnicity d. the social construction of race ANS: B Ethnicity MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 218
OBJ: Defining Race and
16. A young person from Southern California has four German grandparents. She lived in Los Angeles all her life before accepting a job in Milwaukee. She has never really thought about her German heritage, but in Milwaukee she discovers many other people with similar ancestries and starts using her ethnicity as a way to develop social and professional relationships. What is this an example of? a. symbolic ethnicity b. passing
c. situational ethnicity d. the disparities in racial consequences ANS: C Ethnicity MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 218
OBJ: Defining Race and
17. How do the current demographics of California challenge the way the term “minority” has been used in the past? a. Hispanics are a numerical minority but are very socially powerful. b. There are far fewer African Americans in California than in the rest of the country. c. Whites are now less than half of the population of California. d. California is more tolerant of its ethnic diversity than the rest of the country is. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 219
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
18. When whites are less than half the population of any given state, it is called a ________ state. a. pluralistic c. minority b. postmodern d. majority-minority ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 219
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
19. How do sociologists define a minority group? a. a group that makes up less than 50 percent of the total population b. a group that makes up less than 20 percent of the total population c. a group whose members suffer from unequal treatment d. a group that is smaller than the dominant group ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 220
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
20. Despite demographic shifts, how can you tell that whites are still the dominant group in California? a. They discriminate against other racial and ethnic groups. b. They remain dominant in terms of power, resources, and representation in social institutions. c. They are overrepresented in prisons. d. They are overrepresented as victims of violent crimes. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 219
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
21. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, since 2004 Texas has had a minority population of at least 11.3 million, comprising 50.2 percent of its total population of 22.5 million. The primary minority group is Mexican Americans. However, despite this numerical prominence, Texas has never had a Mexican American governor and the percentage of Mexican Americans in its state House has never been higher than 26. Why would a sociologist still call Mexican Americans a minority group? a. It was only in the past decade that they stopped being a numerical minority. b. They are still only a plurality, not a numerical majority. c. They are denied access to power and resources. d. There are several other racial and ethnic groups that are more prominent in Texas. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 219
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
22. A set of beliefs about the superiority of one racial or ethnic group compared to another is: a. discrimination. c. prejudice. b. racism. d. assimilation. ANS: B DIF: Easy Forms MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
23. The belief that Asians are genetically predisposed to be more intelligent than Europeans is an example of: a. discrimination. c. racial passing. b. racism. d. pluralism. ANS: B Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
24. How is prejudice different from discrimination? a. Prejudices can only be negative; discrimination can be either negative or positive. b. Prejudice only occurs within minority groups, but discrimination can happen anywhere. c. Prejudice requires the negatively affected group to be a minority group; discrimination does not. d. Prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is an action. ANS: D Forms MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
25. The belief that all Irish are drunks is an example of: a. discrimination. c. passing. b. miscegenation. d. prejudice. ANS: D Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
26. An action or behavior that results in the unequal treatment of an individual because of his membership in a racial or ethnic group is called: a. prejudice. c. pluralism. b. discrimination. d. passing. ANS: B DIF: Easy Forms MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
27. In visual representations, racial and ethnic minorities are often portrayed as animalistic or subhuman, many times as monkeys or chimpanzees. According to your understanding of Chapter 8, why would racist imagery so often use animals? a. For Europeans, representing someone as a primate is the worst possible insult. b. Many minority cultures have cultural associations with monkeys. c. Racists are not really very imaginative, so they simply recycle the same stereotypes. d. Animal imagery supports the assumption that differences between groups are innate, or biologically based. ANS: D
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 220–223
OBJ: Racism in Its Many Forms
MSC: Analyzing
28. Plantation owners in America often argued that the Africans they imported were better off as slaves because they did not have the mental capacity to run their own lives. Today, this seems both racist and crazy. How could such racist beliefs flourish? a. People are, by nature, hostile and look to blame their problems on others. b. Such beliefs justify social arrangements between dominant and minority groups that benefit those who accept them. c. People knew much less about world history then, so it seemed more plausible. d. Nineteenth-century science was not very well developed, so no authority figures could debunk racist beliefs. ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Racism in Its Many Forms
REF: Pages 220–223 MSC: Analyzing
29. The Bell Curve by Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray generated an enormous amount of controversy when it first came out, largely because it suggested that racial differences in IQ scores were due to genetically driven differences in intelligence and argued that “both genes and the environment have something to do with racial differences.” For those who disagreed, this seemed like a very familiar argument, because: a. racism usually is reducible to a group’s cultural characteristics. b. this is the same argument that was made by the founding fathers to justify the relatively equal treatment of both Native Americans and involuntary African immigrants. c. as always, it leaves education policy at the center of a racial controversy. d. racist beliefs are often rooted in the assumption that differences between groups are genetic. ANS: D DIF: Difficult Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
30. Many immigrants to the United States have gotten in trouble for keeping livestock—especially chickens, goats, and pigs—in urban areas. Their neighbors feel it is okay to own a 150-pound mastiff but “unsanitary” to have a 50-pound goat that gives milk. In this case, what is driving racism? a. the need to generate finance capital b. the assumption that differences between groups are innate, or biologically based c. a negative view of a group’s cultural characteristics d. the linguistic barriers that prevent communication ANS: C DIF: Difficult Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
31. Which of the following is an example of a prejudice? a. not hiring someone because of his or her ethnicity b. giving African Americans higher mortgage interest rates c. only searching people of certain ethnicities at the airport d. believing that Asians are better at math ANS: D Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 220
32. Which of the following is an example of discrimination?
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
a. b. c. d.
refusing to sell someone a house in a particular neighborhood because of his or her race believing Asians are good at math thinking that African Americans are better dancers than white people believing that the Irish drink too much
ANS: A Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
33. How is institutional discrimination different from individual discrimination? a. Institutional discrimination involves attitudes or opinions. b. Institutional discrimination can be either positive or negative. c. Institutional discrimination is more systematic and widespread. d. Institutional discrimination is less harmful. ANS: C DIF: Easy Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 221
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
34. How did the G.I. Bill of Rights, which provided funds for home loans, affect African Americans? a. It greatly aided in the creation of an African American middle class. b. Though it was written to help all veterans regardless of race, African Americans were typically excluded from home ownership. c. It helped those who had served in the military, but there were relatively few African American veterans. d. It provided assistance to African Americans in the North, but there was still too much prejudice in the South. ANS: B DIF: Moderate Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 221
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
35. What is the goal of affirmative action? a. to increase diversity b. to disadvantage white students c. to achieve reverse discrimination d. to provide a justification for reverse racism ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Racism in Its Many Forms
REF: Page 221 |Page 224 MSC: Analyzing
36. In 1991 an enormous controversy erupted after five Los Angeles police officers were caught on tape beating a motorist named Rodney King. Although there continues to be much controversy over the event, many people see it as a blatant act of discrimination. Under what circumstances would this beating be considered institutional discrimination? a. It would be seen as institutional discrimination as long as none of the officers involved had a financial motive. b. Under no circumstances could this be institutional discrimination, as it was carried out by individuals. c. If the leadership of the Los Angeles Police Department condoned or encouraged this type of behavior on a regular basis, it would be considered institutional discrimination. d. If it could be shown that at least one of the officers was truly racist, it would be considered institutional discrimination. ANS: C
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 221
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
Forms MSC: Applying 37. In 1993 six African American Secret Service agents filed a complaint with the Department of Justice against Denny’s for refusal of service because the restaurant took much longer to serve them than other customers. After they filed the complaint, thousands of other African Americans came forward with similar allegations. What are these allegations evidence of? a. situational ethnicity c. institutional discrimination b. assimilation d. individual discrimination ANS: C Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 221
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
38. If a landlord was found guilty of discriminatory practices for refusing to rent to Hispanic tenants, what could be seen as evidence that it was a case of individual discrimination? a. The landlord was following the instructions of the local business association. b. Other Hispanic tenants were able to find places to rent in the area. c. Hispanic tenants had a hard time finding someone who would rent to them. d. The landlord was supported by all the other big landlords in the area. ANS: B Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 221
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
39. The “Jim Crow” laws in the American South, which mandated separate facilities for whites and blacks, were an example of: a. population transfer. c. individual discrimination. b. assimilation. d. institutional discrimination. ANS: D Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 221
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
40. White privilege is the idea that one group (whites) in society enjoys certain unearned privileges and that group members are: a. discriminating blatantly against minority group members. b. actively seeking to maintain such privileges. c. largely unaware of the unequal benefits they possess. d. seeking to change the racial inequalities. ANS: C DIF: Moderate Forms MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 222
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
41. In 2009 Barack Obama became the first black president. Some feel that this election demonstrates that racism is a thing of the past. This way of thinking is evidence of: a. colorblindness. c. racial passing. b. institutional discrimination. d. cultural appropriation. ANS: A Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 222
42. How does colorblindness contribute to racial inequalities?
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
a. It leads to overt discriminatory lending in home mortgages, resulting in unequal accumulation of wealth by racial minorities. b. It serves to maintain high levels of acceptable discriminatory practices in the workplace. c. It encourages moderate prejudice and discrimination in the system of education. d. It perpetuates racial inequalities by making subtle forms of racism difficult to recognize and therefore difficult to address. ANS: D DIF: Difficult Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 222
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
43. If we are to have a truly egalitarian society, citizens must recognize the racist history of the United States and the social conditions that perpetuate contemporary inequalities. To do this, one must develop: a. colorblindness. c. white privilege. b. race consciousness. d. ethnic cleansing. ANS: B DIF: Moderate Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 222
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
44. Halloween costume makers and retailers make generous profits from selling costumes that allow their wearers to be Indian princesses or gypsies. By profiting from the stereotypical display of marginalized groups without fully understanding and appreciating the culture, they are engaging in: a. racial assimilation. c. race consciousness. b. miscegenation. d. cultural appropriation. ANS: D Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 222
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
45. What racial issue does functionalism help to explain? a. the persistence of racial divisions in America today b. the assimilation of European ethnic groups into larger society c. the continued existence of a distinct Hispanic identity and culture in the United States d. the everyday mechanisms of racial passing ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 223–224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race MSC: Understanding 46. What explanation does functionalism have for prejudice and discrimination today? a. Prejudice and discrimination are the result of a struggle for scarce resources. b. Prejudice and discrimination are perpetuated by economic, not racial, factors. c. Prejudice and discrimination are established on an international level. d. Prejudice and discrimination help to increase group cohesion. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 223–224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race MSC: Understanding 47. The “ethnic miracle” is a term used to describe the process by which European immigrants and their descendants stopped being treated as members of minority groups and became assimilated into the dominant group. What kind of sociologist believes that this happened because it made society run much more efficiently? a. a structural functionalist c. a symbolic interactionist
b. a conflict theorist
d. a Weberian
ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 223–224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race MSC: Applying 48. According to conflict theory, what is the real source of racism? a. the need for social equality for capitalism to function b. the people who attempt to live as if they were members of a different racial group c. the struggle groups have for power and control d. the desire for assimilation of minority groups into majority groups ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Understanding
49. According to theorists like Edna Bonacich, what is the effect of a split labor market, in which workers belonging to one race are paid less than those of a different race? a. The effects of racism are compounded by poverty. b. The need to assimilate and achieve greater group cohesion is strengthened. c. Racial tensions are lessened and conflict decreases. d. Increasing numbers of workers may attempt to pass as another race. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Remembering
50. According to William Julius Wilson, racism has created a black underclass, but this underclass is perpetuated by: a. prejudice. c. racial passing. b. individual racism. d. economic factors. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Remembering
51. Rather than seeing racism as a product of class differences, recent theorists like Tomás Almaguer argue that: a. racist beliefs can become part of economic life. b. race and class have nothing in common. c. many minority groups benefit from government policies, and it is actually whites who are discriminated against. d. there are very few economic differences between racial groups. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Remembering
52. According to sociologists like Howard Winant and Michael Omi, what is the relationship between race and class? a. Race is not a side effect of class; rather, it permeates every aspect of daily life. b. Race is a secondary phenomenon that results from the class system. c. Class is an unintended consequence of racial hierarchies. d. Both race and class are created by biological factors inherent in being human. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Understanding
53. Classical Marxist analysis often argued that everything is ultimately determined by the economy, even though sometimes it is through many complicated steps. Can economic factors explain racism?
a. No, almost none of the factors associated with racism can be understood in economic terms. b. The link between race and class is very strong, and almost all sociologists accept that race is primarily a way to keep the working class divided. c. The link between race and class is useful and important, but it does not provide a satisfactory explanation for all forms of racism. d. Yes, although the economic origins of racism may be very distant now, ultimately racism began with economic factors. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Evaluating
54. The sociologist Amy L. Best, in “Doing Race in the Context of Feminist Interviewing: Constructing Whiteness through Talk,” analyzed how two African American teenagers had to create racial identities during their interview with her. What does this analysis suggest about race? a. Racism is partly driven by economic competition and the struggle over scarce resources. b. Even master statuses like race and gender have to be constructed in the negotiation between what we project and what others recognize. c. People have a tendency toward ethnocentrism, or the belief that one’s own culture and way of life are right and normal. d. Race is not just a secondary phenomenon that results from the class system. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 224–227 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race MSC: Analyzing 55. What is it called when someone lives as if they were a member of a different racial category than the one into which they were born? a. cultural imperialism c. racial passing b. racial self-hatred d. racial stereotyping ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 225 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Remembering
56. In the novel The Human Stain by Philip Roth, a professor at a college in the Northeast is forced into early retirement after he is accused of racism. The charge turns out to be ironic when the reader learns that the professor has a secret: he was born to African American parents and has been covering up his heritage and living as a white man his whole adult life. What is this an example of? a. reverse discrimination c. individual discrimination b. hegemony d. passing ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 225 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Applying
57. Anatole Broyard, a literary critic and writer for the New York Times, lived a double life. He had a mixed racial heritage, and while African American friends knew him as African American, white friends and professional acquaintances thought he was white. After his death, Broyard’s daughter tried to write his life story and, as part of the process, organized a family reunion. This was made more difficult by the fact that Broyard’s extended family included many who thought of themselves as white, others as black. What does this demonstrate about passing? a. Anyone with light enough skin usually passes for white. b. Only people in certain parts of the country can get away with passing. c. The only factor that determines whether someone wants to pass is the ability to do so. d. Passing happens almost entirely through interaction. ANS: D
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 225
OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Analyzing
58. Jeffery McCune’s ethnographic study of gay black men in a Chicago nightclub details a space in which their same sex desires could be comfortably expressed, and interactional work to present a conventionally masculine, heterosexual identity was no longer required. What sociological concept is demonstrated by the efforts to maintain a heterosexual persona? a. prejudice c. institutional racism b. passing d. cultural assimilation ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 225 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Applying
59. How do many people hope that the Internet will have a democratic influence on society? a. It will make the economy more efficient, thus generating more wealth for all. b. In online interactions, there is no way to see what other people look like. c. It will help train poor people to use technology. d. It lets corporations gather large amounts of data about individual consumers. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 225–226 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race MSC: Understanding 60. What does an individual need to be able to do in order to sound authentically African American when interacting with others online? a. be able to include racially relevant content and language in interactions b. listen to the right kind of music c. set his or her avatar or picture to look like a cartoon d. It is almost impossible, as no one trusts anything he or she encounters on the Internet. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 225–227 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race MSC: Remembering 61. What do sociologists call it when an African American individual is told he or she is NOT really “black enough”? a. assimilation c. internal colonialism b. racism d. an identity challenge ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 227 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Remembering
62. The fact that so many people are asked, “What are you?” in reference to their race is evidence that: a. race is not all that important. b. race must be established interactionally. c. race has a biological basis. d. it is usually easy to tell someone’s race just by looking at him or her. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 227 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Evaluating
63. There are a number of derogatory terms in the United States for members of minority groups who have assimilated. “Tom,” “oreo,” “twinkie,” and “coconut” are all rude terms for people who are one color on the outside but “white on the inside”—that is, people whose behavior does not match socially approved boundaries relating to their skin color. What term embodies these insults? a. passing c. discrimination b. symbolic ethnicity d. identity challenges ANS: D
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 227
OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Applying
64. When Barack Obama was a presidential candidate, he argued that racial prejudice is one of America’s defining social problems. He was implicitly acknowledging that: a. low-income women of all ethnicities see marriage as having few benefits. b. membership in socially constructed categories of race and ethnicity can affect people’s life chances in many ways. c. race is constructed almost entirely in interaction. d. racism is driven by economic factors and any solution to racism will have to involve affirmative action. ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 229 MSC: Analyzing
65. Why are poor women LESS likely to marry? a. They are less likely to be in love. b. They feel that the men they encounter are less likely to offer the advantages that make marriage worth the risk. c. They come from a culture of poverty that does not value marriage. d. They are officially discouraged from doing so by the government. ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 228 MSC: Understanding
66. According to Angela Davis, why are African American teenage girls disproportionately likely to have children? a. They are less educated about methods of contraception. b. They value the welfare benefits that children bring. c. They are more likely to marry young, so are more likely to have children young. d. They see few opportunities for education or work and choose motherhood instead. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 228 MSC: Understanding
67. Even though antimiscegenation laws have been struck down, interracial relationships are still relatively uncommon. Why? a. Powerful cultural stereotypes discourage them. b. Many people do not realize that such laws have been struck down. c. Members of interracial couples have a much harder time finding jobs. d. Federal laws have been struck down, but state and local laws remain. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Pages 226–227 MSC: Understanding
68. Why are there differences in life expectancies for people of different races? a. disparities in access to health care b. genetic differences resulting in predispositions to various diseases c. biological differences, as different races have radically different hormones d. greatly increased levels of law enforcement violence directed at certain racial groups ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Pages 228–229 MSC: Understanding
69. A study prepared by the United Church of Christ’s Commission on Racial Justice argued that African American and Hispanic communities are much more likely to be located near toxic waste dumps than white communities. What does this tell you about race in America? a. Race is an interactional accomplishment. b. The employment structure of inner cities has collapsed. c. Even the structure of families is dependent on race. d. Race can have an effect on health. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Pages 228–229 MSC: Applying
70. Which of the following factors makes someone most likely to drop out of high school? a. having parents who did not attend college b. living in a rural area c. coming from a non-English-speaking background d. living in the Midwest ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 229 MSC: Remembering
71. Which major U.S. racial group has the LOWEST dropout rate in higher education? a. African Americans c. whites b. Hispanics d. Asian Americans ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 229 MSC: Remembering
72. Which racial group has the highest median income? a. whites c. Native Americans b. Hispanics d. Asian Americans ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 229| Page 231 MSC: Remembering
73. In 2009 there were only five African Americans who were CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, or 1 percent of the total number of Fortune 500 CEOs. Given that African Americans make up more than 11 percent of the U.S. population, what does this tell you? a. Jobs are not distributed regardless of racial or ethnic identity. b. Most African Americans live in geographically isolated or rural areas. c. There are serious flaws in the way we measure and report race in employment surveys. d. African Americans have rejected mainstream jobs and embraced the informal economy. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 229| Page 231 MSC: Analyzing
74. According to one study, in Pennsylvania, black defendants on trial for murder were 40 percent more likely to receive the death penalty than whites convicted of similar crimes. This indicates that: a. blacks are given equal treatment by the U.S. justice system. b. whites are often the victims of reverse discrimination. c. the criminal justice system has a racial bias. d. African Americans commit more murders than other racial or ethnic groups. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 231 MSC: Analyzing
75. According to the work of Twine (2011), what changes occur in the lives of white women that have families with black men? a. They elevate their social status by proving they are not racist. b. They lose some racial privilege through their relationships with their husbands. c. They are less likely to become mothers, because of their fears for their children. d. They are less likely to divorce because of deeper intimacies with their husbands. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Pages 231–232 MSC: Understanding
76. In 2015 tech giant Google announced a $150 million plan to get more women and minorities into the tech field. What program did Google likely utilize to accomplish this goal? a. sensitivity training c. diversity training b. cultural appropriation d. racial passing ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
REF: Page 230 MSC: Understanding
77. The deliberate and systematic extermination of a racial, ethnic, or national group is called: a. genocide. c. internal colonialism. b. colonialism. d. population transfer. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 233 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
78. What historical event is sometimes referred to as the “forgotten genocide”? a. the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians by the Turkish government after World War I b. the slaughter of the Tutsis in Rwanda c. the death of 6 million Jews in Europe during World War II d. attacks on ethnic minorities in the Darfur region of Sudan ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 234 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
79. In 2003 a civil war began in Darfur. A United Nations report released in 2004 argued that: Generally speaking, the policy of attacking, killing and forcibly displacing members of some tribes does not show a specific intent to annihilate, in whole or in part, a group distinguished on racial, ethnic, national or religious grounds. Rather, it would seem that those who planned and organized attacks on villages pursued the intent to drive the victims from their homes. Although many people disagree, in this passage the United Nations is arguing that the conflict in Darfur is NOT: a. racism. c. assimilation. b. genocide. d. internal colonialism. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 233–234 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation MSC: Applying 80. In 1994 mass killings occurred in Rwanda, as members of the Hutu majority killed more than a million members of the Tutsi minority, many of them murdered with machetes. Although many Hutus later claimed that they were just trying to defend themselves, which of the following indicates that it was really genocide? a. There was often rape as well as murder during the conflict. b. The killings happened at an even faster rate than during the Holocaust. c. Many of the individuals who did the killing had stockpiled weapons earlier. d. There was a discussion at the highest levels of government about the need to kill as many
Tutsis as possible. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 233–234 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation MSC: Applying 81. In the early nineteenth century, Native Americans, who had survived clashes with the U.S. Army, were forcibly removed to reservations. This is an example of: a. genocide. c. pluralism. b. assimilation. d. population transfer. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 234 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Applying
82. The exploitation of a minority group within the dominant group’s political borders is called: a. racial assimilation. c. ethnic conflict. b. population transfer. d. internal colonialism. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 236 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
83. After the Civil War, most southern states passed laws that barred African Americans and whites from sharing most kinds of public facilities. This is an example of: a. ethnic cleansing. c. segregation. b. racial assimilation. d. internal colonialism. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 236 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Applying
84. What is it called when a minority group is absorbed into the dominant group? a. segregation c. assimilation b. population transfer d. internal colonialism ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 236 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
85. What is it called when members of a racial minority group intermarry and have children with members of the dominant group until the races are completely mixed? a. cultural assimilation c. racial passing b. racial assimilation d. population transfer ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 236 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
86. When members of a minority group learn the cultural practices of the dominant group, they have undergone: a. internal colonialism. c. racial assimilation. b. racial passing. d. cultural assimilation. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 236 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
87. Societies that encourage racial and ethnic diversity have embraced the value of: a. pluralism. c. racial assimilation. b. globalization. d. cultural assimilation. ANS: A
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 236
OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
88. What metaphor best describes cultures that have embraced multiculturalism and pluralism? a. a melting pot c. a reservation b. a salad bowl d. a fondue pot ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 236 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
MSC: Remembering
89. According to the text, which of the following countries is an example of a multicultural society, one in which people are encouraged to live peacefully together in political, social, cultural, and economic unity? a. Denmark c. Sweden b. Norway d. Canada ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 236–237 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation MSC: Remembering 90. Some conservative groups have organized to campaign both for crackdowns on illegal immigration and for limits on legal immigration, because they are concerned about how the United States will be changed by nonwhite immigrants. This means that they are against: a. discrimination. c. passing. b. embodied identities. d. pluralism. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 236–237 OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation MSC: Applying TRUE/FALSE 1. There is greater genetic diversity within racial populations than between them. ANS: T DIF: Moderate Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 215
OBJ: Defining Race and
2. There are no positive consequences to constructing categories of race and ethnicity. ANS: F DIF: Easy OBJ: Defining Race and Ethnicity
REF: Pages 223–224 MSC: Understanding
3. A person who is not prejudiced may still participate in discrimination. ANS: T DIF: Easy Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
4. According to some sociologists, race is not irrefutably identifiable even in face-to-face interactions. ANS: T DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 224–227 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race MSC: Understanding 5. People in society who have the most privilege usually recognize that their advantages are unearned.
ANS: F DIF: Moderate Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 222
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
6. Prejudice is rooted in generalizations or stereotypes. ANS: T DIF: Easy Forms MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 220
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
7. Cultural appropriation benefits the minority group by taking that group’s symbols and turning them into a commodity for profit. ANS: F DIF: Easy Forms MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 222
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
8. DuBois considered the question of whether one could be black and at the same time claim one’s rights as an American to devise the concept of double-consciousness. ANS: T DIF: Difficult Forms MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 225
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
9. A working-class straight black man will experience discrimination the same way a wealthy gay black man will because both of them are the same race. ANS: F Forms MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 232
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
SHORT ANSWER 1. How do sociologists define race and ethnicity? ANS: All answers must illustrate that the student understands that race and ethnicity are social constructs. Race is a social category based on real or perceived biological differences between groups of people and, as such, is more meaningful on a social level than on a biological level. Societies develop beliefs about different racial groups that influence the way people see others. Ethnicity is a social category that is applied to a group with a shared ancestry or cultural heritage. An ethnic group consists of people with a common language, religion, nationality, or history, so culture is the basis for ethnic identity. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 215–216 Ethnicity MSC: Remembering 2. According to sociologists, what is a minority group? ANS:
OBJ: Defining Race and
Minority status is not just about numbers—it is about social inequalities—and defines a minority group as a group of people who are recognized as belonging to a social category and who suffer from unequal treatment based upon that status. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 219–220 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
3. What does it mean that the states of Texas and California are minority-majority states? ANS: Texas and California are defined by sociologist as majority-minority states because the majority of the population in these states is nonwhite. However, whites dominate in terms of power, resources, and representation in institutions. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 219–220 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is a Minority?
4. What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination? ANS: All answers should emphasize that prejudice is an attitude; discrimination is an action. Prejudice is an inflexible attitude about a particular category of people and is rooted in generalizations or stereotypes. Prejudices are usually, but not always, negative. Discrimination is an action or behavior, usually motivated by prejudice, that results in the unequal treatment of individuals because of their membership in a certain racial or ethnic group. DIF: Easy REF: Page 220 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Racism in Its Many Forms
5. What is the difference between individual discrimination and institutional discrimination? ANS: Individual discrimination occurs when one person treats others unfairly because of their race or ethnicity. Institutional discrimination, in contrast, is usually more systematic and widespread. It occurs when institutions, whether political, economic, or educational, have discriminatory policies, practices, or procedures that affect whole groups of individuals. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 221
OBJ: Racism in Its Many Forms
6. What is racial passing? Why would someone try to pass? ANS: Racial passing is living as if one is a member of a different racial category. For many years, both during and after slavery, some light-skinned African Americans would attempt to live as whites in order to avoid the dire consequences of being black in a racist society. Passing is almost entirely interactional; light-skinned blacks or other ethnic minorities can “do being white” only if they perform white identity skillfully. This involves doing what is required to look white: acting like a white person, speaking like a white person, and managing one’s biography to avoid revealing one’s racial and/or ethnic identity. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 225 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
7. Why are larger proportions of African American and Hispanic men as compared to whites in prison? ANS: Incarceration rates of African Americans and Hispanics have been impacted by laws that have created racially differentiated outcomes like the federal law that had harsher penalties for crack users who were more likely to be black as compared to cocaine users who were more likely to be white or Hispanic. Higher rates of unemployment and high school dropouts among African and Americans and Hispanics also contribute to higher incarceration rates. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 231 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances
8. What is diversity training? What type of training proves most effective? ANS: Diversity training, inspired by the eye color experiment of Jane Elliot, refers to the efforts by employers to increase awareness and understanding of minority experiences in the workplace by their nonminority colleagues. The intent is that these programs will decrease discrimination and increase opportunity for minority employees. However, research shows that simply educating employees proves to be least effective in reducing bias, while appointing a person or persons to be responsible for increasing diversity has the greatest impact. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 230 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
9. Explain the difference between racial assimilation and cultural assimilation. ANS: Racial assimilation occurs when members of the minority group are absorbed into the majority group by intermarriage and procreation resulting in a mixing of the races. Cultural assimilation occurs when the cultural practices of the dominant group are adopted by the minority group. Sometimes, both types of assimilation occur simultaneously. DIF: Easy REF: Page 236 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
10. With pluralism or multiculturalism, why is the traditional image of the melting pot replaced with the image of the salad bowl? ANS: A melting pot insinuates that all the ingredients have mixed together, making a concoction in which the original ingredients are indistinguishable. This is truer of assimilation than pluralism. In contrast, the image of the salad bowl insinuates a mixing together of ingredients, while at the same time allowing the ingredients to maintain their distinct qualities. Pluralism encourages both racial and ethnic variation and acceptance within a society. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing ESSAY
REF: Page 236
OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
1. How do white ethnics, like Italian Americans and Irish Americans, express their ethnicity in optional ways? ANS: Optional ethnicity can be displayed in two ways: through symbolic ethnicity and through situational ethnicity. Symbolic ethnicity consists of enactments of ethnic identity that occur only on symbolic occasions. Examples in the text focused on celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day and ways in which ethnicity that may not matter on a day-to-day basis can be visible on special occasions. Situational ethnicity is similar to symbolic ethnicity, but it involves deliberately asserting or playing up ethnicity in some situations, while deliberately downplaying it in others based on a cost-benefit analysis of the situation. The example in the text focuses on Dr. Ferris’s Lebanese ancestry, which she deploys when she feels it will work to her advantage. The best answers will also mention that not everyone has these ethnic options. Neither situational nor symbolic ethnicity is available to those who are visibly nonmainstream in a society. In the United States, this generally means that nonwhites find themselves in fewer situations where they have a choice about displaying their group membership. DIF: Easy REF: Page 216| Page 218 Ethnicity MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Defining Race and
2. How does colorblind racism perpetuate inequality? What role can race consciousness play in addressing this problem? ANS: Colorblind racism is an ideology that removes race as an explanation for any form of unequal treatment. Although it sounds good, it is problematic because it implies that race should be both invisible and inconsequential. However, racism continues to exist, albeit in more subtle ways than the past. Colorblind racism overlooks the ways that racism is instituted into societal structures and allows white privilege to continue to exist at the expense of minorities. Colorblindness makes more subtle forms of racism hard to acknowledge and therefore hard to address. Race consciousness acknowledges race as a powerful social construct that impacts individuals’ social experiences. Race consciousness encourages people to acknowledge the ways that institutionalized racism, both past and present, has created social conditions that perpetuate inequality. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 222 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Racism in Its Many Forms
3. Today, society is more accepting of interracial marriage than it was in the past, but interracial marriage still does not happen nearly as often as it would if love was really never based, at least in part, on racial identification. What were the obstacles to interracial marriage in the past? What are they today? ANS: In the past, interracial relationships were against the law. The best answers will reference the Loving v. Virginia decision in 1967, and the very best answers might mention that Alabama did not overturn its antimiscegenation law until 2000.
Today there are no laws against interracial relationships, but, when considering the social obstacles to interracial relationships, it is important to take into account the cues that cultural stereotypes and media images provide. Interracial relationships may be viewed as rebellious rather than loving and thus devalued or not taken seriously. Stigma, prejudice, and restrictive racial stereotypes, along with negative beliefs about interracial relationship held by some people, serve to inhibit some from entering into interracial relationships. These stereotypes, though not borne out in reality, still have the power to influence attitudes and behavior. People who date interracially must deal with in-group pressure to date—and especially marry—those of their own race. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 226–227 OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances MSC: Analyzing 4. Fashion designer Marjan Peroski received much scrutiny at his first runway show in the United States after he appropriated Native American culture into his designs. Peroski works for London-based fashion line KTZ and even featured pieces closely mimicking those of Bethany Yellowtail, a Northern Cheyenne/Crow fashion designer. While claiming that he was paying tribute to the indigenous people, critics argue that the label has a history of taking inspiration from indigenous cultures and using them for their own super pricy ends (sweatshirts sell for $500). Explain the problems of cultural appropriation as evidenced in Peroski’s runway show. ANS: Cultural appropriation occurs when cultural elements of an oppressed group are adopted by members of the dominant group, often without permission and for the dominant groups’ gain. In this case, elements of Native American culture were adopted, exploited even, by a nonnative designer for his financial gain. Some have likened cultural appropriation to postmodern cultural imperialism. In addition to being culturally insensitive, cultural appropriation can have broader effects like serving to perpetuate stereotypes, exacerbating interracial relationships, and further entrenching social inequalities. DIF: Difficult Forms MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 222–223
OBJ: Racism in Its Many
5. Compare and contrast the approaches to race taken by functionalist theory and conflict theory. ANS: Functionalist theory has provided a useful lens for analyzing the experiences of certain ethnic groups, mainly European immigrants arriving in America in the early twentieth century. Functionalists looked at the process through which these early “nonwhites”—Irish and Italians, for instance—eventually became assimilated into the larger society. Functionalism, however, has proven less successful in explaining the persistence of racial divisions and why other races and ethnicities, such as African Americans and Hispanics, have continued to maintain their distinct identities alongside the white majority culture. Functionalism can best offer an explanation of how prejudice and discrimination develop by focusing on social solidarity and group cohesion as central aspects of society. Conflict theory focuses on the struggle for power and control and the competition, domination, and exploitation that result from it. Classical Marxist analyses of race, developed by sociologists in the 1960s, sought to identify the relationships between race and class and looked for the source of racism in capitalist hierarchies. As examples of conflict theory, the textbook cites Edna Bonacich’s analysis of split labor markets and William Julius Wilson’s argument that, while a black underclass was created by racism, it is perpetuated by economic, not racial, factors. The best answers will recall that new approaches to race (Tomás Almaguer, Patricia Hill Collins, and Gloria Anzaldúa) argue that race is more than just a secondary effect of the economy.
DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 223–224 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Evaluating
6. Using the example of white ethnics, explain Michael Omi and Howard Winant’s concept of racial formation. ANS: Race is a social construction as evidenced through the example of white ethnics. Omi and Winant point out that the social construction of race happens through social interaction, and that racial distinctions are made through a social and historical process. By examining the case of white ethnics, it demonstrates the social and historical process that changed the racial identity of Italian, Irish, and Jewish immigrants from being “nonwhite” to being “white” within a generation. Throughout history definitions regarding the makeup of racial categories have changed. In the early 1900s Italian, Irish, and Jewish immigrants were not considered to be a part of the “white” race and were thus restricted in terms of housing and employment. But after World War II, the ethnic identity of a person was no longer important and skin color became the main way to distinguish individuals according to race. Today, individuals of Italian, Irish, and Jewish descent are often regarded as white. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 216| Pages 224–225 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race
MSC: Applying
7. In the movie Barbershop, a character complains that Rosa Parks gets too much credit for the Montgomery bus boycott, while other activists and victims of “Jim Crow” laws have been forgotten. For instance, in the same year that Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat, Claudette Colvin was arrested for the same crime, found guilty, and placed on probation. However, shortly after her arrest, she became pregnant by a much older man. Mary Louise Smith was also arrested for the same crime, in the same year, but she was a teenager and her father was an impoverished alcoholic. Neither of these women received the help that Rosa Parks did. What theoretical approach to race presented in Chapter 8 does the best job of explaining the lives of these three African American women? Justify your answer. ANS: Answers should recall the work of theorists like Patricia Hill Collins, bell hooks, and Gloria Anzaldúa, who have sought to understand the meaning of race from the individual’s point of view and have begun to analyze the ways in which race, class, and gender inequalities intersect. Students might point out that race alone clearly is not enough to explain the differences between these women’s lives, as they were all of the same race and gender, so things like class should be considered. More generally, answers might stress that race must be explained in the terms in which it is experienced, not with overarching general theories. Almost any reasonable answer would reject a functionalist approach here, as it cannot explain interaction within the group. A reasonable answer would also be skeptical of any strict conflict theory approach that tried to use the economy as an explanation but could be more receptive to a symbolic interactionist approach that focused on face-to-face interactions. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 224–227|Pages 231–232 OBJ: Theoretical Approaches to Understanding Race 8. How does a person’s race affect his or her life chances? ANS:
MSC: Evaluating
Membership in socially constructed categories of race and ethnicity can often carry a high price, especially, as the text details, in the areas of health, education, work, family, and criminal justice. Disparities in health care may lead to disparities in life expectancy, disparities in education may lead to differences in work and income, and increased levels of poverty may affect family life and make people more likely to encounter the criminal justice system. The best answers will give examples of each. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 228–229|Page 231 OBJ: Race, Ethnicity, and Life Chances MSC: Understanding 9. What is assimilation? How has it worked in the United States? ANS: Assimilation occurs when a minority group is blended or absorbed into the mainstream or dominant group. In the United States, this process is central to America’s melting pot of many different racial and ethnic groups. All answers should distinguish between racial assimilation and cultural assimilation. Racial assimilation occurs when minorities have children with members of the dominant racial group until different races are completely mixed. Cultural assimilation occurs when a minority group learns the customs, rituals, and practices—in other words, the culture—of the dominant group. Answers may discuss how assimilation has happened for European immigrants but not for nonwhite racial and ethnic groups. During much of the twentieth century, many immigrants to the United States wanted to assimilate. They were eager to adopt an American way of life, to become citizens, to learn English, and to lose any trace of their “foreignness.” The Irish, Italians, and eastern Europeans were all once considered “ethnics” but eventually were assimilated into the larger category of white Americans. Today they are practically unrecognizable as distinct ethnic groups, unless they choose to exhibit characteristics that would distinguish them. For Hispanics, Asian Americans, and African Americans, the process has been very different. To the extent that there has been assimilation, it has been both less voluntary and less desirable. There is something to be gained by the process of assimilation—namely, membership in and likeness to the dominant population—but there is also something to be sacrificed. The process of assimilation is not always entered into voluntarily. Sometimes a minority group may be forced to acquire new behaviors associated with the dominant group and be forbidden to practice their own religion or speak their own language, so that their cultures are all but forgotten. For many people, assimilation results in the tragic loss of a distinctive racial or ethnic identity. This is true for many Native Americans, for instance, who, in just a few generations, have lost the ability to speak their tribal languages and have forgotten many of the cultural practices of their not-so-distant ancestors. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 236 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Intergroup Relations: Conflict or Cooperation
CHAPTER 09: CONSTRUCTING GENDER AND SEXUALITY MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. In April 2015, Olympic gold medalist and former “World’s Greatest Athlete” Bruce Jenner announced that: “for all intents and purposes, I am a woman.” Jenner discussed transitioning with Diane Sawyer in a special two-hour edition of the ABC News show 20/20. In the interview, Jenner stated: “As of now, I have all the male parts, but I still identify as female.” What does this tell you about gender identity? a. For many people, primary sex characteristics do not define gender. b. The transgender community has accepted the principle of human sexual dimorphism. c. Gender identity is often not fully formed until adulthood. d. Public displays of gender are more important than private displays. ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 243–245 MSC: Applying
2. A person’s self-conception of being male or female based on his or her association with masculine or feminine gender roles can be defined as: a. Sexual orientation c. Transgender b. Gender identity d. Sexual attitudes ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 243–244 MSC: Remembering
3. How do most sociologists differentiate between sex and gender? a. Sex is biological; gender is social. b. Both relate to genetics, but hormones have a greater influence on gender. c. Sex is genetic; gender is about primary and secondary sex characteristics. d. Gender is biological; sex is social. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 243
OBJ: Sex and Gender
4. How many babies out of every thousand are born intersex? a. 100 c. 35 b. 17 d. 10 ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 243
OBJ: Sex and Gender
5. Why are doctors and parents so quick to seek a surgical “fix” for babies who are born intersex? a. Intersex babies face serious health risks later in life. b. In Western society, the prospect of an ambiguously sexed person seems threatening and disturbing. c. Doctors and parents can always tell the sex a baby was meant to be. d. It is impossible to change a baby’s sex later in life. ANS: B MSC: Evaluating
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 243
OBJ: Sex and Gender
6. The belief that the lived experiences of women and men differ as a result of biological differences is called: a. Gender theory c. Transsexuality
b. Social constructionism ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
d. Essentialism REF: Pages 245–246 MSC: Understanding
7. What do the examples of “third gender” that are explored in “Global Perspective: Different Societies, Different Genders” demonstrate? a. Sex and gender in some non-Western cultures defy the binary classification of male and female. b. Gender expression is more important than biological sex. c. Sociologists and anthropologists are important actors in the creation of gender expression. d. The hijras of South Asia are the equivalent of transgender persons in the Western context. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 244–245 MSC: Understanding
8. Some people believe that women are better suited to be homemakers because they are naturally more caring and emotional than men. What perspective is being expressed in this statement? a. An essentialist perspective c. A macro perspective b. A social constructionist perspective d. An interactionist perspective ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 245–246 MSC: Applying
9. Most sociologists argue that gender is a social construction, and they acknowledge the possibility that binary male-female categories are not the only way of classifying individuals. This perspective is called: a. a constructionist perspective c. a macro perspective b. an essentialist perspective d. biological determinism ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 246
OBJ: Sex and Gender
10. Patriarchy can be defined as: a. a society in which women and men share equal access to positions of prestige, power, and control over the means of production b. a society in which women are dominated by men c. a society that privileges women’s experiences over those of men d. a society that seeks to equalize men’s and women’s access in the workplace ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 252 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
11. When describing transgender people, some newspapers, magazines, and other media tend to use gender-inappropriate names or pronouns, as well as other language that trans persons find insensitive or offensive. This is an example of: a. homophobia c. sexism b. microaggression d. patriarchy ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 253 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
12. Which of the following is an example of a microaggression? a. A pregnant woman who is not given paid maternity leave by her employer b. Men who whistle at and catcall a woman who is walking down the street c. An employer who pays his female employees less than his male employees
d. A sports team that refuses to allow female athletes to play ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 253 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
13. What do functionalists generally believe to be true about gender? a. Some social roles are better suited to one gender than the other. b. Men maintain control of the most valuable social roles. c. The current system of gender stratification is based on conflict. d. Gender is constructed and maintained through everyday actions. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 253 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Understanding
14. What two complementary roles did the functionalist Talcott Parsons identify within the family? a. Conflicting and conciliatory c. Interactionist and noninteractionist b. Instrumental and expressive d. Biological and social ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 253 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Remembering
15. According to Talcott Parsons’s understanding of the different roles that family members play, which of the following examples could be associated with the expressive role? a. A mother providing love, care, and affection to her husband and children b. A father providing for his family by paying the rent and household bills c. A grandmother babysitting her grandchildren while both parents work d. A daughter refusing to do homework after school ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 253 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Understanding
16. According to conflict theory, why are women’s contributions to family life devalued? a. The resources provided by men are ultimately more valuable than those provided by women. b. When no one plays the expressive role, family life remains the same. c. Women are entering the workforce in greater numbers. d. As a social group, men benefit from maintaining their dominant status. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 254 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Understanding
17. The perspective in sociology that is concerned with how gender is constructed and maintained in our everyday lives is known as: a. Essentialism c. Conflict theory b. Interactionism d. Feminism ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 254 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Understanding
18. What is one of the ways that “Agnes,” a transgender woman who was born with male genitalia and raised as a boy before undergoing sex-reassignment treatment, managed to pass as female in public? a. She made brief, meaningless interactions with other people. b. She learned to show deference to her male boss. c. She rejected the expectations of her boyfriend and his family members. d. She dressed exclusively in long, flowing dresses and wore wigs.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Pages 254–255 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality MSC: Understanding 19. Feminist theory has contributed to our understanding of gender by supporting the claim that: a. gender is no longer an influence on social life. b. gender inequality is rooted in biological differences between men and women. c. women continue to have unequal positions in society, as reflected in the ways their contributions have been written out of history books. d. only women in positions of power can achieve gender equality. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 255 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Remembering
20. In the 1940s and 1950s, Alfred Kinsey surveyed Americans to find out about their sexual behavior. His findings were important because they: a. challenged the view that Americans were either exclusively heterosexual or homosexual. b. concluded that most Americans were asexual. c. challenged the belief that Americans were heterosexual. d. challenged the belief that sexuality can change over the course of a person’s life. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sexuality and Sexual Orientation
REF: Page 246 MSC: Understanding
21. When does gender role socialization begin? a. At birth b. Around puberty c. When children begin attending school d. Before birth ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 247 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
22. At what age do babies become aware of their own gender? a. Age two b. When they begin attending school c. Age six weeks d. When they start walking ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 247 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
23. At what point in children’s school careers do gender norms become firmly established? a. By first grade b. By the sophomore year of high school c. By fifth grade d. Before the end of high school ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
24. From an interactionist perspective, what is the most important way that schools socialize children into their gender identities? a. By forcing schoolchildren to wear uniforms b. By exposing children to mass media c. By punishing children for minor violations of gender norms on the playground
d. Through interactions between teachers and students ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Evaluating
25. Which of the following is an example of how teachers treat boys and girls differently in a classroom setting? a. Boys are less likely than girls to be called on in class. b. Boys are more likely than girls to be punished for misbehaving. c. Boys are given less praise than girls for the intellectual quality of their work. d. Boys are naturally better at math and science, so teachers call on them more. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Understanding
26. Why don’t girls, who tend to get better grades than boys, translate their advantage into material success after graduation? a. They tend to flaunt authority. b. They are typically credited for hard work rather than intellectual ability. c. They are poorly socialized. d. They don’t work as hard as males. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Understanding
27. In her ethnography of high school boys titled Dude, You’re a Fag, sociologist C. J. Pascoe found that boys often use homophobic slurs toward each other in an effort to define masculinity for themselves and other boys. This is an example of: a. the influence that peers can have as agents of socialization b. the inability of school officials to manage the behavior of young boys c. the prestige that boys have over girls in schools d. the consequences that all-boys schools can have on male behavior ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Understanding
28. The changing representation of LGBTQ people in the media, such as their greater inclusion and more positive treatment on television shows, can lead us to conclude that: a. LGBTQ people have achieved equal status with heterosexual people b. The media representation of LGBTQ people is slowly changing to reflect increasing tolerance toward them c. Heterosexual people want LGBTQ people to be equally represented in the media d. LGBTQ people now control major media channels ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 250 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
29. Why do men usually make more money than women? a. Men are naturally predisposed to competition. b. Men tend to have higher levels of testosterone, which gives them an edge in the business world. c. Employers understand that men are usually their families’ breadwinners. d. Socially constructed categories of employment lead to larger numbers of men than women in many lucrative jobs. ANS: D
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 257 |Page 259
OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
30. In terms of health and life expectancy between men and women, what is “the great equalizer”? a. Smoking c. College education b. Handguns d. Heart disease ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 256 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
31. Which of the following health disorders occurs more often in women than in men? a. Heart disease c. Type 1 diabetes b. Cancer d. Depression ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 256 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
32. How do the incomes of single fathers compare with those of single mothers? a. They are about the same. b. Single fathers make more money than single mothers in urban areas but not in rural areas. c. Single mothers with only one child make more money than single fathers, but not mothers with more children. d. Single fathers make considerably more money than single mothers. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 256–259 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances MSC: Remembering 33. For what category of crime are women more likely to be arrested than men? a. Burglary c. Prostitution b. Embezzlement d. Theft ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 263 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
34. Approximately what percentage of inmates in correctional institutions are men? a. 62.5 percent c. 47 percent b. 90 percent d. 75 percent ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 263 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
35. One reason women are more likely than men to live in poverty is the expense of child care. How do sociologists explain the relationship between poverty rates and child care costs? a. Women are more likely to be responsible for the “second shift.” b. There are more single women who have sole financial responsibility for their children than single men. c. Married couples tend to divide their expenses, and women are more likely to be responsible for child care. d. Women tend to take the expressive role. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 259 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Analyzing
36. Laura Miller’s 1997 study of gender harassment in the military found that: a. men were more likely to be harassed by their fellow trainees, whereas women were more likely to be harassed by their drill sergeants. b. men were more likely to be harassed by their drill sergeants, whereas women were more
likely to be harassed by their fellow trainees. c. women were most often harassed by their superior officers. d. men were more likely to report being the object of unwanted gender harassment. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 261–262 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances MSC: Understanding 37. Women are more likely than men to live in poverty, a situation often referred to as: a. the wages of sin. c. the feminization of poverty. b. the double standard. d. third-wave feminism. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 259 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
38. The names given to positions of power and authority, like “chairman” and “policeman,” often emphasize the male gender. Why does this matter? a. The names imply that one gender is more suited for a particular job than the other. b. The names are confusing, because more and more women are entering these professions. c. It doesn’t really matter what words are used to describe a position. d. The names help deter men from entering into incompatible fields. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 253 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Analyzing
39. In the workplace, aggressive men are often described as “go-getters,” but aggressive women are often described as “bitches.” This is an example of: a. gender role socialization c. romanticism b. microaggression d. male liberationism ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 253 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
40. The second-wave feminist movement was associated with the issue of: a. gaining voting rights for women. b. women’s equal access to employment and education. c. rights of women in the Third World. d. marginalization of black women. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 265
41. Social movements that are organized around a belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes are called: a. sexism c. queer theory b. interactionism d. feminism ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Pages 264–265 MSC: Remembering
42. While shopping for clothes, a black woman is followed around the store by a white sales associate. Frustrated, she leaves the store and decides to go home. Her husband, on seeing her enter the house, asks: “What’s for dinner?” What concept could we as sociologists use to understand her experiences, both in the store and at home? a. Gender inequality c. Second-wave feminism b. Intersectionality d. Feminization of poverty
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 264 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances 43. With what issue is first-wave feminism most strongly associated? a. Women’s suffrage b. Women’s education and equality in the classroom c. Equal opportunity for women in the workplace d. Women’s reproductive rights ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 265 MSC: Remembering
44. In the opening pages of The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan wrote about a problem that “lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women.” What was this problem? a. Women didn’t have the right to vote. b. The media imposed unrealistic beauty standards upon women. c. Women experienced dissatisfaction with traditional gender roles. d. Employers actively discriminated against women based on their gender. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 265 MSC: Remembering
45. What criticism do third-wave feminists commonly level against the first two waves of feminism? a. They marginalized the concerns of women of color, lesbians, and working-class women. b. They included too many men. c. They focused too much on jobs and the economy. d. They compromised too much with men’s rights groups. ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 265 MSC: Understanding
46. Which of the following groups argues that men suffer discrimination as a result of feminism? a. The Republican Party c. Third-wave feminists b. The men’s rights movement d. Gay and lesbian groups ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 266 MSC: Remembering
47. Why might LGBTQ rights groups be predisposed to believe that homosexuality has a genetic origin? a. They want to emphasize the importance of difference. b. They believe that sexuality is closely related to a person’s relationship with his or her mother. c. They believe that if sexual orientation is something we are born with, then discrimination against gays and lesbians is much less acceptable. d. Gays and lesbians are predisposed to believe in science. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Pages 266–267 MSC: Understanding
48. A same-sex couple holding hands or kissing in public may receive disapproving looks or even abusive comments from other people. This is an example of: a. misogyny. c. transphobia. b. homophobia. d. sexism. ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 252
OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
49. What was the first network television show to feature a lesbian lead character? a. Ellen c. Will & Grace b. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy d. The Homosexuals ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 250 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
50. In 2012, according to United Nations estimates, what percentage of human trafficking victims were exploited as sex slaves? a. 75 percent c. 60 percent b. 80 percent d. 85 percent ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 258 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
51. Looking at Table 9.3 (“Selected Occupations by Gender, 2014”), what conclusion can be drawn about gendered occupations? a. As men enter professions that were once dominated by women, “pink-collar jobs” will be considered more desirable by society. b. Men tend to be overrepresented in jobs that require mental labor. c. Men outnumber women in occupations that entail prestige and higher salaries. d. Women and men are similarly represented in occupations that require a college degree. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 259 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Remembering
52. What term was used by nineteenth-century explorers and missionaries to describe Native Americans who were neither male nor female but somehow both? a. Transsexuals c. Transvestites b. Berdaches d. Queers ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 244–245 MSC: Remembering
53. In 2006, New York City announced that it was moving forward with a plan to allow transgender residents to change the sex listed on their birth certificates if they had lived in their adopted gender for at least two years; no physiological change or medical authorization would be required. How is New York City defining gender? a. New York is separating gender from sex. b. New York is accepting the principle of human sexual dimorphism. c. New York is taking an essentialist approach. d. New York is assuming that gender is stable over time. ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 243–245 MSC: Evaluating
54. The Intersex Society of North America recommends that “surgeries done to make the genitals look ‘more normal’ should not be performed until a child is mature enough to make an informed decision for herself or himself.” Usually, doctors would always try to involve a patient in his or her treatment, so why is this advice necessary? a. There are serious health risks associated with being born intersex that must always be addressed immediately. b. So few people are born intersex that no one knows about them.
c. In our society, the prospect of an ambiguously sexed person seems so threatening that surgical procedures are performed long before a child is old enough to know what is happening. d. Intersex is based on secondary, not primary, sex characteristics, and these won’t develop until later in life. ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 243
OBJ: Sex and Gender
55. A five-year-old boy hurts himself while playing with his toys and immediately begins to cry. His father walks over to him and says: “Don’t be a sissy, boys don’t cry.” This is an example of: a. Gender role socialization c. Transphobia. b. Sexism d. Gender inequality ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 247 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
56. In The Mismeasure of Women, social psychologist Carol Tavris argues that there is nothing “universal and nonvarying . . . in the natures of men and women.” If you agree with her, you would have to reject the concept of: a. essentialism c. symbolic interactionism b. queer theory d. social construction ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 245–246 MSC: Analyzing
57. Medical research has demonstrated that individuals who have higher levels of testosterone are more assertive, dominant, and competitive. However, as the social psychologist Allan Mazur noticed in his study of chess competitions, testosterone levels rose in chess players before a match and then rose again in the match’s winner, but they fell in the loser. What does this suggest about the origin of gender? a. Hormones play a much larger role in gender than is usually acknowledged. b. Nature is the most important factor in determining gender. c. Gender is completely social in origin, and our bodies are simply arbitrary vessels for society to guide. d. Gender comes from an interaction between biology and social contexts. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 243–244 MSC: Analyzing
58. In 2009, South African track star Caster Semenya broke the world record in the 800-meter race. Subsequently, she was asked to prove to the world that she was a woman, and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) subjected her to a complex series of tests that included physical and medical examinations. The controversy over Semenya’s gender raises which of the following issues? a. The IAAF is perpetuating gender inequality in sports. b. Gender does not vary across cultures. c. The controversy surrounding Semenya is essentialist, reducing womanhood to a series of biological traits that can be tested and analyzed. d. Medical and other physical examinations are often necessary to determine gender. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 240–242 |Pages 245–246
59. Margaret Mead, an American anthropologist, spent much of her career documenting the ways in which other cultures had gender roles that differed, sometimes radically, from those of twentieth-century America. Why does this matter? a. It shows that the American version of gender roles is the most advanced in the world. b. It shows that the meaning of masculinity and femininity differs in different societies, which demonstrates that our version of gender is not naturally occurring. c. It shows that the physical environment determines gender. d. It shows that gender is either male or female from birth to death and that there are no other options. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 243–246 MSC: Analyzing
60. Sociologists who study gender in rural areas have noticed that even though everyone in a family has to work on the farm, there is only one person, usually a male, called the “farmer”—the position with the most prestige. This means that rural areas are: a. guilty of forcing women to work the “second shift.” b. relatively gender neutral compared to urban areas. c. patriarchal. d. feminist. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 252 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
61. A woman feels that she always needs to act cheerful and look her best when her husband gets home from work, because he has a stressful job and he needs her help to unwind. We would say this woman is: a. living outside the gender dichotomy. c. taking on the expressive role. b. taking on the instrumental role. d. a second-wave feminist. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 253 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Applying
62. Homer Simpson, a character on the TV show The Simpsons, has a wife who stays home to take care of the children while he works, but he is often responsible for disciplining the children when they are particularly bad. Even if this is all that you know about the show, you know that Homer: a. represents the average American man. b. contributes to the feminization of poverty. c. has taken the instrumental role. d. is, by definition, sexist. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 253 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Applying
63. In her introduction to a paper about gender, the sociologist Rae Blumberg said that the central principle behind gender in our society is “remember the golden rule: he who has the gold makes the rules.” What kind of theorist is Blumberg? a. A theorist who focuses on language and interaction b. A conflict theorist c. A functionalist d. A symbolic interactionist ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 254 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Applying
64. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, replacing a housewife with paid laborers would cost at least $100,000 per year. How could this be interpreted according to conflict theory? a. The instrumental role is more valuable than the expressive role. b. Domestic work is a highly functional adaptation that produces gender equality within a family. c. Men have a great deal to lose if gender segregation disappears. d. Gender inequality is mostly produced and reproduced through interaction. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 254 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Analyzing
65. For many years, Saturday Night Live ran a series of skits about a character named Pat. The premise of each skit was that no one could tell if Pat was male or female, and ingenious plots to determine his or her gender all failed. The humor in these skits is based on the fact that: a. men have historically had access to most of society’s material resources and privileges; consequently, they generally seek to maintain their dominant status. b. gender identity is so important to our social selves that we can barely interact with anyone without first determining that person’s gender. c. Pat was trying to avoid being classified as a woman, because expressive and instrumental roles may be complementary but the social rewards for filling them are far from equal. d. transgender and gender-nonconforming people are challenging old ideas about the relationship between sex and gender. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 254 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Analyzing
66. The indie rock musician Antony Hegarty has always identified as transgender but has never taken medical steps to change her sex. During one tour, she performed a live cover of “Crazy in Love,” originally recorded by the pop superstar Beyoncé. At the end of one performance of the song, she laughed and said, “Who says I’m not a teenage girl?” Although she might have been joking, her words suggest that: a. primary sex characteristics always have a stranglehold on our gender identity, determining how we will be classified and how we classify ourselves. b. although gender is socially constructed, by our teen years our gender identity is almost set in stone. c. society develops the gender roles that will be most useful in maintaining equilibrium. d. some individuals’ sense of self and gender identity differ from their physical sex. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 254 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Analyzing
67. Many expectant parents get a sonogram to find out the sex of their baby, and they only start decorating the nursery after learning the sex. This is an example of: a. gender role socialization. c. passing. b. conflict theory. d. heteronormativity. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 247 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
68. A little girl notices that whenever both of her parents are in the car, her father is always driving. From this she deduces that women should be passive and men should be active. This process is called: a. sexism c. social learning b. expressive work d. gender inequality
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 247 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
69. A boy receives a B+ on his English paper, with the teacher’s comment, “Brilliant insight, but you’re lacking focus and have some typos.” How is this typical of the way schools treat boys? a. Boys are given more challenging assignments than girls. b. Boys are more likely to be punished for horseplay and hyperactivity than girls. c. Boys are judged mostly on the basis of their effort. d. Boys are more likely to receive praise for the intellectual quality of their work than girls. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Analyzing
70. Whenever a certain math teacher writes story problems, the male characters are always given an occupation—like Bob the janitor or James the lawyer—but the female characters have no occupation. This is an example of: a. the way schools socialize children into gender roles. b. the way men are associated with blue-collar work. c. the way boys are given credit for intellectual ability, whereas girls are given credit for hard work. d. the fact that more women than men are now graduating from college. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
71. You are observing children on an elementary school playground and find some girls playing sports with boys but almost no boys playing jump rope with girls. Why? a. Children are mocked by their peers for crossing gender lines, and boys are mocked more than girls. b. Boys develop more slowly than girls, and therefore they tend to not be good at jump rope when they’re in elementary school. c. Boys are more naturally suited for the physical competition of sports, whereas girls excel at the sort of cooperation that goes into activities like jump rope. d. Parents have instructed their children to avoid any cross-gender playground activities, because they fear that it will lead to their children being labeled “abnormal.” ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 249 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
72. In the vast majority of commercials that advertise cleaning supplies, a woman is shown using the product. This shows that: a. men never really do any cleaning. b. women watch more television than men. c. women’s behavior is more easily altered by the media. d. The media portrays gender roles in highly stereotypical ways. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 249–250 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality MSC: Applying 73. The term “deadbeat dad” describes a man who isn’t married to his children’s mother and isn’t helping to support his children financially. Why do we almost never talk about “deadbeat moms”? a. Men are punished far more harshly than women for violating gender norms. b. The legal system is biased in favor of men when it comes to divorce and custody cases. c. Mothers usually remain the primary caregiver even when fathers don’t take the instrumental role.
d. Women are not judged as harshly as men for abandoning their children. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 256 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Analyzing
74. In the past, bank tellers were overwhelmingly male, but today they are mostly female. What could explain this shift? a. Changes in technology made the work easier and less important, which drove down the wages and prestige accorded to the job. b. The gendered division of labor has increasingly spread to areas of the economy that used to be gender neutral. c. Banks are more heavily regulated by the government than they were in the past, making them more likely to be sexist. d. The banking industry is much more important in today’s globalized economy, and this added prestige draws more women to the job. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 257| Page 259 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances MSC: Analyzing 75. “Welfare queen” is an insulting term for a woman who is believed to be cheating the government by collecting excessive welfare payments. Although empirical research indicates that very little welfare fraud actually takes place, what nugget of sociological truth is contained in the phrase “welfare queen”? a. Women are far more likely to cheat and steal than men. b. People who use welfare to its fullest extent tend to live very well, as indicated by the word “queen.” c. The use of the word “queen” reminds us that women are more likely than men to live in poverty. d. The use of the word “queen” accurately describes the population that is on welfare, which includes many gay men and transgender people. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 259 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Analyzing
76. Which of the following folk sayings expresses the idea of the “second shift” as sociologist Arlie Hochschild described it? a. “A wife that does not know how to keep house throws out more with a teaspoon than a man can bring in with a shovel.” b. “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” c. “A woman has to be twice as good as a man to be regarded as half as clever.” d. “Man works from sun to sun, but woman’s work is never done.” ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 260 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Understanding
77. Older women who seek out sexual relationships with younger men are sometimes called “cougars,” but we don’t even have a word for men who seek out sexual relationships with younger women. Some people might joke that we call them “men.” What does this show us about gender and language? a. It shows that authority, not gender, dictates how language and culture work. b. It is an example of an effort to use gender-neutral language, because we don’t say “cougaress.” c. It shows that language can be used to reinforce sexist ideas—in this case, that women are not supposed to seek out relationships with younger men but it is OK for men to seek out relationships with younger women.
d. It shows that times have changed and that it no longer matters if a woman is in a relationship with a younger man. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 253 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Analyzing
78. Authors often use the word “man” to refer to large groups that include both male and female members—for example, “all mankind.” Sociologists and feminists argue that this is an example of the use of sexist language. What does this tell us about the relationship between language and culture? a. Language is shaped by culture, and the use of nonsexist words is a signal of social change. b. Language shapes culture, so using gender-neutral language facilitates social change. c. Language can change culture, but only in negative ways that increase sexism and discrimination. d. Culture can only be transformed through material and economic change, not through any connection to language. ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Page 253 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Applying
79. In 1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the Seneca Falls Convention to address the issue of equal rights for women. The convention produced a Declaration of Sentiments, which laid out a list of injustices done to women by men. Given your knowledge of the first wave of the women’s movement, which of the following do you think was first on their list? a. “He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.” b. “He has created a false public sentiment by giving to the world a different code of morals for men and women, by which moral delinquencies which exclude women from society are not only tolerated, but deemed of little account in man.” c. “He has never permitted her to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise.” d. “He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.” ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 265 MSC: Applying
80. In The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan wrote: Each suburban wife struggled with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her children, chauffeured Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her husband at night—she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question—“Is this all?” What larger social issue does this passage suggest Friedan was worried about? a. Access to education and employment b. Suffrage c. Race and difference d. Homophobia ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 265 MSC: Analyzing
81. Why might a third-wave feminist be annoyed with members of the second wave for talking about how women needed access to education and careers, like those available to men, that would give their lives meaning? a. Second-wave feminists already had pretty good jobs, so they shouldn’t have complained. b. Second-wave feminists hid the differences between women, so the concerns of women of color, lesbians, and working-class women tended to be marginalized.
c. Third-wave feminists think that higher education and capitalist jobs are part of the problem and need to be torn down. d. Second-wave feminists never managed to achieve real success in gaining access to higher education. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 265 MSC: Applying
82. The National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS), a pro-feminist men’s group, believes that: Traditional masculinity includes many positive characteristics in which we take pride and find strength, but it also contains qualities that have limited and harmed us. As an organization dedicated to changing men, we care about men and are especially concerned with men’s problems, as well as the difficult issues in most men’s lives. Which of the following is a quality or belief associated with traditional masculinity that NOMAS would identify as being harmful to men? a. A willingness to allow women to be in charge b. The idea that men are superior to women c. The idea that men and women are different d. The idea that men can share their feelings and express vulnerability ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 266 MSC: Analyzing
83. Scientists who are searching for a “gay gene” have been criticized by sociologists for their narrow understanding of sexual orientation, which does not take into account the way biology and the social environment interact to produce sexual behaviors. Which of the following theorists makes this point? a. Simon LeVay, who believes that “there’s growing evidence to support the idea that biological and developmental factors before birth exert a strong influence on sexual orientation” b. Dean Hamer, who examined the DNA of forty gay brothers and found that thirty-three of them had a statistically significant similarity in the Xq28 region of the X chromosome c. Social historian Jeffrey Weeks, who points out that even though homosexual acts have been documented throughout history, homosexual identity as we know it today didn’t exist before the twentieth century d. Laura Allen and Roger Gorski, two scientists at UCLA, who reported that a segment of the fibers that connect the brain’s hemispheres is up to one-third larger in homosexual men ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Sexuality and Sexual Orientation
REF: Page 248 MSC: Analyzing
84. In his research to determine what percentage of the population was heterosexual and what percentage was homosexual, why would Alfred Kinsey have avoided asking the question, “Do you identify as gay or straight?” a. He tried to offset bias in his research sample by having many questions. b. He believed that people were not exclusively either gay or straight and that those two binary classifications were too limiting. c. He believed that people would lie to him and would need to be tricked into revealing that they were gay. d. He thought that there would be a large number of transgender people in his sample. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Sexuality and Sexual Orientation
REF: Page 246 MSC: Understanding
TRUE/FALSE 1. Even though a person’s biological sex and gender identity often match, this is not always the case. ANS: T DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 243–245 MSC: Understanding
2. Men out-earn women at every level of educational attainment. ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Page 257 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
3. A sociological perspective on homophobia would shift the burden of addressing its harmful effects from bisexuals, lesbians, gays, and other gender and sexual minorities to those who react negatively to them. ANS: T DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 252–253 OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality MSC: Applying 4. Gender varies from culture to culture. ANS: T DIF: Moderate OBJ: Sex and Gender
REF: Pages 244–245 MSC: Understanding
5. There are many LGBTQ people who do not support same-sex marriage. ANS: T DIF: Moderate OBJ: Political and Social Movements
REF: Page 267 MSC: Remembering
6. Rape culture is unique to college campuses. ANS: F DIF: Easy REF: Page 248 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Understanding
7. The process of socialization tends to emphasize heteronormativity. ANS: T DIF: Easy REF: Page 247 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Understanding
8. Queer theory emphasizes the idea of a single gay, lesbian, bisexual, heterosexual, or transgender identity. ANS: F DIF: Easy OBJ: Sexuality and Sexual Orientation
REF: Page 247 MSC: Understanding
9. Gender is biologically natural. ANS: F DIF: Easy OBJ: Sex and Gender SHORT ANSWER
REF: Pages 243–244 MSC: Understanding
1. What are some of the ways that families teach their children the behaviors and expectations that are associated with gender? ANS: Should include: Families teach their children the behaviors and expectations associated with gender through the use of gender-appropriate clothing, toys that reflect gender of the child, chores that children are given in the home, and the way children are disciplined and punished. DIF: Easy REF: Page 247 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
2. How does “victim blaming” contribute to rape culture? ANS: Women are taught how to avoid being raped (don’t wear revealing clothing, don’t go out alone, don’t accept drinks from strangers, etc.). This implies that if a woman does get raped, it’s her fault. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 248
OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
3. Give an example of one form that gender socialization can take in schools. ANS: The forms that gender socialization can take in schools include: textbooks that contain sexist language or leave out women’s experiences; instances where girls are encouraged to focus on appearance rather than brainpower, and instances where boys are punished more often than girls. DIF: Easy REF: Page 249 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
4. Describe two ways that school environments may have a negative impact on gender-nonconforming students. ANS: Should include: School environments that may have a negative impact on gender-nonconforming students could consist of an emphasis on heterosexual dating, school textbooks depicting traditional families, binary division of bathrooms, harassment and assault. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 249 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
5. Why is divorce more burdensome for women than for men? ANS: Should include: A reason that divorce is more burdensome for women than for men is that women are more likely to retain role of primary caregiver. DIF: Easy REF: Page 256 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
6. Why does early research suggest that some LGBTQ individuals have lower life expectancy? ANS:
Should include: Some LGBTQ individuals might have no insurance, and face prejudice, and discrimination. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 256–257 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
7. What are the consequences of gendered occupations on women’s lives? ANS: Should include: A consequence of gendered occupations on women’s lives is that they get paid less than men. DIF: Easy REF: Page 257 |Pages 259–260 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
8. What factors contribute to what sociologists call the “feminization of poverty”? ANS: Factors that contribute to the “feminization of poverty” include the gendered wage gap, cost of child care, and the responsibility of child care that falls primarily on women. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 259 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
9. Why did the “mancession” affect men more adversely than women? ANS: In the economic recession of 2007 to 2009, most of the job loss occurred in male-dominated industries, such as manufacturing and construction. Female-dominated industries, such as teaching and nursing, were not hit as hard. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 262–263 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Remembering
10. What does C. J. Pascoe’s study of high school boys, Dude, You’re a Fag, conclude about the influence of peers on gender roles? ANS: Peer groups exert a powerful influence in enforcing gender roles. Pascoe’s study found that high school boys call each other “fag” to police each other’s performance of masculinity and to inflate their own sense of masculinity. DIF: Easy REF: Page 249 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
11. How does the gender division of labor in the home reflect wider societal gender inequality? ANS: Women usually do more of the housework—such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, and child care—than men, and they are not compensated for it. Furthermore, even when women have jobs outside the home, they are still expected to do these unpaid household tasks when they get home from work—the “second shift.” Traditional gender norms and expectations, such as the belief that women are natural caretakers, help perpetuate inequalities like “the second shift.”
DIF: Moderate REF: Page 256| Pages 260–261 OBJ: Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances
MSC: Applying
12. What does the recent media focus on Bruce Jenner’s transition to becoming Caitlyn Jenner tell us about the changing representations of LGBTQ lives in the media? ANS: Should include: While the media is focusing more attention on trans bodies and experiences, trans people still have a long road to achieving full equality. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 249–250 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Analyzing
13. Why are the Stonewall riots considered a watershed moment in the LGBTQ liberation movement? ANS: In 1968, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, fought back against police harassment. Even though this was not the first time that gay citizens had protested harassment by law enforcement, it jump-started a movement for LGBTQ rights. DIF: Easy REF: Page 266 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Political and Social Movements
14. Why do some argue that civil unions do not offer same-sex couples the same rights and protections as marriage? ANS: Civil unions do not grant same-sex couples the same legal rights and benefits that marriage does. This includes the right to receive Social Security, veterans’ benefits, or disability benefits, as well as a spouse’s right to inherit those benefits after the other spouse’s death. Furthermore, civil unions that are recognized in one state are not recognized in all states. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 266–267 OBJ: Political and Social Movements MSC: Understanding ESSAY 1. Why do sociologists find it important to differentiate between sex and gender? Please explain. ANS: In basic terms, sex is biological, whereas gender is socially constructed. Any answer should mention that sex is either male or female, depending on primary sex characteristics, whereas gender refers to the physical, behavioral, and personality traits that a group considers to be normal for males or females. In other words, sex is inherited and gender is learned. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 243–244 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Sex and Gender
2. How do functionalists and conflict theorists differ in how they approach and understand gender inequality? ANS:
The functionalist perspective sees some merit in a patriarchal division of labor within a family, in which the man is the “breadwinner” and the woman is the “caretaker.” Good answers will mention Talcott Parsons’s conception of the complementary nature of the man’s instrumental role and the woman’s expressive role. However, functionalist theory does little to explain the persistence of gender inequality. On the other hand, conflict theorists like Friedrich Engels believe that patriarchal gender segregation exploits women and that gender inequality persists because the capitalist system is bolstered by keeping women in uncompensated support roles. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 253–254 OBJ: Sociological Theories of Gender Inequality
MSC: Analyzing
3. Interactionist theory argues that people learn their gender identities from everyday social interactions and that the family is the primary source of gender role socialization. Explain some of the ways parents and siblings can teach children gender roles. ANS: Gender is taught in families in a variety of ways. Any answer should mention factors like the gender-stereotyped behaviors children observe, the clothing children are dressed in, and the different kinds of toys that are given to boys and girls, as well as the different expectations, privileges, and chores that are doled out to boys and girls (the textbook gives the example of a son being asked to mow the lawn and a daughter to do the dishes). Good answers will also discuss Kara Smith’s argument that parents begin the process of gender role socialization even before a child is born, as shown in the way that mothers who know their baby’s sex in advance will talk to the fetus (specifically, their word choice and tone of voice). Good answers will also identify and explain the term “social learning” (the process of learning behaviors and meanings from social interaction, in this case interaction with family members). DIF: Easy REF: Page 247 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
4. Chapter 9 defines microaggressions as a form of discrimination that uses language in ways that “can be experienced as insulting and demeaning by those whom it targets and excludes.” Define and elaborate three examples of microaggression that women and LGBTQ people may face in their daily lives. Include both intentional and unintentional forms of microaggressions. ANS: A good answer will define microaggressions as both intentional and unintentional forms of exchange in which a dominant member of society (men) belittles or marginalizes another group (in this case women). Microaggressions thus become an important way in which dominant members of society exert their power and influence in everyday interaction. Examples can include: catcalling, unwanted touching, men telling women to smile, men staring at a woman’s body parts, a female employee constantly being interrupted by a male employee in a meeting, use of sexist language, telling sexist jokes, etc. Can also include using the terms “gay” or “queer” to describe things someone doesn’t like, misgendering a transgender person by using the wrong pronouns, etc. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 253
OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
5. What do the experiences of berdaches, or “two-spirit people,” in Native American communities, and of hijras in South Asia tell us about the social construction of gender outside of Western society? ANS:
A good answer will start by defining two-spirit people and hijras as examples of “third genders”—in other words, people who self-identify as neither male nor female. Answers should then discuss how Western society does not acknowledge or accept the concept of a third gender, because Western definitions of gender are based on the strict binary categories of male and female. As a result, people in Western cultures may think of two-spirit people and hijras as being similar to cross-dressers or transgender persons. This demonstrates how social constructions of gender differ from culture to culture. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 244–245
OBJ: Sex and Gender
6. In this chapter, we learned that gender role socialization is a lifelong process. Describe how the four main agents of socialization support heteronormativity throughout our lives. ANS: The four main agents of socialization—the family, schools, peers, and the media—play an important role in the process of learning to be masculine or feminine. Answers should mention how the process of socialization not only perpetuates the masculine/feminine gender binary but also supports the assumption that heterosexuality is the only acceptable sexual orientation. For example, the traditional definition of the family teaches us that heterosexual marriages are “normal” and that biological parenthood is how we “should” establish a family. In schools, we read textbooks that support these traditional notions of the family. School culture also emphasizes heterosexual dating (for example, the prom king and queen). The media has traditionally focused on representations of heterosexual people, such as romances between men and women, leaving out the experiences of gender-nonconforming people or portraying them in a negative light. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 247–250 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality
MSC: Understanding
7. While the use of words like “man” or “mankind” to refer to all humans is fairly easily identifiable as evidence of a default preference toward men in our language, some commonly used words are more tricky. In what ways do feminine nicknames like “cupcake” or “baby doll,” or even derogatory terms like “heifer” or “cow,” perpetuate gender stereotypes and inequality? ANS: Using these sorts of slang nicknames to refer to women and girls is an example of microaggression, or the use of language to send demeaning messages to members of certain social groups (either intentionally or unintentionally). Answers should discuss the underlying implication behind these words: for example, foods like cupcakes are meant to be consumed, babies or dolls are meant to be coddled, and animals such as cows are meant to be controlled. In this way, these nicknames serve to perpetuate sexist ideas about how women should be treated. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 253 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Inequalities of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
8. A signpost of the second wave of the feminist movement in the United States was Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique. What concept does the phrase “feminine mystique” refer to? ANS:
The idea behind The Feminine Mystique was that women in the 1960s were no longer satisfied by their traditional roles in society, and they wanted equal access to the same educational and employment opportunities that men had. Any answer should mention the sense of limitation and dissatisfaction that Friedan observed among women. Good answers will discuss the idea that even though this period was marked by a great deal of prosperity, “the mystique of feminine fulfillment” was no longer fulfilling for many women, and that women who did try to venture into the professional world, away from the traditional roles of wife and mother, were often labeled “unfeminine.” DIF: Difficult REF: Page 265 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Political and Social Movements
9. Why were third-wave feminists critical of the first and second waves? How was the third wave different from the previous two waves? ANS: Third-wave feminists felt that the first two waves concentrated on, and benefited, women who were primarily white, heterosexual, and middle-class while marginalizing women of color, lesbians, and working-class women. Any answer should discuss the fact that the third wave of the feminist movement, which began in the 1980s and 1990s, encompasses other concerns as well, such as global women’s rights, animal rights, and the environment. Good answers will also mention the broader participation in the third-wave feminist movement. According to Chapter 9, most college students today belong to the third wave, even if they don’t call themselves feminists. DIF: Easy REF: Page 265 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Political and Social Movements
10. The reason for the underlying cause of homosexuality—whether genetic, hormonal, or social—remains unresolved, and the debate continues. Explain why many people in the LGBTQ rights movement have embraced the genetic explanation. ANS: Gays and lesbians often rally behind the genetic model of homosexuality because it’s easier to argue for equal rights if sexual orientation is assumed to be an inherited trait (like one’s sex or race). Good answers will also mention that the genetic argument makes it possible to bypass the religious debate over whether homosexuality is “morally right” and that many straight Americans would be more sympathetic to the gay rights cause if they believe that sexual orientation is not a choice but a characteristic one is born with. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 266–267 OBJ: Political and Social Movements MSC: Understanding 11. Young men ages fifteen to twenty-four are four to five times more likely than young women to die from car accidents, homicides, and drowning. Explain this statistic in terms of gender socialization. ANS: Although the need to impress other people and to feel popular among peers is evident in childhood, it increases in the teenage years. For boys, this need is often satisfied by playing sports, taking risks, and defying norms. These risky ways of gaining prestige can all lead to situations and behaviors that make car accidents, homicides, and drowning more likely. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 249|Page 256 OBJ: Socialization, Gender, and Sexuality| Gender, Sexuality, and Life Chances MSC: Analyzing
12. Consider these two examples of men’s movement organizations. The National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS) is the oldest pro-feminist men’s group in the United States and has fought for gender equality, gay rights, racial equality, and enhancing men’s lives. The Promise Keepers, a men’s Christian ministry that was founded in the 1990s, advocates for a return to the traditional, Biblical concept of the family, in which the male is the head of the household. The organization firmly opposes feminism, gender equality, and gay rights. However, both NOMAS and the Promise Keepers are concerned about men. The Promise Keepers suggest that men communicate with their wives during prayer: During prayer, it’s often easier to open up and share personally. It can be extremely difficult, especially for a man, to reveal something personal directly to our wife. I mean, she’s sitting there staring at you! There’s nowhere to hide! Will she laugh? Worse yet, will she ask a million questions and want you to probe even deeper? NOMAS argues that: By overcoming their traditional denial of most of their feelings, men can have more meaningful relationships, richer and fuller emotional lives, and even improved physical health. Men can learn to be good listeners, to be gentle, to be nurturing and sensitive to other people’s needs and feelings. Although NOMAS and the Promise Keepers clearly have many differences, what do these quotes tell us about how the two groups are similar? ANS: Both NOMAS and the Promise Keepers are concerned about the way men’s reluctance to open up emotionally and to communicate affects their lives. Traditional stereotypes about masculinity often prevent men from talking about their feelings, and this reluctance to talk and share has a negative impact on their relationships, their health, and their ability to lead meaningful lives. Despite being on opposite sides of the political spectrum, both groups share these concerns about emotional openness. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 266
OBJ: Political and Social Movements
CHAPTER 10: SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS: POLITICS, EDUCATION, AND RELIGION MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Systems and structures that persist over time and help organize group life are called: a. social controls. c. social norms. b. social institutions. d. pluralistic situations. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
2. What do schools, churches, and governments all have in common? a. They are all secular institutions. b. They are all less important today than in the past. c. They are all social institutions. d. They function only at the macro level. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
3. Why do politics, education, and religion all appear in the same chapter of your text? a. All three exist only at the macro level. b. All three exist only at the micro level. c. Political, religious, and educational concerns often overlap in everyday life. d. All three are important to sociologists, but have less effect on everyday life. ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
4. The methods and tactics of managing a political entity are called: a. power. c. fascism. b. totalitarianism. d. politics. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
5. Robert is walking down the street late at night when a man in a ski mask suddenly sticks a gun in his face and takes his wallet. Sociologists would say that Robert’s mugger had ________ but not ________. a. power; authority c. authoritarianism; power b. authority; power d. totalitarianism; total power ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
6. The term that refers to the legitimate use of power is called: a. government. c. authority. b. politics. d. state. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
7. What is a political system called that denies ordinary people participation or representation in their government? a. pluralist c. socialist b. democratic d. authoritarian ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
8. Manuel Noriega was never elected president of Panama but became its de facto ruler when he became head of the army and thus powerful enough to demand the resignation of the elected president. Given only this information, what was Noriega’s government? a. totalitarian c. democratic b. authoritarian d. a monarchy ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
9. Kim Jong Il and his father, Kim Il Sung, Korea’s current and former leaders, have both restricted the basic human rights of their subjects. What type of government does North Korea have? a. democracy c. republic b. monarchy d. totalitarian ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 278
OBJ: What Is Politics?
10. What is the most extreme form of authoritarianism called? a. totalitarianism c. dictatorship b. monarchy d. the power elite ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 278
OBJ: What Is Politics?
11. Abdullah II of Jordan succeeded his father, Hussein bin Talal, as ruler of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1999. This makes his government a: a. monarchy. c. pluralist polity. b. totalitarian state. d. democratic republic. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 278
OBJ: What Is Politics?
12. On January 30, 2005, Iraq held what many claim were the first free and fair elections in its history, after many decades of military dictatorship. This was seen as the first step in transforming Iraq into a: a. theocracy. c. constitutional monarchy. b. totalitarian regime. d. democracy. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 278
OBJ: What Is Politics?
13. For which of the following reasons could the supposed increase in voter turnout in the 2004 election really be just an artifact of the way that voter turnout is measured? a. The turnout rate was based on all residents of voting age. b. The turnout rate was measured by randomly sampling only a select few polling places. c. The turnout rate may have included many ballots that were cast illegally. d. For the first time, the turnout rate was based on eligible voters, as opposed to all residents of voting age.
ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 279
OBJ: What Is Politics?
14. What is it called when a government bars an individual, either temporarily or permanently, from voting? a. suffrage c. pluralism b. disenfranchisement d. voting conviction ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 279
OBJ: What Is Politics?
15. Since 1917, all Puerto Ricans have been considered U.S. citizens, but they are not represented in Congress and cannot cast ballots in presidential elections. In this sense they are: a. ruled by a 527 committee. c. disenfranchised. b. part of the Fourth Estate. d. a pluralistic society. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 280
OBJ: What Is Politics?
16. Which of the following techniques is used to disenfranchise part of the American population today? a. requiring polling places to be put in as many locations as possible b. requiring that poll taxes be paid in order to vote c. denying people who have been convicted of felonies the right to vote for the rest of their lives d. requiring a literacy test to get a ballot ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 280
OBJ: What Is Politics?
17. In Who Governs, Robert Dahl examined the way power was distributed in New Haven, Connecticut, and concluded that a wide variety of actors played a role in the political decision-making process. What theory of power did Dahl’s findings illustrate? a. authoritarianism c. pluralism b. democracy d. power elite ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 281
OBJ: What Is Politics?
18. C. Wright Mills identifies the small and unified group of people who occupy the highest positions of the major economic, political, and military institutions and exercise tremendous influence in American social life as: a. the power elite. b. a variety of organizations and institutions that represent different interest groups. c. political action committees that raise money and advocate on behalf of their donors. d. the media. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 281
OBJ: What Is Politics?
19. The majority of appointed U.S. Treasury secretaries have been either former partners and/or managers of Goldman Sachs, a global investment management firm. Sociologists would argue that this overlap between private business and the federal government is an example of: a. pluralism. c. totalitarianism. b. authoritarianism. d. the power elite.
ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 281
OBJ: What Is Politics?
20. According to a recent study, what percentage of the American population makes up the power elite? a. 5 percent c. 12.5 percent b. considerably less than 1 percent d. 42 percent ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 282
OBJ: What Is Politics?
21. Organizations formed expressly to raise and spend money in order to influence elected officials are called: a. power elites. c. special interest groups. b. media groups. d. unions. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 282
OBJ: What Is Politics?
22. Which of the following is an example of a special interest group? a. Penn State University c. a parent group at a school b. police unions d. a student organization on campus ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 282
OBJ: What Is Politics?
23. Organizations designed to raise money to support the interests of a particular group are called: a. political action committees. c. simulacrums. b. media groups. d. power elites. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 282
OBJ: What Is Politics?
24. Why are political action committees much more important to political campaigns now than they were in the past? a. Unlike candidates or political parties, there are no limits on how much money an individual can give them. b. Their members have positions of power within the media. c. They have far and away the largest number of grassroots supporters. d. Many of their members hold high political office. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 283
OBJ: What Is Politics?
25. In the past, most voters formed political opinions by listening to speeches, meeting with representatives of political parties, or attending town hall meetings. How do voters today tend to learn about political issues? a. through websites maintained by political candidates b. through human interest stories in the media c. through newspaper and magazine articles that focus on the policy implications of political decisions d. through intimate, firsthand knowledge of issues ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 283
OBJ: What Is Politics?
26. High-profile individuals who interpret political information and influence the voting habits of the public are called: a. lobbyists. c. political action leaders. b. opinion leaders. d. talking heads. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
27. During the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama was endorsed by singer and celebrity Beyoncé Knowles. To the extent that people pay attention to her and care about what she says, she is a(n): a. opinion leader. c. member of a special interest group. b. member of the Fourth Estate. d. political action leader. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
28. In 1971 Daniel Ellsberg, working for the Department of Defense, found a large collection of classified documents that showed that many members of the U.S. government did not believe the Vietnam War was winnable, despite public assertions to the contrary. Ellsberg turned to the Fourth Estate, giving the documents to: a. Judge William Byrne. c. U.S. Senator Mike Gravel. b. the New York Times. d. a member of the vice president’s staff. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 283
OBJ: What Is Politics?
29. When John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon debated during the 1960 presidential campaign, voters who watched the debate on television were more likely to see Kennedy as the winner than those who listened to it on radio. Why? a. The Kennedy campaign put out better television advertisements. b. Nixon refused to take advice on hair, makeup, and clothing that would have made him look better on camera. c. The radio program was shorter than the television program and omitted some of Kennedy’s key arguments. d. Kennedy smiled a lot. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
30. During the most recent wave of conflict between Israel and Palestine, images of Palestinian children maimed and killed on the beach by Israeli missiles were televised across the world. Israeli officials argued that these images were a public relations tool by Palestinian organizations to gain sympathy for their cause. This example demonstrates the: a. importance of creating a simulacrum to fool the public. b. role that organizations play in war conflicts. c. importance of “telegenic” images in swaying public support against the war. d. importance of using “new media” to communicate with the general public. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
31. Short sentences or phrases on a political subject, designed to be catchy and memorable but not necessarily to convey much information, are called:
a. position papers. b. policy gripes.
c. press releases. d. soundbites.
ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
32. In August 2009, House Republican leader John Boehner asked rank-and-file Republicans to use social media like Twitter to get out their message about America’s health-care system. Given that a Twitter post can only be 140 characters long, what feature of modern politics closely resembles Twitter posts? a. press conferences c. soundbites b. journalistic watchdogs d. news stories ANS: C MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
33. Mike McCurry was the White House press secretary from 1995 to 1998. It was his job to field questions from the press and explain the president’s policies and attitudes in language that was compelling and persuasive. According to this job description, he could be called a(n): a. 527 committee member. c. member of the power elite. b. spin doctor. d. technocrat. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
34. What large-scale social change has made celebrity politicians more popular and successful? a. the increasing importance of television b. the increasing focus on political platform and policies c. the increasing need to connect with young voters d. the increasing importance of Hollywood stars to fund-raising ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
35. What does Jean Baudrillard call an image in the media that people can no longer distinguish from the reality that it is supposed to represent? a. simulacrum c. telegenic b. hidden curriculum d. sacred ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 286
OBJ: What Is Politics?
36. In Soviet Russia, it was a common practice to edit old photographs to reflect the current political mood, and to treat the doctored photos as representations of reality, rather than modifications of it. For example, Stalin’s friends who turned into his enemies were cut out of pictures with him. These pictures were examples of: a. spin doctors. c. opinion leaders. b. simulacrum. d. a free press. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 286
OBJ: What Is Politics?
37. In 2009, shortly after Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska, a Republican political strategist asked: If Sarah Palin were not attractive, “would we even be talking about her today?” This quote reminds us that politics today: a. requires immense amounts of money to succeed.
b. has very little connection to the lives of everyday people. c. rewards style over substance. d. is mostly scripted by spin doctors. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: What Is Politics?
REF: Pages 285–286 MSC: Applying
38. Which of the following would be an example of social media? a. political parties summarizing their campaign platforms on television b. a public radio program that tells you where to go if you want to volunteer to work on a political campaign c. a magazine that provides information on candidates’ policy positions but also describes their family lives, hobbies, and favorite books d. politicians using Twitter to communicate with their constituents and hear back from them directly ANS: D MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 288
OBJ: What Is Politics?
39. What is the central means by which modern society transmits knowledge, values, and expectations to its members? a. religion c. education b. politics d. the hidden curriculum ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 291
OBJ: What Is Politics?
40. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in England, the curriculum at schools like Trinity College at Cambridge (The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity) leaned very heavily on theology. Today, the vast majority of university students will never take any theology classes. Why did this change? a. Universities in those days were controlled by the state. b. The Internet has altered social relations to such an extent that education in certain subjects no longer seems important. c. There are more colleges now, so students who are told they must take theology classes can simply transfer to a different school. d. The knowledge, values, and expectations required to succeed in contemporary society are different from those required then. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 291
OBJ: What Is Education?
41. What subjects were taught in European universities during the Middle Ages? a. math and science b. only theology c. natural philosophy and the works of ancient Greek philosophers d. law, theology, and medicine ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 291
OBJ: What Is Education?
42. Before 1900, approximately what percentage of Americans graduated from high school? a. 2 percent c. 22 percent b. 10 percent d. 30 percent ANS: A
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 292
OBJ: What Is Education?
MSC: Remembering 43. When students are tested and the test results are used to place them in a certain category of classes (remedial, advanced, college prep, etc.), this process is called: a. the hidden curriculum. c. tracking. b. socialization. d. charter schooling. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 292
OBJ: What Is Education?
44. What does a sociological perspective tell us about education in the United States? a. Anyone who works hard can get good grades. b. Education is the pathway to material success and, as such, rewards the best and brightest individuals. c. Tracking helps students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve material success. d. Educational success often has as much to do with social stratification as it does with individual ability. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 292
OBJ: What Is Education?
45. In Schooling in Capitalist America, Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis argued that schools train a labor force in the skills and attitudes necessary for the health of a modern economy. What are these skills and attitudes? a. critical thinking b. independence and initiative c. the mathematical skills needed to work with computer software and the drive needed to create new things d. taking orders and performing repetitive tasks ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 292
OBJ: What Is Education?
46. Which of the following is an example of how the hidden curriculum can reinforce inequality? a. While curriculum may recognize and celebrate diversity, most professors and administrators are white and heterosexual. b. History books are rewritten to emphasize the role of women and minorities. c. Schools attempt to change how they teach. d. Schools attempt to address the gaps and exclusions that exist in their curriculum. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 293
OBJ: What Is Education?
47. How does the textbook define the “hidden curriculum”? a. the ideal of a self-denying, highly moral life accompanied by self-sacrifice b. higher grades given for the same work, or a general rise in student grades without a corresponding rise in learning c. subjects that are rarely taught, which require students to seek them out on their own time d. lessons that students learn indirectly through the method in which the curriculum is presented and the way the school is organized ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 292
OBJ: What Is Education?
48. Sociologists have noted that the informal teaching practices and power relationships by which schools operate produce a disconnect between democratic values and what actually goes on in schools. About what concept are such arguments referring? a. teacher expectations c. simulacra b. the hidden curriculum d. educational inequality ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 293
OBJ: What Is Education?
49. What variable would account for the dramatic jump in test scores evidenced by the students in Rosenthal and Jacobson’s Pygmalion in the Classroom? a. difficult work b. better books and other instructional materials c. teacher attitudes d. community support ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 293
OBJ: What Is Education?
50. Jacobson and Rosenthal’s Pygmalion in the Classroom showed that: a. IQ scores are the best predictors of classroom success. b. students whom teachers expect to do well tend to fare better in the classroom. c. there is no relationship between teachers’ expectations about students and student performance. d. all students enter the education system with equal chances for success. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 293
OBJ: What Is Education?
51. In his book, Savage Inequalities, Jonathan Kozol, a former teacher, conducted an ethnography of public schools in major cities across the United States. According to his study, how do schools reinforce inequality? a. by busing students to schools far away from their homes, disrupting their schedules, and removing them from their natural peers b. by using local property taxes to fund public schools, trapping poor children in poor schools c. by “teaching to the test,” which removes many more creative subjects from the curriculum d. by privileging athletes and giving them a much easier educational path ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 294
OBJ: What Is Education?
52. In recent years, some schools and educators have adopted a “flipping the classroom” approach. This teaching method relies on in-class problem-solving activities, supplemented by online lectures that students can watch on their own time as part of their homework. Critics of this teaching method argue that: a. low-income students fare better in a “flipped” classroom setting than in a more traditional class. b. teachers are not technologically savvy enough to apply this approach in their classrooms. c. this teaching method has lowered the dropout rates in urban communities. d. not all students have access to technology and the Internet to benefit from this approach. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 294
OBJ: What Is Education?
53. What was Jonathan Kozol’s impression of the poorly funded schools he visited in urban Chicago? a. Children are very resilient and can overcome even the worst conditions. b. They were extraordinarily unhappy places. c. Even though they were poorly funded, a small group of dedicated teachers could still make a difference in children’s lives. d. They could only succeed when they were closely regulated by programs like the No Child Left Behind Act. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 294
OBJ: What Is Education?
54. What does sociologist Randall Collins argue is the true function of schools? a. They train a workforce in computer and technology skills so students can work in a twenty-first-century information economy. b. They teach traditional American values like respect, hard work, and punctuality. c. They reproduce the class structure, making sure that most people grow up to have a socioeconomic status similar to that of their parents. d. They teach students to have a profound intellectual engagement that allows them to establish a meaningful relationship with the society in which they live. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 295
OBJ: What Is Education?
55. According to Randall Collins, why do members of lucrative professions like law and medicine support the current educational system? a. They understand how complicated their professions are and want to make sure that everyone who enters them is well trained. b. They want to keep the number of potential job applicants down, thus minimizing competition and ensuring that there is a large number of people for less lucrative, less pleasant professions. c. They know that the world is changing quickly, and they want to make sure that new doctors and lawyers are fully versed in the intricacies of twenty-first-century life. d. They tend to invest in private schools, so they make a profit from education. ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 295
OBJ: What Is Education?
56. What does the sociologist Randall Collins recommend to reform the American educational system? a. The first two years of college should be combined with high school to make the transition easier. b. High schools should be funded by the federal government so poor areas do not have poorly funded schools. c. It should be illegal for employers to ask about educational credentials. d. Standardized test scores should not be asked for on college applications. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 295
OBJ: What Is Education?
57. According to Randall Collins, our educational system is much like a “tribal initiation rite,” a “secret society,” or a “closed occupational caste”: not a rational system that produces more efficient production, but a mechanism for: a. creating gender inequality in the workforce. b. reproducing the existing class structure. c. punishing those who deviate from mainstream American values. d. teaching the values and ideals we need to function in society today.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 295
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58. What is one example of how America’s educational system is in crisis? a. Literacy rates are low. b. Standardized tests are becoming too difficult. c. School infrastructure is growing too quickly. d. Teachers are not as good today as they were in the 1960s. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 296
OBJ: What Is Education?
59. Which of the following is a criticism of the No Child Left Behind Act passed by Congress in 2002? a. America’s educational system is in fine shape, and any attempt to change it will simply disrupt a functioning system. b. Teachers, under pressure to raise test scores, may stop doing everything but “teaching to the test.” c. It will disproportionately benefit students in poor, urban schools. d. It will make it harder for parents to move their children out of failing schools and into better ones. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 296
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60. Public schools that are run by private entities are called: a. charter schools. c. homeschools. b. religious schools. d. secular schools. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 296
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61. Schools that blend high school and college are called: a. charter schools. c. junior colleges. b. early college high schools. d. college achievement schools. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 298
OBJ: What Is Education?
62. According to the textbook, what is the goal of early college high schools? a. to make education cheaper, because college teachers are paid less when teaching in these institutions b. to move skilled workers into the economy faster c. to make it easier for students from underserved backgrounds to enter college d. to slow down the educational process and to keep more young people in school and out of the workforce, where too many people are underemployed ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 298
OBJ: What Is Education?
63. How does the academic achievement of homeschooled students compare to that of public school students? a. Homeschooled students perform better in reading, but worse in math and science. b. Homeschooled students perform significantly better, on average, than public school students.
c. No one knows because there is no way to test homeschooled students. d. Homeschooled students do well only if their parents are certified as teachers; otherwise they do fairly badly. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 297
OBJ: What Is Education?
64. Which of the following is an advantage cited by supporters of school vouchers? a. Vouchers provide more funding for public schools. b. Vouchers provide better pay for teachers, which improves the quality of education across the board. c. Vouchers create more schools that specialize in math and science. d. Vouchers give more choices to parents for their children’s education. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 297
OBJ: What Is Education?
65. What is one reason that critics might object to school vouchers? a. They believe vouchers will undermine the independence of private schools. b. They believe vouchers will drain funds from vulnerable public schools and cause them to deteriorate further. c. They believe vouchers will reduce the number of choices and amount of control parents have over their children’s education. d. They fear that vouchers will cause students to be socially, rather than educationally, disadvantaged. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 297
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66. What development transformed and expanded the role of distance learning in the American educational system? a. the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002 b. a rise in immigration, leading to a large population of non-English-speaking students c. the deterioration of the infrastructure in educational institutions d. the rise of the Internet ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 300
OBJ: What Is Education?
67. How is a sociological definition of religion different from a commonsense, everyday definition? a. A sociological definition looks only at the macro elements of religion. b. A sociological definition looks only at the way religion is created and re-created through everyday interaction. c. A sociological definition must be broad enough to encompass all brands of religious experience. d. A sociological definition cannot take into account personal relationships with God. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 302
OBJ: What Is Religion?
68. According to your textbook, what do all religions have in common? a. God(s) or other supernatural beings b. moral laws about the proper way to offer prayer and sacrifice to a god c. a system of beliefs and rituals that establish a relationship between the sacred and the profane
d. certain days that are considered holy ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 302
OBJ: What Is Religion?
69. From a structural functionalist perspective, religion fulfills what role in society? a. It makes women subservient to men. b. Its shows religious organizations how to become agents of change. c. It is an instrument against oppression and exploitation. d. It provides its adherents with a set of values, norms, and rules by which to live. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 302
OBJ: What Is Religion?
70. What are religions called that worship one divine figure? a. pluralistic c. monotheistic b. secular d. Judeo-Christian ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 303
OBJ: What Is Religion?
71. The adhan is the Islamic call to prayer, recited five times each day. This means that, in theory, five times each day every Muslim is doing the exact same thing at the exact same time. What function or dysfunction of religion does the adhan help bring about? a. It supports economic development. b. It creates social solidarity. c. It reinforces sexism. d. It creates a bias against homosexuals. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 302
OBJ: What Is Religion?
72. In the Sermon on the Mount, in the Christian New Testament, believers are told, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” Of which of the functions or dysfunctions of religion does this remind you? a. Religion helps us understand our lives as meaningful. b. Religion provides morals, values, rules, and norms for participants. c. Religion gives people a set of social connections. d. Religion reinforces sexism and provides separate roles for men and women. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 302
OBJ: What Is Religion?
73. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.” Many people still look to passages from the Christian Bible, like this one, to justify gender roles. This may be a ________ of religion, because it ________. a. dysfunction; is homophobic b. function; promotes equality c. function; teaches us a basic sociological tenet d. dysfunction; promotes sexism ANS: D MSC: Applying 74. What is religiosity?
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 303
OBJ: What Is Religion?
a. a measure of the diversity of religion within a society b. a measure of the variety of religious experiences a person may have over the course of his or her lifetime c. the extent of a person’s commitment to a religion d. the degree to which religion can provide solutions to everyday problems ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 304
OBJ: What Is Religion?
75. Attending religious services would be an example of: a. intrinsic religiosity. c. unchurched spirituality. b. extrinsic religiosity. d. spirituality. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 304
OBJ: What Is Religion?
76. Intrinsic religiosity can be defined as: a. any approach to religion that meets the fundamental needs of a person. b. the process by which worldly concerns come to dominate a person’s life. c. a person’s inner religious life. d. a cosmology that justifies a set of behaviors in terms of absolute good or evil. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 304
OBJ: What Is Religion?
77. Why is it NOT surprising that Evangelical Protestantism is the most common religious affiliation in the United States? a. Evangelical churches tend to be the wealthiest churches in America. b. Evangelicals focus on an unchurched spirituality. c. Evangelicals emphasize the importance of gaining new converts. d. Evangelicals are the oldest religious group in America. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 306
OBJ: What Is Religion?
78. Religious groups that emphasize literal interpretation of sacred texts are called: a. secular. c. fundamentalist. b. unchurched. d. intrinsic. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 306
OBJ: What Is Religion?
79. What is a term for someone who labels himself “spiritual but not religious”? a. fundamentalist c. atheist b. evangelical d. unchurched ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 307
OBJ: What Is Religion?
80. According to Mark Juergensmeyer’s book, Terror in the Mind of God, what accounts for the rise in religious violence across the world? a. the rise of Christian Evangelical fundamentalism b. the rise of Muslim fundamentalism c. the growing dissatisfaction with the growing separation of the church and state in various countries d. Extremist religious beliefs can grant a sense of control to people who otherwise feel
powerless. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 305
OBJ: What Is Religion?
81. A society that separates church and state is a ________ society. a. secular c. fundamentalist b. agnostic d. traditional ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 309
OBJ: What Is Religion?
82. The fact that school schedules are organized around Christmas is evidence: a. that the United States is a secular society. b. that the majority of Americans celebrate Christmas. c. of nothing; it is just a coincidence. d. that the United States is not a totally secular society. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 309
OBJ: What Is Religion?
83. The former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor voted to allow a Christmas display on public property that included a nativity scene but voted to prohibit city governments from having displays that had only a nativity scene. This indicates that: a. America is both a secular and a nonsecular society at the same time. b. America is a strongly secular society. c. America is a deeply religious society, and the separation of church and state is more or less a myth. d. the Supreme Court has consistently been more religious than the American public. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 309
OBJ: What Is Religion?
84. In 2008 the Obama family’s search for a church to attend in Washington, D.C., was big news. A sociological analysis of the national curiosity about the president’s church might argue that: a. following the media occupies an increasingly large part of everyone’s time. b. America is an increasingly secular nation. c. the president has a very high level of intrinsic religiosity. d. being a Christian is an unofficial requirement for the presidency. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 309
OBJ: What Is Religion?
TRUE/FALSE 1. Not all citizens are equally represented by a democratic government. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 277
OBJ: What Is Politics?
2. Human rights groups have long protested state governments’ disenfranchisement of convicted felons. ANS: T DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 279
OBJ: What Is Politics?
3. Educational systems can help to reproduce systems of inequality. ANS: T DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 291
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4. Conflict theory argues that, while religion is sometimes an oppressive force, it can also sometimes act as a liberatory force. ANS: T DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 303
OBJ: What Is Religion?
SHORT ANSWER 1. How is a dictatorship a form of authoritarianism? ANS: Dictators are not elected by a constituency, but instead seize power, often by force. DIF: Easy REF: Page 277 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Politics?
2. What distinguishes absolute and constitutional monarchies? ANS: Absolute monarchs have complete authority, whereas constitutional monarchs are royal figures with more limited power. DIF: Easy REF: Page 278 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Politics?
3. What factors might explain low voter turnout in the United States? ANS: Demographic variables such as sex, education, gender, race, class, or disinterest explain low voter turnout. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 279 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Politics?
4. What is one implication of power elite theory for understanding American society? ANS: Working hard is often not enough to reach positions of power—also, control is concentrated in the hands of those who are wealthy, rather than those who are democratically elected. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 281 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Politics?
5. How did the Citizens United court case ruling affect campaign expenditures? ANS: It allowed unlimited campaign contributions.
DIF: Moderate REF: Page 283 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Politics?
6. Why is the media often referred to as the Fourth Estate? ANS: The media renders checks and balances like the other branches of government. DIF: Easy REF: Page 283 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Politics?
7. How is the television program The Daily Show an example of what Baudrillard called the simulacrum? ANS: It is an example of fake news/journalism that covers similar topics to traditional/mainstream news programming. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 286 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Politics?
8. Which part of the American power structure did the Black Lives Matters protest address? ANS: It addressed policing and the judicial system. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 289 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Politics?
9. According to Bowles and Gintis’s (1977) study, Schooling in Capitalist America, what is the main function of the “hidden curriculum”? ANS: It produces a submissive and obedient future workforce. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 293 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Education?
10. Why are for-profit colleges growing in popularity? ANS: They are growing due to flexible scheduling and open enrollment. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 300 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Education?
11. Why are charter schools controversial among public school advocates? ANS: Charter schools are exempt from local and state regulatory requirements. Also, they draw resources and good students away from schools that are struggling. DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 297
OBJ: What Is Education?
MSC: Understanding 12. According to the conflict perspective, why is the role of religion in society complex? ANS: It can subjugate people but it can also liberate them. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 303 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Religion?
13. How is determining religiosity a complex phenomena in the United States? ANS: Even though most Americans state that religion is important to them, religious affiliation varies across demographics (age, race, gender, political party, and education). For instance, a recent study shows that younger Americans (one-third of the population under thirty years old) tend to be religiously unaffiliated—or more simply, religious attendance does not necessarily indicate religious beliefs. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 309 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Religion?
14. What role did religion play in the 2012 presidential election? ANS: Many Americans continued to believe that Barack Obama was Muslim because of his middle name despite his affiliation as Christian. Mitt Romney’s Mormon background was minimized to appeal to religious Republicans. DIF: Easy REF: Page 309 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Religion?
ESSAY 1. Who rules America? Compare the two competing answers to this question offered in Chapter 10. ANS: Chapter 10 contrasted a theory of pluralism with a theory of the power elite. According to the theory of pluralism, power is held by a variety of organizations and institutions, like corporations, political parties, professional organizations, and ethnic and religious groups. Each organization is assumed to have roughly equal access to the power structure, and a system of checks and balances—in the form of laws, policies, and the courts—keeps any one group from having too much power over the others. According to theories of the power elite, a small group that occupies the top positions of control within the economic, political, and military institutions of the country makes most important decisions. The members of the elite have the full weight of their institutions at their disposal. Thus, their actions have tremendous implications for practically the entire population. The best answers will mention that C. Wright Mills is closely associated with the theory of the power elite. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 279
OBJ: What Is Politics?
2. Compare and contrast how power elite and pluralism theories would understand the role of 527 committees. ANS: The best answers will point out that those who support either theory believe that political action committees and 527s support their conclusions. Those who believe in a power elite see these groups as a loophole in campaign finance laws that allow the wealthy to exert undue influence and donate money, which is strongly correlated with electoral success. However, those who believe we are a pluralistic society would point out that more minority candidates are elected to office with the support of 527s and that PACs ensure the representation of diverse interest groups. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 281
OBJ: What Is Politics?
3. How has the role of the media in American politics changed in the past fifty years? ANS: All answers should say that the media have always played a role in American politics, covering whatever is newsworthy and informing the public about important issues. But the media’s role has increased dramatically over the past fifty years, coinciding with the advent of television in 1948 and now the emergence of the Internet. The media package and present important events, making the media a part of the national dialogue that influences public opinion and promotes political activism and change. The media influence voters and nonvoters in the United States and can even focus global attention. The best answers will also talk about the way the media have changed the role of money in politics and have altered how issues are debated and thought about. The rise of electronic media has also changed the role of money in politics. For politicians, strategies for success must include great media savvy. Any group or individual wishing to influence voters must court the media, either by attempting to gain coverage of its issue or candidate or by buying advertising. Fund-raising, as a means of gathering more money to spend on media considerations, has become the first order of business. Television and the Internet have also contributed to a compression of the issues, which some see as a victory of style over substance. At one time, the voting public was informed of the issues through local political party representatives, town hall meetings, church groups, speeches made by politicians and activists, and exhaustive coverage in newspapers and on radio. Nowadays, the media’s coverage of politics is more likely to emphasize human interest stories, personalities, high-profile spectacles, and preplanned events, and less likely to explain the background and implications of issues and policy debates. Most people now form their views of issues and candidates through televised “soundbites,” short audio or visual snippets taken from press releases, press conferences, photo opportunities, and sometimes protests. In our postmodern era, much news is condensed into just a few seconds of information. What politicians say to the press is often prescribed by “spin doctors,” who manipulate rhetoric to give it a positive spin, and designed to be both catchy and compelling, while not necessarily delivering much substance. DIF: Difficult MSC: Creating
REF: Page 285
OBJ: What Is Politics?
4. Define and explain the concept “simulacrum,” the term used by the French sociologist Jean Baudrillard. ANS:
All answers should be able to explain that this concept is an attempt to understand the emergence of postmodern society. Jean Baudrillard argued that people were losing the ability to distinguish between what is real and what is fake, especially when media representations were involved, and that we would also come to accept the fake as sufficient and thereby no longer even need the real. He called this new socially constructed reality the “simulacrum,” or a simulation that becomes as good as real. The problem with the simulacrum is that the eye can be tricked and images can be manipulated in order to give the illusion of reality. Following Baudrillard’s logic, “the image has come to replace the real” for people in a postmodern, media-driven society. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 286–287 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Politics?
5. What is the “hidden curriculum”? What nonacademic functions does it fulfill? ANS: All answers should be able to define the hidden curriculum as lessons that students learn indirectly but that are an implicit part of their socialization in the school environment. Good answers will be able to identify its functions: training future workers for an industrial economy and reinforcing and reproducing inequality. The very best answers might also mention that the hidden curriculum is very hard to adjust, because it is based not only on what is taught but also on how it is taught. DIF: Difficult MSC: Creating
REF: Pages 292–293
OBJ: What Is Education?
6. Treat the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance as a part of the hidden curriculum. What lessons are being learned indirectly through the pledge? ANS: There are a range of possible answers here, but most likely good responses will focus on how the use of the pledge sends a message about either a shared national identity or the role of religion in everyday life, or a socializing process through which children learn values like patriotism, nationalism, and reverence for national identity, and, perhaps, even political authority. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 293
OBJ: What Is Education?
7. According to Jonathan Kozol, how do public schools help reinforce inequality? ANS: The text points out two distinct ways in which public schools might help to reproduce class-based inequality: by the way they are funded and by the way they affect student morale. Kozol contends that, because schools are funded by local property taxes, children in poor neighborhoods are trapped in poor schools, which effectively reinforces inequality. He documents the significant differences between America’s schools: “The highest spending districts have twice as many art, music, and foreign language teachers . . . 75 percent more physical education teachers . . . 50 percent more nurses, school librarians, guidance counselors, and psychologists . . . and 60 percent more personnel in school administration than the low-spending districts.” His overall impression was that these urban schools were, by and large, extraordinarily unhappy places. How, he asks, could the children in these schools have an equal chance at success? DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 294–295 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Education?
8. Describe the experiment performed by Robert Rosenthal and Leonore Jacobson that led to the publication Pygmalion in the Classroom. ANS: The researchers began by administering a basic IQ test to students in the first through sixth grades, telling teachers that the test was designed to predict which students would “bloom” academically in the next year. The researchers then randomly selected an experimental group of students and told teachers that these students were predicted to develop rapidly in the coming school year. At the end of the year, the researchers administered the same IQ test and found that members of the experimental group had increased their scores by a significantly greater margin than members of the control group. Rosenthal and Jacobson concluded that teachers’ attitudes about their students unintentionally influenced academic performance. In other words, when teachers expected students to succeed, students tended to improve (and, it was assumed, students who were expected to fail would not improve). DIF: Moderate REF: Page 293 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Education?
9. Why does Randall Collins, author of The Credential Society, want to “abolish compulsory school requirements and make it illegal for employers to require any particular level of formal education”? ANS: Collins believes that class inequalities are reproduced in educational settings and that there is very little schools can do to increase learning. Although many people assume that better teachers, better facilities, and better funding could increase test scores, he points out that when class background is held constant, none of these other factors seems to have any effect. Collins believes that reproducing the existing class structure is the true function of education. Schools, for example, provide the credentials to ensure that the children of the middle class will continue to receive middle-class jobs. In order to protect their own job security, people with lucrative occupations—such as accountants, lawyers, and financial analysts—have set up a complicated credential system (education) to keep the number of job applicants down and to ensure that there is a large population forced to work in unpleasant jobs for low wages. Collins thus believes that the educational system is really a system for reproducing class inequality, which could be reduced if the United States were to implement his recommendations. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 295
OBJ: What Is Education?
10. How do sociologists define religion? How is this different from a commonsense definition of religion? ANS: For sociologists, religion includes any institutionalized system of shared beliefs (propositions and ideas held on the basis of faith) and rituals (practices based on those beliefs) that identify a relationship between the sacred (holy, divine, or supernatural) and the profane (ordinary, mundane, or everyday). Unlike a commonsense definition, a sociological definition of religion must be broad enough to encompass all brands of religious experience. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 302 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: What Is Religion?
11. According to Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God, why has religion come to play a prominent role in terrorist violence?
ANS: Mark Juergensmeyer’s Terror in the Mind of God analyzes the history and meaning of religious violence in general and terrorism in particular. He points out that, although groups using terror have historically held diverse agendas and motivations, it is only within the past thirty years that religion has come to play a prominent role in terrorist violence. Juergensmeyer argues that the common thread linking religious violence in disparate traditions and far-flung corners of the world is a reliance on a particular kind of religious perspective. “The social tensions of this moment of history . . . cry out for absolute solutions,” he says, and in a world that seems increasingly beyond individual control, religious violence offers a way to reassert some kind of power. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 305
OBJ: What Is Religion?
CHAPTER 11: THE ECONOMY AND WORK MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The economy is not only about money but also about: a. the people who are most important to an individual’s sense of self. b. the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. c. encouraging cooperation over competition. d. rituals and beliefs that divide the world into the sacred and the profane. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 317 MSC: Remembering
2. New innovations in farming like mechanized seed spreaders and new techniques of crop rotation were part of what macro-level social change? a. the Instrumental Revolution c. the Great Depression b. the Information Revolution d. the Agricultural Revolution ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 318 MSC: Remembering
3. In which century did the Industrial Revolution begin? a. 1600s c. 1800s b. 1700s d. 1900s ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 318 MSC: Remembering
4. What new technology helped to bring about the Industrial Revolution? a. the jet airplane c. the Internet b. the automobile d. the steam engine ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 318 MSC: Remembering
5. What change caused people to migrate to cities from rural areas? a. the switch to a manufacturing economy b. the development of crop rotation and better animal husbandry techniques c. the switch from a manufacturing economy to an information economy d. the emancipation of slaves in the United States ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 318 MSC: Remembering
6. Which change was associated with the Industrial Revolution? a. decreased life expectancy b. increased infant mortality c. a significant population boom d. less stable and reliable access to food supplies ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 318 MSC: Remembering
7. Why did so many people feel DISSATISFIED working on assembly lines?
a. b. c. d.
Assembly lines were not a very efficient way to produce things. Assembly lines made goods more expensive. Assembly lines forced people from all different racial and ethnic groups to work together. Workers never had the satisfaction of seeing the finished product.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 319 MSC: Remembering
8. “Fordism” is a system characterized by the increasingly efficient mass production of goods. Why is this system called “Fordism”? a. Many of the changes that led to this economic system happened during the administration of President Gerald Ford. b. It is named after the famous filmmaker John Ford, whose movies depicted the transformation to an industrial economy. c. It is an acronym for Fully Operational Research Design, the method by which the economy modernized. d. It is named after Henry Ford, who is credited with inventing the assembly line. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 319 MSC: Remembering
9. What technological development is most associated with the Information Revolution? a. the jet airplane c. spreadsheets and email b. the microchip d. container ships ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 319 MSC: Remembering
10. How has the Information Revolution changed the nature of work and the economy? a. It has slowed down the process of globalization. b. It has made it less likely that individuals will be able to work from home. c. It has shifted the economy toward the production of knowledge and services. d. It has made companies more likely to manufacture and sell goods within a single nation. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 319 MSC: Understanding
11. Someone whose work involves giving acupuncture to dogs in order to relieve the dogs’ stress is: a. located in Asia. c. a con artist. b. a service worker. d. poorly paid. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 320 MSC: Applying
12. Someone who works primarily with information and develops or uses knowledge in the workplace is called a(n) ________ worker. a. knowledge c. industrial b. service d. social ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 320 MSC: Remembering
13. Advertising, engineering, marketing, product design, and web design are all examples of ________ work. a. traditional c. industrial b. knowledge d. computer-assisted
ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
REF: Page 320 MSC: Understanding
14. In 2008 and 2009, the United States government initiated a large-scale economic bailout of the banking and auto industries, in which the government invested enormous amounts of money, becoming the majority shareholder in some corporations. According to the text this means that: a. the United States is an example of pure capitalism. b. the United States is a mostly capitalist nation, but it also has a degree of socialism in government subsidies to businesses. c. under President Barack Obama, the United States has a socialist economy. d. the United States has always been primarily socialist, so the bailout is nothing new. ANS: B Systems MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
15. Which of the following is one of the primary principles of capitalism? a. privatization of the means of production b. collective distribution of goods and services c. a focus on meeting the basic needs of all citizens d. government regulation of industry ANS: A DIF: Easy Systems MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 322
OBJ: World Economic
16. In a capitalist system, what do workers have available to sell? a. raw materials c. their own labor b. stocks and bonds d. different kinds of commodities ANS: C DIF: Easy Systems MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 322
OBJ: World Economic
17. In 2005, teaching assistants at the University of Oregon went on strike. Which aspect of their job made it easier for them to strike than most American workers? a. The public is much more sympathetic to academic workers. b. They have better contracts. c. They have more cultural capital and therefore can better strategize about how to make a strike succeed. d. Their jobs cannot be moved overseas. ANS: D Systems MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
18. The economic system based on collective ownership of the means of production and collective distribution of goods and services is called: a. capitalism. c. communism. b. classical liberalism. d. socialism. ANS: D DIF: Easy Systems MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
19. According to the text, what is the most extreme form of socialism called? a. capitalism c. Fordism b. communism d. conflict theory ANS: B DIF: Easy Systems MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
20. How are workers’ situations different in socialist, as opposed to capitalist, economies? a. In a socialist economy, workers have less protection from the welfare state. b. In a socialist economy, workers are more vulnerable to technological innovation eliminating jobs. c. In a socialist economy, workers do not enjoy the same consumption patterns. d. In a socialist economy, workers’ jobs are more vulnerable to elimination, resulting from the movement of transnational capital. ANS: C DIF: Difficult Systems MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
21. In Great Britain, the government owns the British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, which is the world’s largest television and radio broadcasting service. This tells you that Great Britain is: a. an example of pure socialism. c. at least partially socialist. b. deregulated. d. mostly capitalist. ANS: C Systems MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
22. “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” This slogan could only be fully realized with: a. pure capitalism. b. a mixture of capitalism and socialism. c. a mixture of capitalism and communism. d. pure communism. ANS: D DIF: Easy Systems MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
23. Cuba’s communist government has recently introduced reforms that make it easier to attract tourists, and many skilled professionals have started working in the tourism industry to earn more money, regardless of their degrees. Of what is this a sign? a. the impending collapse of the Cuban government b. the poor health of Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro c. the important role the U.S. government plays in Cuba d. the increasingly important role capitalism plays in Cuba ANS: D Systems MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 323
OBJ: World Economic
24. How did the Industrial Revolution create “work” in the modern sense? a. In preindustrial economies, most work happened in the home. b. Work is only possible when there is a wide variety of consumer goods on the market.
c. It was the first time class struggle existed in society. d. It made the worker more autonomous. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 324
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
25. What does Karl Marx claim is true about class conflict? a. All human history is the history of class conflicts. b. Class conflict is a product of the Industrial Revolution. c. Class conflict was first experienced during the Middle Ages, but it was inherited by modern society. d. Class conflict is uniquely a feature of the Information Revolution. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 324
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
26. According to Karl Marx, where does surplus value come from? a. selling goods to overseas markets where demand is higher b. finding ever-cheaper ways of processing raw materials c. paying workers less than the value of what they create d. the added value owners bring to a manufactured product ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 324
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
27. Why did Karl Marx believe that workers in a capitalist economy experience alienation? a. Shallow consumerism does not give them something to believe in and work for. b. Increasingly, they are surrounded by images and representations that do not really seem to relate to reality. c. They are often poor and deprived of their basic needs. d. They are paid for their labor but do not own the things they produce. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 324
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
28. Workers in large department stores usually are paid on commission, which means that they are in direct competition with their fellow employees. According to Karl Marx, this makes them: a. part of the Industrial Revolution. c. alienated. b. premodern. d. knowledge workers. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 325
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
29. American workers often describe themselves as “working for the weekend.” Karl Marx would say that this sentiment indicates that in our relationship to work we are: a. alienated from our fellow workers. c. working in the service industry. b. part of a postindustrial economy. d. alienated from human essence. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 325
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
30. How is service work different from manufacturing work? a. Ever since the Information Revolution, service jobs have become much less common than manufacturing jobs. b. Service workers are much less likely than manufacturing workers to be scrutinized by a supervisor.
c. In service work, unlike manufacturing work, it is common for workers’ expectations to conflict with those of customers. d. Service work is much better paid than manufacturing work. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 325
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
31. According to Barbara Ehrenreich, which of these behaviors can help those with minimum-wage service jobs to get ahead and move up in the world? a. save at least 10 percent of their paychecks every month b. avoid having children c. go back to school d. none of them; there is no way for minimum-wage workers to move up in the world ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
32. What do you think Barbara Ehrenreich would say about efforts to reform welfare that tried to move people off welfare rolls and into minimum-wage jobs? a. She would disapprove because she thinks that low-wage work is demeaning and insufficient to survive on. b. She would approve because she thinks that welfare is demeaning. c. She would disapprove because she thinks that minimum-wage jobs are better filled by new immigrants. d. She would approve because she believes that welfare breeds dependency and low self-esteem. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
33. How has the Information Revolution changed the nature of work? a. Employees are less easily distracted by outside influences since they can remain on the Internet working. b. The importance of the physical space in which work is done has been greatly diminished. c. Employee compensation has greatly increased. d. Productivity has declined. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
34. Which of the following is among the benefits of telecommuting? a. It draws more people to large urban areas. b. It encourages workers to keep a rigid work schedule. c. Businesses get increased productivity and fewer sick days. d. It makes it easier for workers to brainstorm and share ideas. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
35. How could telecommuting increase worker productivity? a. It allows employees to spend less time with their families. b. There is no office gossip to distract telecommuters. c. People who work from home tend to work longer hours. d. Telecommuters must usually provide a concrete measure of their accomplishments, not just show up.
ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
36. How could the Information Revolution affect urbanization? a. Cities might grow because technology makes them even more attractive places to live. b. It could not affect urbanization at all. c. Cities might shrink because people will spend even more time in direct contact with one another. d. Cities might shrink because people can live anywhere and still work at the same job. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
37. These days, many customer service representatives we talk to over the phone are based in India. Which of the following terms applies to this phenomenon? a. unionization c. supersectors b. collective resistance d. the death of distance ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
38. What changes in the economy would be associated with travel agents hiring inmates in minimum-security prisons to take calls and schedule vacations for customers? a. the increasingly socialist features of the American economy b. the Industrial Revolution c. the growth of information technology d. the rise of capitalism ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
39. Which of the following social problems might be alleviated if more Americans were encouraged to telecommute? a. pollution c. the breakdown of social networks b. anomie d. crime ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
40. What serious social problem might be made worse if more people were encouraged to telecommute? a. poverty b. intellectual property theft c. cancer and other new health problems d. alienation and loneliness ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 326
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
41. Tactics that let workers take back some degree of control over the conditions in which they work are called: a. knowledge work. c. service work. b. resistance strategies. d. collective bargaining. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 327 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Remembering
42. How are strikes different from acts of resistance, like daydreaming on the job? a. They are solitary. c. They are collective. b. They are unethical. d. They are illegal. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 329 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Understanding
43. When office workers hang pictures in their cubicles or waste time daydreaming while on the clock, it is an example of: a. individual resistance. c. sticking it to the man. b. slacking. d. collective resistance. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 329 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Understanding
44. How are strictly controlled workers within bureaucracies different from robots? a. Human workers need forms of upkeep. b. Human workers can resist and undermine the bureaucratic restraints that limit their autonomy. c. Human workers are more reliable. d. Human workers are cheaper. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 329 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Understanding
45. According to Robin Leidner’s Fast Food, Fast Talk, what are the consequences of scripting workers’ interactions with customers? a. It makes interactions more fluid. b. It makes communication easier and leads to happier workers. c. It makes customers feel important. d. It is damaging to workers and suppresses their real selves. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 329 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Remembering
46. Although it may not seem like much, when an office worker brings in a plant to brighten up his cubicle, it is a(n): a. act of collective resistance. c. postmodern gesture. b. sign of nonalienation in labor. d. act of individual resistance. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 329 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Applying
47. An association of workers who organize to improve their economic status and working conditions is called: a. a union. c. a nonprofit. b. the third sector. d. a sweatshop. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 331 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Remembering
48. What economic change has made it more difficult for workers to strike effectively? a. the increasing availability of communications technology b. a strong, organized working class in the United States c. the ease with which manufacturing firms can move operations to another country
d. the increasing role played by nonprofits and Third Sector organizations ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Understanding
49. Who led campaigns to end child labor and increase workplace safety? a. women’s groups c. unions b. chambers of commerce d. the federal government ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Remembering
50. How has union membership changed in recent years? a. Membership has steeply declined. c. Membership has greatly increased. b. It has not changed. d. Membership has slightly increased. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Understanding
51. What effect did the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 have on unions? a. It gave unions greater power. b. It prohibited government workers from unionizing. c. It instituted limits on secondary strikes and boycotts. d. It made unions illegal. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Remembering
52. Which area of the economy has seen increases in union membership since the early 1970s? a. the information economy c. the public sector b. the manufacturing sector d. the private sector ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Remembering
53. Which of the following groups of workers would be LEAST likely to strike successfully? a. paramedics who work for private health-care organizations b. teachers in public schools c. garbage collectors d. workers who make microchips at a Silicon Valley plant ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Applying
54. The cultural and economic changes that result from dramatic increases in international trade and exchange are called: a. commodity stops. c. globalization. b. runaway shops. d. shallow integration. ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 334 MSC: Remembering
55. According to critics of globalization, what DISADVANTAGES result from increased international trade? a. Multinational corporations will increasingly shape the policies of governments. b. More consumer goods will be produced.
c. Prices of goods and services will decline. d. People will gain exposure to different cultures. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 334 MSC: Understanding
56. The fact that almost all of the small electronics used in the United States are made in Asia is an illustration of: a. the Industrial Revolution. c. the rise of cybernetics. b. globalization. d. collective resistance. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 334 MSC: Applying
57. Corporations whose decision making, production, and distribution operations are spread all over the world are characteristic of: a. industrialization. c. deep integration. b. runaway shops. d. shallow integration. ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 335 MSC: Remembering
58. When liquor stores in the United States import wine made entirely from French grapes and bottled in France or beer brewed from grain and hops grown in Holland, it is an example of: a. shallow integration. c. postindustrial work. b. deep integration. d. transnational corporations. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 335 MSC: Applying
59. Firms that purposely transcend national borders so that their products can be manufactured at sites all over the world are called: a. transnational corporations. c. runaway shops. b. sweatshops. d. globalization. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 335 MSC: Remembering
60. What is it called when nations compete to attract transnational corporations by undercutting their citizens’ wages or offering tax incentives? a. collective resistance strategies b. the collective distribution of goods and services c. the race to the bottom d. postindustrial union bargaining ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 335 MSC: Remembering
61. What is a sweatshop? a. a workplace whose workforce is composed primarily of white people in the service sector, whose jobs make them sweat b. a workplace that manufactures sporting goods c. a workplace that purposely transcends national borders d. a workplace with poor working conditions, below-standard wages, and long hours ANS: D
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 335
OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
MSC: Remembering
62. According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, an employer that violates more than one federal or state labor law concerning wages, overtime, child labor, safety and health, or industrial regulation is classified as a(n): a. postmodern corporation. c. independent contractor. b. runaway shop. d. sweatshop. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 336 MSC: Remembering
63. How are “gold farms,” such as those set up to play World of Warcraft, different from traditional sweatshops? a. They usually meet minimum working standards for health and safety. b. They purchase and consume virtual goods instead of material goods. c. They may not pay much better wages, but the work is much more entertaining. d. They exploit workers to produce virtual goods instead of material goods. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 338 MSC: Remembering
64. What are networks of corporations, manufacturers, distributors, and consumer outlets that create products called? a. assembly lines c. commodity chains b. worker co-ops d. runaway shops ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 340 MSC: Remembering
65. Think about the process by which most athletic shoes are made. Which part of the global commodity chain for these shoes would you be most surprised to find in Indonesia? a. the advertising firm that scripted the commercial b. the forest where rubber trees are grown to make the elastic parts of the shoes c. the factory where the shoes are assembled and sewed together d. the farms where the cotton is grown ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 340 MSC: Applying
66. Why would a company outsource or contract out labor it might otherwise employ its own staff to perform? a. Its customers demand it. b. It is cheaper. c. The staff available is not fully qualified. d. It cares about quality. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
REF: Page 340 MSC: Understanding
67. Which of the following groups is engaged in contingent work? a. independent contractors c. service workers b. teachers d. knowledge workers ANS: A DIF: Moderate Working MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 343
OBJ: Different Ways of
68. What term is used for the group of nonprofit organizations that are designed to run as cost-effectively as possible and to direct any earnings back into the causes they support? a. technology firms c. multinational corporations b. the third sector d. transnational corporations ANS: B DIF: Easy Working MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 343
OBJ: Different Ways of
69. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for many soup kitchens and other groups that provide food to the homeless and the poor. It is also one of the biggest days of the year for volunteers, as many more people decide to donate their time and efforts, making them, even if just for the day, part of the: a. third sector. c. postmodern economy. b. global commodity chain. d. contingent workforce. ANS: A Working MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 343
OBJ: Different Ways of
70. In “The Credential Society” sociologist Randall Collins argues that: a. the fewer credentials a worker has, the more money he or she makes in the long run. b. college provides a credential that can be enormously valuable over the long run. c. high school credentials earn a worker, on average, $45,000 per year. d. the more college credentials (degrees) a person has, the less value he or she has to society. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 330 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Remembering
71. Donald Roy’s classic study of the workplace called “Banana Time” showed that: a. knowledge workers need more coffee breaks than service workers do. b. communities of coping emerge with co-workers during coffee breaks. c. telecommuting will destroy the sense of community among co-workers. d. play emerges in even the most harsh and strenuous work environments. ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 327
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
SHORT ANSWER 1. Describe three ways the rise of the industrial economy increased levels of stratification by class, race, and gender. ANS: Whites owned means of production, women stayed home while men worked, poor women of color worked as domestics, and the rich got richer. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 318
OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
2. The Industrial Revolution changed not only working conditions but also many other elements of daily life. List three.
ANS: Examples include science and medical breakthroughs, dependable food and water, population explosions, technology, and communication. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 319 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
3. The Information Revolution has changed many things about the economy, but most other aspects of life have remained unchanged. Describe two things that are not different. ANS: Answers include inequality, racism, sexism, and ageism. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 320 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
4. List three of the “supersectors” that make up the American economy today. Are there any supersectors that do not involve knowledge or service work? ANS: Answers may vary, but manufacturing and construction do not. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 320 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes
5. Even in the United States, there is some degree of socialism. Name three programs that would qualify as socialism in our capitalist society. ANS: Examples include welfare, corporate bailouts, public schools, and Medicare/Medicaid. DIF: Easy REF: Page 323 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: World Economic Systems
6. Identify three things from which workers, according to Karl Marx, are alienated in an Industrial or Postindustrial economy. ANS: Workers are alienated from the product, from the act of working, from themselves, and from each other. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 325 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
7. Barbara Ehrenreich, in her book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, found numerous ways service workers were being exploited. List and describe three of these. ANS: Answer include low wages, no benefits, fired at will, an inability to own or rent, and chronic health problems. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 326 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
8. Describe two advantages and two disadvantages to telecommuting. ANS: Answer may vary but include higher worker productivity, less pollution, alienation, and lack of creativity. DIF: Easy REF: Page 326 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
9. What are two types of individual acts of resistance and two types of collective resistance in which workers may engage to fundamentally change working conditions? ANS: Answers may vary but include surfing the web, sabotaging assembly lines, striking, and collective bargaining. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 328 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
10. Provide three concrete examples of globalization that support the view that the modern world is one giant global economy. ANS: Examples include global sweatshops, transnational corporations, international trade, and outsourcing. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 333 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
11. What are three examples of “contingent work”? ANS: Examples include independent contractors, on-call workers, temporaries, part-time workers, and adjunct faculty. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 343 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Different Ways of Working
ESSAY 1. Describe the three major revolutions that transformed the nature of work and working. Make sure you describe the major technological innovation that accompanied each revolution. ANS: Answers may vary but should be able to identify the Agricultural Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the Information Revolution, associated with innovations in farming and animal husbandry, the steam engine, and the microchip, respectively. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 317–322 OBJ: Historical and Economic Changes MSC: Analyzing 2. Why did Karl Marx believe that workers in capitalist societies experienced alienation? From what specifically did he claim that workers were alienated?
ANS: Answers may vary but include the following: from the products of their labor, from their own productive activity, from their fellow workers, and finally from human nature. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 324–325
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
3. How has the Information Revolution diminished the importance of place? ANS: Answers may vary but include the following: the diminished importance of place, called the “death of distance”; networking through computers, satellites, cell phones, and other technologies, which make one’s location, office, city, state, country, or planet almost irrelevant to one’s ability not only to do a job but also to work with others; more and more workers are also telecommuting. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 325
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
4. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting? ANS: Answers may vary but include flexibility, increased productivity, but employers fear it could reduce accountability. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 326–328
OBJ: On the Nature of Work
5. How can workers attempt to take back some degree of control and autonomy when they work in bureaucracies that closely monitor and control their work environments? ANS: Workers take back control and autonomy through individual and collective acts of resistance. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 328–332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Creating
6. What tactics have been used to weaken unions in the United States? ANS: Answers may vary but include Taft-Hartley, deregulation, union busting, and outsourcing. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 328–332 OBJ: Resistance Strategies: How Workers Cope
MSC: Analyzing
7. How was the shallow integration of the past different from the deep integration associated with globalization? ANS: Shallow integration refers to the flow of goods and services that characterized international trade until several decades ago. Deep integration refers to the global flow of goods and services that exists in today’s economy. DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 334
OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
MSC: Evaluating 8. What is a transnational corporation? Why are transnational corporations especially influential in shaping the world of work and the economy today? ANS: Answers may vary but include growth, influence, and competition in the global market. DIF: Moderate MSC: Creating
REF: Page 334
OBJ: The Economics of Globalization
9. Are internships a way for students to earn a “leg up” on starting their careers? Or are internships just another way organizations exploit “free menial labor” from willing participants? ANS: Answers may vary but should include pros (e.g., academic credit, paid internships) and cons (e.g., meaningless work, exploitation, and long hours). DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 342
OBJ: Different Ways of Working
10. Are things like contingent work and volunteerism (third-sector labor) just another way for corporations or organizations to exploit workers? Or do they offer workers freedom from bureaucracy, and choice in terms of volunteer opportunities? Define these concepts and support your answer with facts on globalization. ANS: Answers may vary. DIF: Difficult Working MSC: Evaluating
REF: Pages 343–345
OBJ: Different Ways of
CHAPTER 12: LIFE AT HOME: FAMILIES AND RELATIONSHIPS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. How does the U.S. Census Bureau define “family”? a. people who are emotionally and/or materially interdependent b. people who share a household c. parents living with minor children d. two or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption who share a household ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
2. How would a sociologist define “family”? a. two or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption who share a household b. an interdependent social group bound by legal, biological, or emotional ties c. a group of related people who share a household d. almost any social group so long as members share responsibilities for raising children ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
3. Why do the authors of your textbook reject definitions of family that depend on particular types of people (like parents) and specific types of ties (like marriage)? a. They believe that the nuclear family remains the most important prototype for a family. b. They want the definition to be broad enough to encompass a variety of living arrangements. c. They believe that, in the future, more and more families will consist of two sets of parents with children. d. They argue that it is important to limit the definition of families so that families can be discussed with clarity. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
4. How did the Industrial Revolution change the common meaning of family? a. It stopped mattering whether children were present. b. Family no longer exclusively referred to people who shared a household. c. It shifted the meaning from nuclear family to extended family. d. It shifted the meaning from extended family to nuclear family. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
5. A heterosexual couple living in the same household and raising children is defined as a(n) ________ family. a. nontraditional c. extended b. nuclear d. broken ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
6. Which of the following seems to make people in general more likely to define a group as a family? a. the size of the group in question
b. the presence of children c. the ages of group members d. the socioeconomic class of the people involved ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
7. Who is more likely to define unrelated roommates as a family? a. women c. senior citizens b. men d. racial and ethnic minorities ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
8. Given the history of the family, what sort of changes do you think would be most likely to make the extended family more relevant again? a. changes in America’s travel and transportation services b. changes in the economy that make people less likely to move away from their hometowns to get a job c. changes in divorce laws that make it harder for couples to separate d. changes in religion that cause adults to reevaluate how they relate to their parents ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
9. Today when the average American thinks of his or her family, who is he or she most likely to have in mind? a. his or her uncle c. his or her aunt b. his or her brother d. his or her cousin ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
10. What feature of the nuclear family, as opposed to the extended family, makes it uniquely qualified to serve the needs of an industrial economy? a. It has more emotional resources to draw on in times of trouble. b. It makes geographic mobility much easier. c. It is capable of retaining more knowledge about child rearing and household labor. d. It functions better as a unit of economic production. ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
11. In what way is the family responsible for the reproduction of society? a. It produces and socializes children. b. It is the fundamental planning mechanism for society. c. It is the most important unit of consumption. d. It is the basic unit of the household, the smallest building block of a society. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Remembering
12. In Japan, some are worried about the effect that the rise in one-child families is having on the foundation of Japanese society. On what sort of theoretical perspective on the family is this concern based? a. structural functionalist c. life course theory
b. symbolic interactionist
d. historical materialist
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 354–355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families MSC: Applying 13. According to conflict theory, how does the nuclear family facilitate exploitation? a. through the use of nannies and domestic workers b. by making geographic mobility possible c. through a sexual division of labor within the home d. by exploiting the working class, whose products it consumes ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Remembering
14. Which theoretical perspective would lead you to consider the broader social effects of the division of labor between men and women in the household? a. symbolic interactionism c. conflict theory b. queer theory d. structural functionalism ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Applying
15. According to the symbolic interactionists Jay Gubrium and Jim Holstein, what form does the family take in contemporary society? a. “The family” does not exist; rather, family is a fluid, adaptable set of concepts and practices. b. The family is the unit that raises children. c. The family is based on legal and economic structures. d. The family is the institution for the socialization of children. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Remembering
16. When an individual describes someone who is related to him or her biologically as “not really kin,” what is he or she saying? a. The relative has not exercised his or her rights or fulfilled his or her obligations as a family member. b. The relative is part of the extended, rather than the nuclear, family. c. The relative does not belong to the relevant voluntary associations. d. The relative has died. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Remembering
17. Family friends who are referred to as “Aunt” or “Uncle” are examples of: a. the Full House effect. c. fictive kin. b. homogamy. d. extended families. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 354 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Remembering
18. In what would a symbolic interactionist studying the family be most interested? a. the inequalities associated with men’s negligible role in raising and caring for infants b. the diminished role the family plays in teaching children important skills c. the way gift giving within an extended family makes some bonds more important than others
d. the way increasing divorce rates are making it harder for families to function and to socialize children ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Applying
19. What do sociologists call the tendency to marry someone of a similar background? a. heterogamy c. endogamy b. in-group orientation d. exogamy ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
20. What do sociologists call the tendency to marry someone from a different background? a. exogamy c. homogamy b. endogamy d. out-group orientation ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
21. Until recently, South Korea had laws in place banning marriage between people who belonged to the same clan. This means that they practiced: a. polyandry. c. endogamy. b. exogamy. d. plural families. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
22. In the United States today, very few people marry outside of their own socioeconomic class, suggesting that there is a high degree of: a. endogamy. c. polyandry. b. exogamy. d. polygamy. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
23. What sort of laws prohibited the mixing of racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, or sexual contact? a. reconstruction c. anti-miscegenation b. common d. Jim Crow ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 357
OBJ: Mate Selection
24. When was the last anti-miscegenation law struck down in the United States? a. 1865 c. 1917 b. 1895 d. 1967 ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 357
OBJ: Mate Selection
25. What did the research subjects of Glaser, Dixit, and Green’s 2002 study of white supremacist online chatrooms find most threatening? a. interracial marriage b. residential desegregation c. competition for jobs from racial and ethnic minorities
d. African American and Hispanic politicians ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 357
OBJ: Mate Selection
26. If a music critic used the term “miscegenation” metaphorically, what would he or she call “musical miscegenation”? a. the way white country music and black blues music come together to make rock and roll b. the way pop stars become disconnected from their roots c. the way the press treats pop superstars and the effect this has on contemporary music d. the role the piano has played in twentieth-century jazz ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 357
OBJ: Mate Selection
27. According to the text, what are the major factors involved in forming relationships and selecting mates? a. personal chemistry b. the unique individual characteristics of the individuals involved c. the tendency to choose mates who are similar in class, race, ethnicity, and age d. the desire to find a mate who is exotic and comes from a radically different background e. the tendency to look for a mate far from home ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Mate Selection
REF: Pages 356–357 MSC: Remembering
28. How could new technologies like the Internet decrease the importance of propinquity in mate selection, while preserving or even increasing the importance of homogamy? a. by bringing people together from all over the world based on very similar interests or backgrounds b. by making it obvious to most people that their best chance for marital satisfaction may be with a type of person they have never met before c. by masking some of the characteristics of potential mates until the two people have met d. by allowing social networking sites to connect individuals to more and more residents of their hometowns ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Mate Selection
REF: Pages 356–357 MSC: Remembering
29. JDate is a website that helps Jewish men and women, especially those who are not practicing Jews or who live in areas where there are not many other Jews, form romantic relationships. What do Jewish people who use this website care about? a. religious purity c. propinquity b. homogamy d. polyandry ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
30. JDate, a dating website for Jewish people, is sometimes used by non-Jews who are very interested in dating Jews. These non-Jews are practicing: a. monogamy. c. homogamy. b. exogamy. d. polyandry. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
31. Propinquity refers to: a. a fixed set of beliefs. b. the tendency to seek people with similar backgrounds. c. the desire for the exotic and the foreign. d. geographic proximity. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
32. The increasing number of Americans who move out of state to attend college will decrease the importance of ________, assuming that students start new romantic relationships in school. a. homogamy c. exogamy b. monogamy d. propinquity ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Mate Selection
REF: Pages 356–357 MSC: Applying
33. Before World War II, the United States had no interstate highway system, and traveling to different parts of the country was difficult. This means that ________ must have been even more important in determining mate selection. a. exogamy c. schools b. economic considerations d. propinquity ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 356
OBJ: Mate Selection
34. According to the text, ________ is one of several reasons people live their lives unmarried. a. the bohemian lifestyle c. the single lifestyle b. an inability to find a mate d. fear of infidelity ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 358
OBJ: Relationship Trends
35. Between 1960 and 2014, demographers noticed what type of change in the numbers of unwed individuals living with their romantic partners? a. a very slight increase c. a sharp decrease b. a sharp increase d. no change ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 358
OBJ: Relationship Trends
36. Unmarried adults who are romantically involved and live together under the same roof are participating in: a. cohabitation. c. premarital bliss. b. sinful behavior. d. the honeymoon phase. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 358
OBJ: Relationship Trends
37. The Farm is a living arrangement located in the state of Tennessee where residents share all of their resources, such as living space and income. This is called: a. cohabitation. c. a blended family. b. an intentional community. d. an extended family. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 358
OBJ: Relationship Trends
38. Jennifer Mitchell, an adoption social worker, uses a rigorous screening process for potential adoptive parents. She frequently asks: a. if prospective parents enjoy outdoor recreation. b. if prospective parents engage in a healthy eating routine. c. prospective parents about their hopes for the future. d. prospective parents about their sexual preferences. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 360
OBJ: Relationship Trends
39. American ideology focuses on the importance of marriage and family values and assumes that the family is at the center of almost everyone’s life. How does this compare to the way people really live? a. Marriage remains central to people’s lives, but family values are less important than in the past. b. Family values remain very important, but many more people are choosing not to get married than did so in the past. c. Both marriage and the family are central to the lives of the majority of Americans in much the same way they were in the distant past. d. Increasingly, both marriage and the family are less central to the lives of average Americans. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 366
OBJ: Relationship Trends
40. A woman in North Carolina was found guilty of “lewd and lascivious association” because she lived with her boyfriend. Her behavior is also known as: a. cohabitation. c. symbolic interactionism. b. noncustodial parenting. d. intentional community. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 358
OBJ: Relationship Trends
41. Although Geoffrey Greif points out that “more fathers are rearing children alone following separation and divorce than ever before,” which of the following remains true about single fathers? a. Single fathers are still only about 15 percent of all single parents. b. Many states have laws against giving sole custody to fathers following a divorce. c. Most of these fathers move back in with their parents so that their children live with grandparents. d. Soon there will be more single fathers than single mothers. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 359
OBJ: Relationship Trends
42. According to Kathryn Edin and Maria Kefalas, which of the following is a reason young women of low socioeconomic status have children? a. They want to gain access to welfare benefits. b. They do not have access to adequate birth control. c. They are poorly educated. d. A baby is a symbol of belonging, and motherhood can lead to respect from one’s community. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 359
OBJ: Relationship Trends
43. Groups that form communal living arrangements like communes, monasteries, ashrams, and housing cooperatives are called: a. extended families. c. intentional communities. b. endogamy. d. postmodern families. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 358
OBJ: Relationship Trends
44. Brook Farm, founded in the nineteenth century by Unitarians and transcendentalists, consisted of a group of people who lived and worked together for the greater good of the community. What was Brook Farm? a. a blended family c. a nuclear family b. a communist state d. an intentional community ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 358
OBJ: Relationship Trends
45. Jill has become nervous that her marriage may end in divorce, since she grew up with divorced parents. One fact that might reassure her is that the rate of ________ has decreased. a. custody battles c. stable marriages b. intergenerational divorce d. child visitation ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 361
OBJ: Breaking Up
46. The physical and legal responsibility for the everyday life and routines of children is called: a. custody. c. visitation. b. good parenting. d. child support. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 361
OBJ: Breaking Up
47. How has the percentage of marriages that end in divorce changed since 1950? a. It has doubled. b. It has declined slightly. c. It has increased slightly. d. It has increased more than 500 percent. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 360
OBJ: Breaking Up
48. Why are remarriage rates lower today than they were in the 1960s? a. Divorced people tend to have a series of short relationships instead of getting remarried. b. There has been an increase in cohabitation among unmarried couples. c. Divorce rates have dropped slightly. d. People tend to divorce at later ages, so they are less likely to remarry. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 360
OBJ: Breaking Up
49. How are children of divorced parents today different from children of divorced parents in the 1970s? a. Children of divorced parents today are more likely to get divorced themselves than were children whose parents divorced in the 1970s. b. Children of divorced parents today are more likely to be divorced multiple times than were
children whose parents divorced in the 1970s. c. Children of divorced parents today are more likely to get married than were children whose parents divorced in the 1970s. d. Children of divorced parents today are considerably less likely to divorce than were children whose parents divorced in the 1970s. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 361–362 OBJ: Breaking Up MSC: Remembering 50. How is custody of minor children usually handled in divorce cases? a. Fathers are now slightly more likely than mothers to receive custody. b. Mothers always receive custody. c. Mothers receive custody in a disproportionate number of cases. d. Mothers and fathers are about equally likely to receive custody. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 361
OBJ: Breaking Up
51. Under what circumstances are parents more likely to have joint custody of their children after a divorce? a. when they live in a rural area b. when they are of relatively low socioeconomic status c. when they are nonwhite d. when they are homosexual ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 362
OBJ: Breaking Up
52. Under what circumstances is a father more likely than a mother to be awarded custody of his minor children following a divorce? a. when he lives in a rural area b. when he lives in a politically conservative area c. when the children are younger than twelve d. when he makes substantially more money than his ex-wife ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 362
OBJ: Breaking Up
53. Tasks designed to achieve a tangible goal like washing the dishes or taking out the trash are called: a. instrumental tasks. c. female tasks. b. expressive tasks. d. the second shift. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 362
OBJ: The Work of Family
54. What kind of task is calling a family member to wish him a happy birthday? a. a family task c. an operative task b. an expressive task d. an instrumental task ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 362
OBJ: The Work of Family
55. Reading children bedtime stories is an important task in many families. What part of reading the bedtime story is an instrumental task? a. making bedtime fun and keeping everyone happy b. staying entertained as a parent by reading the children books you like
c. getting children into pajamas, tucked into bed, and then to sleep d. sharing a moment with a child and developing shared interests ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 362
OBJ: The Work of Family
56. Who is more likely to return home after a full day of paid labor and then have to put in a “second shift” at home taking care of domestic work? a. women c. young people b. men d. older people ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
57. What historical change led to a devaluation of women’s work in the home? a. World War I c. the Great Depression b. the Industrial Revolution d. the Civil Rights Movement ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
58. Arlie Hochschild’s study of two-income families found that women were much more likely than men to do the majority of the unpaid labor inside the home even after a full day’s work outside the home. What term do sociologists use to describe this extra labor? a. women’s work c. the double standard b. the female burden d. the second shift ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
59. Which of the following is a strategy that women have used to balance the demands of work and home? a. hiring other women to do domestic work b. increasing the chores that their husbands complete c. doing more of certain chores d. demanding the abolition of housework ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
60. Some women accept the burdens of the “second shift” in order to avoid conflict with their husbands or children. How does this affect them? a. It increases their confidence and self-esteem. b. It increases their efficiency. c. It makes them unhappy and emotionally numb. d. It improves their self-reported level of marital satisfaction. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
61. What does Arlie Hochschild call mothers who accept the dual workloads of paid labor at work and unpaid labor at home without any help? a. instrumental leaders c. dual mothers b. supermoms d. revolutionary moms ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
MSC: Remembering 62. To whom has Hochschild’s concept of the “supermom” always been applicable? a. upper-class mothers c. working-class mothers b. middle-class parents d. the homeless ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
63. Although there are strategies available to help ease the burden of the second shift, they are mainly available to: a. people with extended families. c. newlyweds. b. young couples. d. wealthier families. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
64. Which of the following strategies does Arlie Hochschild claim some women use to help balance working a paid job and being responsible for the home? a. no longer caring that there are dirty clothes all over the floor b. divorcing husbands who refuse to help c. forcing their children to take over the majority of the housework d. throwing away clothing when they find it on the floor, to teach their husbands a lesson ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
65. As an agent of socialization, who does the family influence? a. only children c. women b. everyone d. the elderly ANS: B DIF: Easy Course MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 365
OBJ: Family and the Life
66. What happens to marital satisfaction when small children are present in the household? a. It goes up. b. It goes down. c. It goes up for the first child, but down for every child after that. d. It goes up for newlyweds, but down for older married couples. ANS: B DIF: Difficult Course MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 365
OBJ: Family and the Life
67. How does the birth of children tend to change the gendered division of labor within the household? a. It gets fathers more involved. b. It brings the extended family into the household more. c. It makes the division of labor more traditionally split along gender lines. d. It has no influence on the gendered division of labor. ANS: C DIF: Difficult Course MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 365
OBJ: Family and the Life
68. What is it called when individuals must care for both their own children and their elderly parents?
a. the sandwich generation effect b. elderly caregiving ANS: A DIF: Moderate Course MSC: Remembering
c. extended family care d. dual workloads REF: Page 365
OBJ: Family and the Life
69. Which of the following things is a child likely to convince a parent to do? a. switch to a different political party c. join a gym b. start reading more literature d. learn about new cultures ANS: C Course MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 365
OBJ: Family and the Life
70. What term applies to a child who leaves home at eighteen but later returns for at least a short period of time? a. emotionally stunted c. adult minor b. boomerang kid d. sandwich kid ANS: B DIF: Easy Course MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 366
OBJ: Family and the Life
71. Today, many college graduates find themselves unable to afford the costs of living on their own and, at least temporarily, live with their parents again. What good news about families can we take from this trend? a. It allows parents to have more of a say in their children’s romantic lives. b. That so many children are willing to live with their parents again suggests that they have closer relationships with parents than previous generations did. c. College students today are taking less time to finish college and moving past the “student” phase of their lives more quickly than in the past. d. By living with their parents, these college graduates save money and demonstrate fiscal responsibility in ways that the past generation did not. ANS: B DIF: Moderate Course MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 366
OBJ: Family and the Life
72. Although most young people face similar financial pressures while in their twenties, considerably more men move back in with their parents than women. What is one reason for this? a. Men care more about saving money than women do. b. Women lose more independence when they move back home than men do. c. Men have stronger relationships with their parents than women do. d. Women are more likely than men to have serious emotional conflicts with their mothers. ANS: B DIF: Moderate Course MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 366
OBJ: Family and the Life
73. Which of the following was true of parenting in the nineteenth century and earlier? a. Fathers were far more likely to have the final say in decisions about their children. b. Mothers often valued other mothers’ opinions about child rearing over the opinions of their own children’s fathers. c. The extended family was less important in terms of instrumental support.
d. Members of the community had far less influence than they do today. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering 74. A person is most likely to be murdered by: a. a family member. b. a law enforcement officer. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 360
OBJ: Trouble in Families
c. a drug dealer or a drug user. d. someone seeking to rob him or her. REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
75. The radio played a news story about the murder of a twenty-five-year-old woman, married, with one child. Who would you guess is the most likely culprit? a. a serial killer b. her husband or boyfriend c. a gang member being “initiated” into a street gang d. a burglar who she surprised in the act ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
76. How do rates of domestic abuse differ across racial groups? a. They are higher among African Americans and Hispanics than in other racial groups. b. They are about equal across racial groups. c. They are lower among Asian Americans than in other racial groups. d. They are higher among non-English-speaking individuals than among English speakers. ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Trouble in Families
REF: Pages 367–368 MSC: Analyzing
77. What is the main reason abusive partners resort to domestic abuse? a. They have anger management problems. b. They have problems outside the relationship that drive them over the edge. c. They are generally violent in all aspects of their lives. d. They desire power over their victims. ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
78. What is the term for the range of behaviors that abusers use to gain and maintain control over their victims? a. manipulation c. domestic violence b. passive aggression d. symbolic violence ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 367
OBJ: Trouble in Families
79. How do most abusive relationships look at the beginning? a. The signs of violence are there from the start. b. Violence usually begins as soon as the relationship starts, if not before. c. There is tension and a “walking on eggshells” feeling from day one. d. The abusive partner is charming, attentive, and thoughtful. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
80. What sort of actions do abusive partners take to keep their partners in the relationship? a. keep up a constant stream of threats b. stop the cycle of abuse and truly reform c. periodically enter a cycle of loving contrition d. seek psychological help ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
81. What is one common reason why victims of domestic abuse stay in abusive relationships? a. They are waiting for someone to save them. b. They do not feel responsible for their own abuse. c. They do not have the resources to get away. d. The abusive partner treats them well all the time. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
82. Which of the following statements is LEAST likely to come from a perpetrator of domestic violence? a. “She deserved it.” b. “I really want to change.” c. “I just lose control.” d. “I have anger management problems.” ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
83. Why are child and elder abuse likely to go unreported? a. Few authority figures care enough to investigate abuse. b. Neither kind of abuse is perceived as a serious problem in America today. c. Most child and elder abuse is done very carefully, so as to make it hard to prove in court. d. The victims are relatively powerless. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
84. Sometimes child welfare agencies are called to investigate a child who never seems to have clean clothing and is very skinny. The suspicion would be that the child is a victim of: a. neglect. c. violence. b. incest. d. eldest child syndrome. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 370
OBJ: Trouble in Families
85. Judith Stacey’s Brave New Families explored the ways families adapted to meet the challenges of a postmodern society by creating innovative family structures that looked very different from the “traditional” family. Which of the following would you think was the full title of Stacey’s book? a. Brave New Families: Gender, Love, and Property b. Brave New Families: The Quest for Intimacy c. Brave New Families: Creating a Safe Legal Haven for Families with Special Needs d. Brave New Families: Stories of Domestic Upheaval in Late-Twentieth-Century America ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 371 OBJ: Postmodern Families: The New Normal
MSC: Analyzing
TRUE/FALSE 1. The family is created and sustained through interactional work. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 362
OBJ: The Work of Family
2. In all societies across the globe, men and women have always performed different tasks to help the family function, and these roles have always been considered unequal. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 364
OBJ: The Work of Family
3. A husband who keeps all of his family’s money in his bank account and gives his wife a weekly allowance might be considered guilty of domestic abuse. ANS: T MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
4. The modern era is characterized by improvised or do-it-yourself forms of family. ANS: T DIF: Moderate REF: Page 371 OBJ: Postmodern Families: The New Normal
MSC: Remembering
SHORT ANSWER 1. According to conflict theory, how does the nuclear family contribute to oppression? ANS: Women do the instrumental tasks in a household that are largely unrewarding and time-consuming, such as the dishes and laundry. They are also largely responsible for expressive tasks, such as child care, holidays, and listening. In some countries, women have zero inheritance rights, cannot initiate divorce, and have very little power in their marital union. DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 355
OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
2. According to the symbolic interactionist definition of family, people can be related by blood or marriage and yet NOT really be members of the same family. Give an example of how this occurs. ANS: Some children are raised in households where their biological father is not involved, and has never been visible. Sometimes, a stepfather will take on the male duties of parenting these children, and this is the male father figure that they more often associate as a family member. DIF: Easy REF: Page 355 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
3. In 1967 the Supreme Court declared that anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional in Virginia. What did such laws prohibit and why was it prohibited?
ANS: Courtship, intimacy, and marriage are influenced by the larger culture. Jim Crow laws were widespread in the South before the Civil Rights Movement, and several states outlawed interracial marriages. Miscegenation was seen as undesirable and remained illegal in several states, including Virginia, until preventing it was declared unconstitutional. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 357 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Mate Selection
4. Though mixed-race unions are now legal, they are still uncommon. How do the numbers differ today compared to the 1960s? ANS: Only 0.4 percent of marriages were interracial during the 1960s. That percentage increased to 2.2 by 1992. The rate increased to 7.4 percent in 2000, and again in 2010 to 9.5 percent. DIF: Easy REF: Page 357 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Mate Selection
5. Describe the differences between polyandry and polygyny. ANS: Polyandry is a rare form of mate selection in which women have multiple husbands. Polygyny is common in several areas of the world. It involves men who have two or more wives at the same time. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 357 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Mate Selection
6. Why do people tend to choose mates who live in close geographic proximity? ANS: Mate selection typically occurs close to our homes. We meet spouses at work, school, and even in our neighborhoods. This makes it easier to spend time with someone and develop an intimate relationship. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 356–357 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Mate Selection
7. Almost all of the work done within the family is either instrumental or expressive. Briefly describe the differences between these types of tasks. ANS: Instrumental tasks involve washing dishes, fixing gutters, doing laundry, and completing other tangible tasks around the home. Expressive tasks are related to more emotional or traditional goals, such as birthdays, entertaining children, and listening to family concerns. DIF: Easy REF: Page 362 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: The Work of Family
8. Why is the number of Americans aged sixty-five or older growing twice as fast as the population as a whole? ANS:
The Baby Boom generation, born around the time of World War II, is now reaching middle-age or older. There have also been major advancements in medicine, allowing this large cohort to live for longer than they may have otherwise. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 365 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Family and the Life Course
9. The care of the elderly was once a task entrusted to the family, but today, more of the elderly are living elsewhere. Identify the settings in which the elderly are increasingly living instead. ANS: They live alone or in an institution. Many elderly people live only off of Social Security benefits, making this cohort susceptible to poverty. Social norms regarding the elderly have changed in the last few decades, and increasingly it is seen as unnecessary for adult children to have their parents living with them. That said, many elderly people receive in-home care and care from family members. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 366 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Family and the Life Course
10. Why are poor women more likely to be abused? ANS: Many perpetrators of abuse feel that they have little power in their work and social lives, and therefore attempt to gain power over their romantic partners. This makes women living in poor households more vulnerable to the type of power-seeking male behavior that often leads to abuse. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
ESSAY 1. The television show Full House told the story of a sports broadcaster and morning talk show host, Danny Tanner, and his three daughters, D. J., Stephanie, and Michelle Tanner. Before the series began, Danny Tanner’s wife was killed by a drunk driver. Needing help to raise his three little girls, he turned to his rock musician brother-in-law, Jesse Katsopolis, and his comedian best friend, Joey Gladstone. The three men all lived in the same household and took care of the children, who referred to Jesse and Joey as Uncle Jesse and Uncle Joey. Does this qualify as a “family”? Justify your answer. ANS: According to the definition provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, it would not qualify in all regards, because one member of the household (Joey) was not related to the others by blood, marriage, or adoption. According to the textbook’s definition, however, it certainly would qualify, as it is a group of individuals tied together by mutual responsibility for one another and bound by a combination of biological, legal, and emotional ties. Also, Joey could be discussed as “fictive kin.” DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
2. Compare the definition of family used by the U.S. Census Bureau and the one used by Chapter 12. How are they different? Why do the authors of the textbook prefer their definition?
ANS: The U.S. Census Bureau defines a family as two or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption and living in the same household. When contemporary sociologists use the word “family,” they mean a social group whose members are bound by some type of tie—legal, biological, emotional, or a combination of all three. A family may or may not share a household, but its members are interdependent in a variety of ways and have a sense of mutual responsibility for one another’s care. This means that the textbook is deliberately not defining family by specific types of people (like parents or children) or specific types of ties (like marriage). Chapter 12 uses this more inclusive definition because changing social conditions are changing the way people constitute their families. The definition of family should be broad enough to encompass the variety of forms of family—like those included in the opening vignette—that are actually found in the United States today. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 353
OBJ: What Is the Family?
3. Why do symbolic interactionists who study the family say that the “family” does not exist, only “families”? What do they mean by this? ANS: Sociologists working from a symbolic interactionist perspective argue that, instead of analyzing “the family” in terms of form or structure, it is more effective to look at how family relations are created and maintained through interaction. Instead of imagining family as a social institution with preset meanings, this approach conceives of family as a fluid, adaptable set of concepts and practices that people use “for constructing the meaning of social bonds” and that are capable of responding to changing circumstances. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 355
OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
4. Compare and contrast the structural functionalist perspective of the family with the conflict perspective. ANS: Both theories emphasize the way the model of the family shifted from an extended family to a nuclear family at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. However, structural functionalists see this largely as a positive development. Structural functionalists argue that although the family has by and large ceased to be directly involved in economic production, it still performs all of the functions necessary to make sure that production can happen. They also argue that the nuclear family was especially well equipped to help an industrial economy function because it freed individuals from obligations to extended family members and made possible the geographic and social mobility demanded by the modern economy. In contrast to structural functionalists, conflict theorists see the family as a social institution in which the struggle over resources is carried out. Like functionalists, conflict theorists realize that the family produces and socializes children to function efficiently in a capitalist economy. Conflict theorists, however, see this function as problematic: the nuclear family is understood as a relatively recent invention that acts as the primary economic unit in modern capitalist society. Since conflict theorists understand capitalism as oppressive, they also understand the nuclear family as contributing to oppression, concluding that conflict within the family is about the competition for resources—time, energy, and the leisure to pursue more interesting recreational activities. Here the family is an institution that can allow exploitation through a sexual division of labor.
DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 354–355 OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
MSC: Analyzing
5. Conflict theory argues that most disputes within the family are really about competition for resources. What sort of resources are being fought over? Who tends to receive fewer resources? How does conflict play out within the family? ANS: The resources being fought over include things like time, energy, and the leisure to pursue more interesting recreational activities. According to conflict theorists, the family is a gendered social institution that men and women experience differently. In patriarchal societies, this means that men wield greater power than women, both inside and outside the family, and that women’s contributions to family and society are devalued. Good answers might also mention that, since domestic work is associated with women, the sexual division of labor forces women to work harder within the family than men. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 355
OBJ: Sociological Perspectives on Families
6. Many Americans claim to believe that “love is blind” and that romance can spring up anywhere, as long as two people have chemistry. Chapter 12, however, argues that Cupid’s arrow is largely aimed by society. What social factors play into the mate selection process? ANS: Two time-tested concepts in social science—homogamy and propinquity—tell us a lot about how the mate selection process works. Homogamy literally means “like marries like.” In other words, people tend to choose mates who are similar to them in a variety of sociological dimensions: class, race, ethnicity, age, religion, education, and even level of attractiveness. Though there are examples of couples whose romantic relationships cross these category lines—interracial or interreligious couples, for example, or May-to-December romances—they are often viewed with distaste by others. Even though some couples do break the rule of homogamy, there are considerable social pressures to adhere to it. Propinquity refers to geographical proximity, as people tend to choose mates who live nearby. Answers might also mention the effects of new technologies and the Internet, which make courtship and romance possible across much greater geographic distances. People can now meet and converse with others all over the world, so the pool of potential mates moves beyond the bounds of home, work, and school and onto the World Wide Web. However, while Internet technology challenges the rule of propinquity, it may intensify homogamy by bringing together people with very specific interests and identities. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 356–357
OBJ: Mate Selection
7. Many Americans believe that marriage and family are at the center of everyone’s lives, when in fact sociological research shows how this is not the case. Describe some of the trends that make family less important in the day-to-day life of the average American. ANS:
First, people are staying single longer and even campaigning against the discrimination they feel is affecting singles. Second, cohabitation is increasing as fewer people get married and those who do get married later. Third, “the family” increasingly refers to single parents, who of necessity spend less time with children and more time at work. And finally, an increasing number of people are joining intentional communities that fulfill many of the same functions as marriage and the family. A counterexample to this set of developments is the increasing reliance of many people in their twenties upon their parents for financial and other kinds of support. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 358–359
OBJ: Relationship Trends
8. Explain what Arlie Hochschild means by the “second shift,” and describe the different ways people attempt to deal with it. ANS: All answers should be able to define the second shift as the dual workload of paid labor outside the home and unpaid labor inside the home that many women face. Hochschild’s study of working couples and parents found that women were indeed working two jobs, one that entailed paid labor outside the home (the first shift) and one that entailed unpaid labor inside the home (the second shift). The best answers might also mention the historical origins of the second shift in the Industrial Revolution. Chapter 12 argues that, while men and women have always performed different roles to ensure the survival of their families, these roles were not considered unequal until after the Industrial Revolution, when men began to leave their homes to earn wages working in factories. Women remained at home taking care of children and carrying out other domestic responsibilities. As men’s earned wages replaced subsistence farming—in which women had formally participated—these wages became the primary mechanism for providing food, clothing, and shelter for families. Men, in turn, gained economic power over women. Feminist sociologists contend that women’s “second shift” is the legacy of this historic economic change, as women have followed men into the workplace but men have not returned to work in the home. Good answers should also describe some of the strategies women have adopted to cope with the second shift: hiring other women to clean their houses and care for their children; relying on friends or family members for help; refusing to do certain chores, especially those generally considered to be “men’s work”; lowering their expectations for cleanliness or quality of child care; and reducing the number of hours they work outside the home. Answers might also mention Hochschild’s notion of a supermom, a woman who accepts her dual workloads without any help in order to avoid conflicts with her spouse and children. Hochschild found that women who tried to do all of their household labor and paid work often felt unhappy or emotionally numb. Although Hochschild’s analysis was relatively new for sociology, the chapter points out that working mothers have always had to be “supermoms” in this way. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 362–363
OBJ: The Work of Family
9. According to Chapter 12, how and why does domestic abuse happen? ANS: Domestic abuse happens not because abusers have anger management problems or lose their tempers but because they make the deliberate decision to be violent with those who are least likely to be able to report the crime and over whom they will be able to maintain the most control—their family members. Domestic violence results from the abuser’s desire for power and control over the victim, but abusers often blame their victims.
Chapter 12 describes a four-stage cycle of violence that seems to occur in almost every abusive relationship. In the first stage, the abusive partner is charming, attentive, and thoughtful; disagreements are glossed over and the relationship looks stable and healthy. In the second stage, often described as “walking on eggshells,” both parties sense that something is going to happen soon, no matter what the victim may do to try to avoid it. In the third stage, acute battering and violence occur. The abuser will invariably blame the victim for the incident. The fourth stage, often referred to as “loving contrition,” is the “honeymoon” phase, and it is one of the reasons victims of abuse remain in violent relationships. After the violence, the abuser will apologize profusely and promise that it will never happen again. The abuser may buy the victim gifts, beg forgiveness, and talk about getting help or making a change. Most abusers, however, have no interest in changing, because they do not want to give up the control they have over their victims. Then the cycle repeats. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 367–368
OBJ: Trouble in Families
10. What is a postmodern family? ANS: The postmodern family takes a far wider variety of forms and includes a far wider variety of members than the traditional nuclear family. When families adapt to the challenges of a postmodern society, they may create family structures that look very different from the “traditional” family we are used to seeing as the norm. Chapter 12 argues that families and households today expand and contract over time, and include members who were never part of the traditional Leave It to Beaver model of the nuclear family. Ex-spouses and their new partners and children, adult children and other kin, and even nonkin such as friends and co-workers are increasingly defined as family members. Multiple earners and a diversity of generations, genders, and relational connections are becoming the rule rather than the exception. In other words, we have entered an era of improvisation or do-it-yourself family forms. The best answers should also point out that these improvisational forms are not themselves new—they are merely new to mainstream working- and middle-class families. Minorities, the poor, and gays and lesbians have always had to improvise to fit into a society that ignored or devalued their needs and activities. Multiple-family households, “families of choice,” and support groups not technically familial in structure have always been part of the everyday lives of the disadvantaged and marginalized. DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 371
OBJ: Postmodern Families: The New Normal
11. How does age affect how people define the family? Given what Chapter 12 says about the postmodern family, how would you expect this to change in the future? ANS:
Although people of all ages are more likely to consider a group to be a family when children are present, unrelated roommates who are not romantically involved are significantly more likely to be considered family by senior citizens. However, Chapter 12 also points out that there is no longer a single culturally dominant family pattern, like the traditional one, to which a majority of Americans conform and most of the rest aspire. Instead, Americans today have crafted a multiplicity of family and household arrangements that we inhabit uneasily and reconstitute frequently in response to changing personal and occupational circumstances, leading to an era of improvisation or do-it-yourself family forms in which household members respond to social or structural changes in ways that fit their families’ needs. This suggests that, in the future, people in all age groups will have more flexible definitions of the family, including groups of unrelated roommates. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 353| Page 371 OBJ: Postmodern Families: The New Normal
MSC: Applying
CHAPTER 13: LEISURE AND MEDIA MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The terms “recreation” and “leisure” are both defined by their difference from: a. paid work. c. sports and physical fitness. b. family life. d. shopping. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
2. What is the difference between recreation and leisure? a. Leisure is a kind of activity; recreation is a kind of time. b. Leisure requires money; recreation does not. c. Leisure is a kind of time; recreation is a kind of activity. d. Recreation requires money; leisure does not. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
3. What sort of activities can be considered recreation? a. those that cannot be done for a wage b. those that involve friends and family c. those that are done on the weekend d. those that are enjoyable ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
4. In the premodern world, the line between work and play was NOT very clearly defined. Why was this the case? a. Religious beliefs prohibited this distinction. b. Too many people died young. c. People had fewer recreational options. d. People did not have adequate technology for recreation. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
5. In the past, which group of people had the time and resources necessary to pursue recreational activity? a. only the wealthy b. almost everyone c. the middle class and the upper class d. only the clergy ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
6. What led to the increase in leisure time in the twentieth century? a. Changes in values and norms made leisure disappear. b. increases in industrial productivity and time-saving technologies c. decreases in family size d. increases in life span and better health care
ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
7. Because popular music is so strongly associated with leisure, what is the most UNDERAPPRECIATED aspect of the work that professional musicians do? a. how much they get paid b. the conditions under which they work, particularly on tour c. how long a career most professional musicians have d. that it is work ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 379
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
8. Which of the following sounds most like recreation, as your textbook defines it? a. a student’s time between getting out of class and going to work b. a guitarist on tour who has to sell T-shirts and CDs at the merchandise table after each show c. the “recess” period given to children in primary school, when they can spend unstructured time on the playground d. someone learning the calculus required to compute the amount and type of fuel needed to power a model rocket he wants to launch in a park ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
9. Imagine that you have come across a woman rebuilding an engine. Which of the following questions would you need to ask to discover if this was a recreational activity as recreation is defined in your textbook? a. if she had to take time off work to do it b. if there was any way for her to benefit from the activity in an economic sense c. how much time she spent on it each week d. how rebuilding engines made her feel ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
10. What does the sociologist Richard Sennett mean when he says that modernity has seen the “fall of public man”? a. People increasingly spend time with their immediate families or those with whom they have intimate associations, and the home becomes the site of leisure activities. b. The ideals of public service and civic duty are seen as much less important than they were in the past. c. Government provides far fewer services than it has in the past. d. There are far fewer celebrities than at any other time in history. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
11. How did the rise of the suburbs affect the way people used their leisure time? a. It encouraged them to join neighborhood groups and associations. b. It encouraged them to take more vacations. c. It encouraged them to spend their leisure time in their own homes. d. It led to an increase in outdoor activities. ANS: C
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
MSC: Remembering 12. How has the Internet changed the way people use leisure time? a. Older people are more likely to be in touch with younger generations. b. There is increasing contact between people in different areas of the world, but sometimes individuals from the same family spend less time with one another. c. There is increasing contact between family members and less contact between people in different areas of the world. d. There has been a radical increase in the amount of time people spend shopping. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
REF: Pages 378–379 MSC: Remembering
13. How are changes in technology changing the nature of recreation? a. Recreation is moving into public spaces and away from the home. b. Recreation is less likely to involve members of the immediate family. c. Recreation has become safer. d. Recreation is moving inside the home and away from public spaces. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
14. The sociologist Richard Sennett argues that we have seen the “fall of public man” and have become much more likely to seek refuge in “ties of family or intimate association.” Given this, what else would you expect Sennett to believe? a. Few people can take pleasure in great cities, which are full of strangers. b. Religious ceremonies are a great source of pride and meaning. c. More and more Americans are participating in local politics. d. In the future, there will be far more people with mental health issues than there are today. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
15. In 2006 Nintendo released the Wii, its latest video game system. The system was widely noted for attracting demographic groups, including senior citizens, not often associated with video games. In fact, there were even reports of senior citizens forming leagues to play “Wii bowling” and other sports-related games. If true, these leagues would represent: a. the fall of public man. b. spontaneity in recreation and leisure. c. a return to a less commodified style of recreational activities. d. a return of public life. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
16. What is the shift from people making their own fun to people purchasing it as goods and services called? a. the privatization of recreational activities b. the commodification of recreational activities c. formalizing recreation d. conglomeration synergy ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 379
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
17. Today leisure is increasingly dominated by ________, “the 800-pound gorilla of leisure time.” a. the Internet c. shopping b. video games d. television ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
18. How have activities that were once necessities changed as they have become recreational activities? a. They now come with a wide variety of commodities. b. More people do them than in the past. c. They require more skill than before. d. They no longer require us to spend money. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
19. What does your textbook cite as the ultimate example of the commercialization of leisure? a. sports c. shopping b. video games d. the Internet ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
20. A small child asks his babysitter if he can play “tag.” The child means the simple outdoor game wherein one player chases the other players until he or she can “tag” one of them with his or her hand to trade roles. However, the babysitter is confused and goes to the entertainment center to look for a DVD or a video game named “Tag.” What phenomenon could be responsible for this confusion? a. the increase in leisure time spontaneity b. the popularity of simple outdoor activities c. the commercialization of leisure d. the decline of public life ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
21. Your hike might be considered part of the commercialization of leisure if you: a. do not use maps and instead navigate your way around a national park using a compass and the sun. b. buy a $500 backpack with a solar panel to allow you to recharge your electronics. c. use your BlackBerry to check your email every morning, even when you are away from buildings and computers. d. bring along a camera and document your hiking trip for your scrapbook. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
22. In the early days of country music, there were a number of “family” groups, or families who became professional musicians together. This happened often, in part because many families made music together for fun. Today, far from singing together, the average family is more likely to have each member put on a pair of headphones and use an mp3 player to listen to music alone. What does this say about contemporary recreation and leisure? a. We define leisure time in terms of public life and interactions with strangers. b. Our recreation and leisure is mediated by material goods that we seem to “require” in
order to have fun. c. Our leisure time is much more formally organized than it was in the past. d. Changes in recreation and leisure have produced a great deal of inequality. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
23. Reading a book you checked out from the library might seem to be an example of a recreational activity that is totally uncommercialized, but it is still directly connected to commercial activity and work because: a. you had to eat and pay for utilities on the day you went to the library. b. you might learn something valuable by reading. c. books from libraries are expensive, as they have expensive bindings. d. people were paid to write, edit, print, ship, and shelve the book. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
24. The Mall of America has more than ten thousand workers, occupies more than four million square feet, and receives more than forty million visitors each year. However, the mall offers more than just shopping. Concerts, plays, story times for children, flight simulators, and an indoor aquarium are just a few of the elements of what the mall calls its “retail experience.” What point does this illustrate? a. Many forms of leisure and recreation seem to have shifted from organized and formal activities to spontaneous or informal activities. b. Alternative media sources are driving Americans to consider new ideas and experience life differently. c. Americans are increasingly less likely to go out for a dose of the arts and more likely to stay home and enjoy performances in front of their home entertainment centers. d. Shopping is now as much about entertainment as it is about purchasing things. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
25. Little League baseball and other organized community sports are examples of what phenomenon? a. the use of technology in recreation b. expressions of inequality in leisure activities c. the formalization of recreation d. spontaneous recreation ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 381
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
26. How has technology enabled the shift from spontaneous to organized recreation? a. It has made organized recreation more fun. b. It has made organized recreation more competitive. c. It has produced the tools necessary for recreation to even exist. d. It has made it easier to organize people. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 381
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
27. Why should leisure NOT be treated as a minor and unimportant topic? a. Leisure is the opposite of work. b. Leisure and recreation absorb a lot of time, energy, and resources.
c. The wealthy and powerful do different things with their leisure time than the poor do with theirs. d. Leisure and recreation increasingly involve technology and media. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
28. Leisure and work are complementary activities. What links them together? a. food c. the weekend b. consumption d. children and the family ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
29. Why is free time (nonwork time) NOT necessarily leisure time? a. It does not count as leisure time unless money is being spent. b. Leisure activities can also earn money. c. Leisure time implies the ability to make choices. d. Leisure time often happens at work. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
30. A flash mob is a sudden assembly of strangers in a public place for the purpose of performing some novel action (clapping for no reason, singing a song together, dancing, etc.) and then rapidly dispersing. Although they appear to be spontaneous to outsiders, in reality flash mobs are organized through emails, social networking sites, and text messages. This is a good example of how technology can: a. shift recreation to the private sphere. b. promote self-regulation and censorship in the media. c. make it easier to organize people. d. commodify recreation and leisure. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
31. On ESPN.com, men’s college basketball is presented as “college basketball,” while women’s college basketball is called “women’s college basketball” and shares a web page with women’s professional basketball. This is an example of: a. the concentration of media power. c. privatization. b. inequality. d. commercialization. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
32. Given the ways spectatorship has changed in recent years, which of the following trends is it most closely related to? a. increasing levels of conglomeration b. the increase in third places c. the decline of public life d. the commercialization of leisure ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
33. In August 2009, the Newbury Astronomical Society held a “Twitter Meteorwatch,” posting photographs of the Perseid meteor shower as well as tweets about what was going on in the night sky as it happened. This represented a remarkable new expansion of: a. democracy. c. spectatorship. b. hegemony. d. commodification. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 380
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
34. During the first decade of the twenty-first century, daily newspapers were in trouble all across the country, many having closed and many others poised to do so. This worried some scholars who believed that newspapers are vital for maintaining: a. volunteerism. c. interpretive communities. b. censorship. d. democracy. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 381
OBJ: The Study of Media
35. How has the principle of the free press as a voice of the people been watered down since the founders guaranteed it in the Constitution? a. through blogs and zines b. through conglomeration and media concentration c. through the tabloid press d. through the rise of celebrity gossip ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 381
OBJ: The Study of Media
36. Seagram’s, a company best known for its gin, also owns Universal Records. This is an example of what trend in the media industry? a. regulation c. inequality b. monopoly d. conglomeration ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 381
OBJ: The Study of Media
37. A typical media conglomerate is most likely to include which of the following? a. a restaurant chain c. a sports franchise b. a personals ad d. an international phone card ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 381
OBJ: The Study of Media
38. When one media conglomerate is able to market its products across a wide range of media, it is said to have: a. synergy. c. consumption. b. a monopoly. d. antitrust. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 382
OBJ: The Study of Media
39. Americans seem to have much more choice about which media to consume than in the past. Why is this choice deceptive? a. Many choices are owned by foreign companies. b. Many choices are confined to small, marginal outlets. c. Many choices are owned by the same company.
d. Many choices are not available in all areas. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 381
OBJ: The Study of Media
40. In 2001 Sirius and XM started offering satellite radio services, but both struggled to make a profit. In 2007 Sirius acquired XM, part of a process called: a. introducing new voices in the media. b. encoding. c. conglomeration. d. spectatorship. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 381
OBJ: The Study of Media
41. Some cell phone providers are now offering hardware, like small laptops, and media to play on it, like songs and TV shows. Phone companies believe that each product they offer will encourage and promote other products, as phones can easily send data to laptops, which can store media that can easily be watched on phones, and so on. What is this called? a. media concentration c. bandwidth b. conglomeration d. synergy ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 381
OBJ: The Study of Media
42. Today, four companies sell more than 80 percent of the music purchased in the United States, although this fact is not obvious because the four companies have purchased many smaller record labels over the years. What is this called? a. synergy c. a monopoly b. the media and democracy d. concentration of media power ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: The Study of Media
REF: Pages 381–384 MSC: Applying
43. Some lawyers working for the Department of Justice worry that Google is abusing its power and behaving like a monopoly in the way it charges for ads. If the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit, what type of suit would it be? a. commodification c. antitrust b. prima facie d. synergistic ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 384
OBJ: The Study of Media
44. In 1996 Congress passed telecommunications legislation that fundamentally altered the way the radio business worked, removing most of the barriers that prevented a single company from owning large numbers of stations. What is this called? a. antitrust legislation c. encoding and decoding b. deregulation d. textual poaching ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 384
OBJ: The Study of Media
45. Given what you know about David Harvey and the postmodern economy, how does our society manage to consume all of the additional goods produced as a result of the incredible increases in efficiency? a. Many more products last longer and work more efficiently, thus ensuring consumer
loyalty. b. Many more types of products will be subject to fashion and will go out of style. c. Media deregulation and the concentration of media power have decreased the persuasive quality of advertising. d. Passing stronger antitrust legislation has led to variety as well as quantity. ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 385
OBJ: The Study of Media
46. Why does it make sense that mp3 players, like iPods, would replace the compact disc in a postmodern economy? a. There are limits to the number of CDs one can sell to any one person, but more “ephemeral” products like mp3s and downloaded movies can be sold faster and more often. b. Mp3 players are better designed than CDs and make use of the same technologies (the computer chip) that are driving the information economy. c. Mp3 players allow more control of the dissemination of information, which undermines the constitutional rights of the average citizen to have his or her voice heard. d. Mp3 players could only exist after the removal of government restrictions on the media industry allowed companies to gain control of ever-larger chunks of the media market. ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 385
OBJ: The Study of Media
47. Why are blogs, zines, and podcasts valuable? a. They provide an opportunity for disenfranchised, nonmainstream individuals to be heard. b. They provide daytime entertainment. c. They provide a window into an alternate lifestyle. d. They provide news and opinion from non-Western societies. ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 386
OBJ: The Study of Media
48. Thomas Beatie, a transsexual man who got pregnant, went on the Oprah Winfrey Show and let Oprah’s camera crew tape his ultrasound. This is an example of: a. a nonmainstream individual gaining access to a mass audience. b. bloggers and zines circumventing the constraints of the mainstream media. c. the effect of deregulation. d. one of the insidious effects of media concentration. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 386
OBJ: The Study of Media
49. Why would media outlets impose self-censorship? a. to compete with online blogs and underground publications b. to avoid outside regulation by the government c. to protect children d. to increase subscriptions ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 386
OBJ: The Study of Media
50. Why do some argue in favor of increased censorship of the media? a. They believe censorship will provide a voice for disenfranchised groups. b. They believe it will protect American companies from foreign competition.
c. They believe it will increase sales overseas, especially in conservative societies. d. They believe that violent and sexual media content has a negative impact on society. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 386
OBJ: The Study of Media
51. If scholars assume that audiences are active rather than passive, what does this imply about the meaning of media “texts”? a. Media producers manipulate audiences in order to sell goods. b. Every media consumer experiences meanings in the same way. c. The meaning of any particular media text is not very important. d. Consumers can alter and even invert meanings to suit their own purposes. ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 390 OBJ: Culture and Consumption of Media
MSC: Remembering
52. When sociologists reject the hypodermic needle model, they tend to stop asking ________ and start asking ________. a. what people do with media; what media does to people b. what writers and critics do with media; what media does to people c. what media does to people; what people do with media d. what media does to people; what writers and critics do with media ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 390 MSC: Applying
53. A sociologist who is concerned that people will uncritically accept political biases in the media they consume probably believes that audiences: a. are active. b. seek out the same media to meet different needs. c. can transform pieces of the media to suit their own needs. d. are mostly passive. ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 390 MSC: Applying
54. The assumption that media consumers automatically accept whatever meaning is in the “texts” they consume is called: a. the active audience model. c. textual poaching. b. the encoding/decoding model. d. the magic bullet theory. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 390 MSC: Remembering
55. Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer believed that “the triumph of advertising . . . is that consumers feel compelled to buy and use its products even though they see through them.” If this is all you know about Adorno and Horkheimer, you might conclude that they: a. accept that reinforcement theory explains the way advertising works. b. accept that audiences are nonexistent. c. believe in the hypodermic needle theory. d. rely on the uses and gratification paradigm to understand media. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 390 MSC: Applying
56. What does the uses and gratifications paradigm of media consumption assume about audiences?
a. b. c. d.
They uncritically accept the messages encoded in media. They are passive viewers. They take a media product and manipulate it to tell their own stories. They are actively engaged.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Remembering
57. Sometimes teenage boys watch football games on Sunday only because they wish to be able to make conversation with their classmates on Monday. Which theory best explains this? a. textual poaching c. the magic bullet theory b. structural functionalism d. the uses and gratifications paradigm ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Applying
58. A series of polls in 2003 showed that people who primarily got their news from the Fox News Channel were significantly more likely to believe that Iraq had played a part in the 9/11 attacks. Many people saw this as evidence of the way the media shaped public opinion, but some believed that those who already believed this simply gravitated to Fox. This is an example of: a. textual poaching. c. reinforcement theory. b. encoding/decoding. d. agenda-setting theory. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Applying
59. Every year Project Censored posts a list of the twenty-five most censored news stories. These stories are “censored” not in the sense that the media are legally prohibited from covering them but rather in the sense that most major media outlets have systematically ignored them and, in the process, determined what the public will think about. What theory explains this? a. agenda-setting theory c. the magic bullet theory b. reinforcement theory d. the two-step flow theory ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Applying
60. According to the two-step flow model, which of the following would be most likely to sway public opinion concerning the ethical treatment of farm animals? a. a billboard with a famous actress and a slogan on it b. a news story that makes the front page of a national paper c. a short clip on the local news d. a documentary aired on cable television ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Applying
61. Which theory of media consumption combines elements of both the magic bullet theory and the uses and gratifications theory? a. Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding model b. Henry Jenkins’s textual poaching model c. Stanley Fish’s interpretive community model d. Emile Durkheim’s functionalist model ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Remembering
62. What part of Stuart Hall’s theory resembles the magic bullet model? a. the assumption that specific ideological messages are loaded into cultural products b. the assumption that individuals will respond to media messages in a wide variety of ways c. the assumption that audience members manipulate cultural products for their own ends d. the assumption that audience members will listen to “opinion leaders” ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Remembering
63. When audience members manipulate commercially produced media products, often to tell stories or express ideas very different from the original, they are doing what Henry Jenkins called: a. textual poaching. c. gratification consumption. b. encoding. d. hypodermic media consumption. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 392 MSC: Remembering
64. When fans of the original Star Trek series edit recorded episodes of the TV show to make it appear that Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock are passionate gay lovers, they are doing all the following EXCEPT: a. textual poaching. b. subverting the meaning of the original product. c. being an active audience. d. agenda setting. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Remembering
65. Although critics might see soap operas as brainwashing their viewers to accept a particular version of gender roles, some sociologists would insist that the people who produce soap operas actually have to be constantly attentive to the desires of their audience and are to some extent responding to the audience. If you believe this, then you probably see soap opera viewers as: a. new voices in the media. c. collectors. b. the bourgeoisie. d. an active audience. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Understanding
66. The English music star Morrissey got his start in the band The Smiths, singing about radical vegetarianism and bisexuality in the 1980s. He was effeminate, bleak, and sarcastic. Today, his fan base has expanded far beyond the disaffected English teenagers who bought his original records. In fact, some of his most devoted fans are Hispanics in Southern California. How is it possible that British teenagers in the 1980s and Hispanic Californians can appreciate the same music? a. There are very few differences between these two groups. b. Even though members of the two groups have very different experiences and perspectives, they understand Morrissey’s music in the same way. c. They bring different interpretive strategies to the experience of listening to Morrissey’s music. d. Music is universal, and all people experience it in the same way; if one group can be moved by it, then any other group will feel the same way. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Applying
67. In his study of British television, The Nationwide Audience, David Morley argued that the success or failure of a television program “in transmitting the preferred or dominant meaning will depend on whether it encounters readers” with “codes and ideologies derived from other institutional areas (e.g., churches or schools) which correspond to and work in parallel with those of the program or whether it encounters readers” with beliefs “drawn from other areas or institutions (e.g., trade unions or ‘deviant’ subcultures) which conflict to a greater or lesser extent with those of the program.” Which theory of mass media consumption is Morley using? a. the hypodermic needle theory c. the spectatorship paradigm b. the uses and gratifications paradigm d. the encoding/decoding model ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Applying
68. The producers, writers, and actors of Die Hard meant for the audience to cheer for the protagonist, a blue collar hero who defeats a team of German terrorists single-handedly. If you met someone who instead was rooting for Hans Gruber, the murderous leader of the terrorists, you could say that he or she was: a. being used by the mass media to influence other members of the public. b. being more or less “brainwashed” by the effects of the mass media. c. being informed and educated by the media. d. decoding the movie differently than it was encoded. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 391 MSC: Applying
69. In 2008, to celebrate the release of Lawrence Lessig’s book, Bloomsbury Academic Press hosted a competition called Remix the Remixer. Entrants were asked to find a video, interview, or written work of Lessig’s, mash it up with another piece of Lessig’s work, and create something new—a video, photo, or text. What is this sort of artistic activity called? a. a two-step flow model c. magic bullets b. textual poaching d. uses and gratifications ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 392 MSC: Applying
70. What is a group of like-minded individuals called that shares a similar sensibility and enjoys cultural products in similar ways? a. an interpretive community c. an active audience b. textual poachers d. producers ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 395 MSC: Remembering
71. If, as Stanley Fish argues, an individual reader interprets a text and thereby gives it meaning, then there are an infinite number of potential meanings for any given text. Why, then, do so many people interpret things in the same ways? a. People tend to look to a small number of critics to explain any particular piece of culture. b. People have very little imagination and do not like to focus too much on any given text. c. People who consume the same texts come from similar backgrounds and have similar interpretive frameworks. d. People passively absorb meanings from the media that lead them to see the world in the same ways. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Leisure and Relationships
REF: Pages 395–396 MSC: Remembering
72. Stanley Fish argues against older understandings of media and literature, which held that a text is unchanging and universal. But although he argues that each member of an audience can interpret and so “create” a work, he does not claim that each audience member has absolute freedom to interpret in unique ways because: a. each member of an audience is part of a larger interpretive community. b. the author or creator of a work imposes his or her own ideas on the audience. c. the “texts” an audience consumes are transmitted unaltered and absorbed straight into their consciousness. d. the mass media can influence the public by the way stories are presented. ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Leisure and Relationships
REF: Pages 395–396 MSC: Applying
73. In the 1990s, kids who chanted, “I want to be like Mike!” to express their admiration for Michael Jordan had: a. an overidentification with media figures. b. all been paid by Nike to do so. c. a role model relationship with a celebrity. d. a serious consumption addiction. ANS: C DIF: Easy Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 396
OBJ: Leisure and
74. According to John Caughey, what is the contemporary American equivalent of interacting with gods, spirits, or ancestors? a. taking vacations b. visiting tourist sites associated with nature and ecotourism c. relationships between fans and celebrities d. going to church on Sunday ANS: C DIF: Difficult Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 396
OBJ: Leisure and
75. Which of the following activities is part of a fan’s relationship with a celebrity? a. reading celebrity gossip magazines b. attending a book signing or other event c. masterminding a fan-staged encounter with a celebrity d. chatting about a movie ANS: D DIF: Difficult Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 396
OBJ: Leisure and
76. For whom could celebrity stalking be seen as an obligation? a. for fans who are particularly devoted to a celebrity b. for fans who want to steal a physical object from a celebrity c. for members of the press d. for members of a fan club ANS: C DIF: Easy Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 396
OBJ: Leisure and
77. The ancient Greeks understood this well: A person who is completely private is lost to civic life. The exclusive pursuit of one’s self-interest is not even a good prescription for conduct in the marketplace; for no social, political, economic, or moral order can survive that way. What idea or belief system is being described in this quote? a. structural functionalism c. anomie b. media and democracy d. communitarianism ANS: D Relationships MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 397
OBJ: Leisure and
78. The movement that attempts to rebuild group values and a sense of collective responsibility is called: a. capitalism. c. textual poaching. b. communitarianism. d. utilitarianism. ANS: B DIF: Easy Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 397
OBJ: Leisure and
79. Does Robert Bellah believe that bonds based on shared leisure interests are enough to develop a sense of collective responsibility? a. yes b. only when the shared leisure interests involve contact with a wide variety of people c. no d. only in the United States ANS: C DIF: Difficult Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 397
OBJ: Leisure and
80. How does Robert Bellah believe that style enclaves are different from “real communities”? a. They tend to remain focused on shared interests rather than on the larger community. b. They usually lead to more altruistic behaviors and an interest in others. c. They have greater community spirit. d. They hold meetings in the “third place.” ANS: A DIF: Moderate Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 397
OBJ: Leisure and
81. What did the sociologist Dr. Kerry Ferris conclude about lifestyle enclaves as a result of her research on Star Trek and soap opera fan clubs? a. They almost never develop beyond a narrow and segmented interest in media. b. They develop bonds for a wide variety of reasons, none of which have anything to do with the programs they watch. c. They almost never expand their group boundaries beyond the narrow confines of their lifestyle enclave. d. They can eventually lead to a greater degree of involvement with the community. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Leisure and Relationships
REF: Pages 396–397 MSC: Remembering
82. When a Star Trek fan club raises money for an animal welfare organization that is sponsored by the Star Trek actor William Shatner, what is this evidence of? a. the inability of such groups to contribute to the common good b. the lack of real community in such groups c. the ability of a lifestyle enclave to develop a larger sense of social responsibility d. the narrow focus of a lifestyle enclave ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Leisure and Relationships
REF: Pages 396–397 MSC: Remembering
83. On the third Wednesday of every month, a bar and grill has a “backgammon night.” The bar provides backgammon boards and pieces, and a fairly regular group of players come in, share a few drinks, and play backgammon together. What is this an example of? a. communitarianism c. the decline of public life b. private recreation d. a lifestyle enclave ANS: D Relationships MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 397
OBJ: Leisure and
84. What do sociologists call locations like neighborhood bars and local cafes where people gather to talk? a. third places c. front stages b. libraries d. local tourism sites ANS: A DIF: Easy Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 398
OBJ: Leisure and
85. Why is the sociologist Roy Oldenburg worried that the United States seems to have so few third places, or hangouts? a. They help people make connections. b. They are an essential part of the economy. c. They represent an important agent of socialization for young people. d. They help strengthen the free press. ANS: A DIF: Easy Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 398
OBJ: Leisure and
86. What sort of places can provide opportunities for people to connect in ways that relieve alienation and anomie? a. third places c. message boards b. conglomerations d. ecotourist vacation spots ANS: A DIF: Moderate Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 398
OBJ: Leisure and
87. What are the benefits of third places, or hangouts, for society as a whole? a. The feeling of public spirit generated in them can strengthen civil society. b. They encourage spending and strengthen the economy. c. They allow small, independent media to develop an audience. d. They increase diversity and support multiculturalism.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 398
OBJ: Leisure and
88. What do sociologists call the customs and values expressed in a particular place and in the interactions of the people who hang out there? a. an interpretive community c. an idioculture b. a public life d. a third place ANS: C DIF: Moderate Relationships MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 400
OBJ: Leisure and
89. What is the term for vacations that are designed to minimize the environmental impact of a trip as well as the negative impact on local cultures? a. green consumption c. subconscious consumption b. ecotourism d. capitalism ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Leisure and Relationships
REF: Pages 400–401 MSC: Remembering
90. Today in Zambia, the economy is in serious trouble, and even the tourist industry has suffered. However, there are several plans to develop self-sustaining big game parks where tourists could go and see indigenous plants and wildlife. This is an example of: a. ecotourism. c. magic bullets. b. intentional communities. d. conglomerations. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Leisure and Relationships
REF: Pages 400–401 MSC: Applying
TRUE/FALSE 1. Since leisure and recreation are largely commodified, some things that are one person’s leisure are another person’s job. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
2. Relatively few people are employed in the leisure and recreation industries. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
3. Many forms of leisure and recreation have shifted from spontaneous or informal activities to formal and organized ones. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 377
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
4. Just because fan–celebrity relationships are one-sided does not mean they are not relationships. ANS: T DIF: Moderate OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences
REF: Page 394 MSC: Remembering
SHORT ANSWER 1. Describe how various cultures hold different norms and values when it comes to the things people do for fun. ANS: In Western culture, people tend to utilize technology as a means of social entertainment, while Eastern cultures focus more on human interaction and leisure time with family. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 377–378 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
2. How do recreation and leisure activities form the basis for a subculture? ANS: People may travel to hear a beloved band or engage in an online community committed to a novel. Subcultures are forming from access to a global community in which people may connect based off of shared interests. If people enjoy camping, they may join a camping club, or if they love gardening, a gardening club. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 377–378 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
3. How can an activity that is one person’s job also act as another person’s recreation? ANS: You may have an industrial fisherman who is paid for his time on a boat, while many people simply go fishing for pleasure. The same is true for hunting. You may have someone who is paid for racking animals and another who pays to engage in the act of hunting. There are also people who play music professionally, and others who engage in music simply because they enjoy playing an instrument. DIF: Easy REF: Page 377 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
4. Why have recreation and leisure not remained stable over history? ANS: Only the wealthy had the time for recreation and leisure pursuits before society began to shift in the 1890s to 1940s. The middle class began enjoying leisure activities as the Industrial Revolution and technological progress allowed for more personal time. DIF: Easy REF: Page 377 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
5. How were some activities that are recreation today necessities in the past? ANS: We needed food so we had to hunt and garden, rather than engaging in these activities for satisfaction and amusement. Knitting was a way to provide clothes to families, rather than simply enjoy the craft and art of knitting.
DIF: Easy REF: Page 377 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
6. Describe how sociologists view leisure time. ANS: Leisure time is a period of time where an individual relaxes, engages in recreational activities, or freely chooses other activities in which to indulge, such as a bubble bath. DIF: Easy REF: Page 377 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
7. Discuss a few of the ways in which working-class people tend to do different things with their leisure time than wealthy elites do. ANS: Working-class people spend their leisure time watching television, hiking, or engaging in other cost-effective methods of leisure—otherwise called engagement with popular culture. The wealthy elites are still engaged in public life, which was popular before the suburbs grew and people used TV and movies for entertainment. Public life involves going to museums, joining social clubs, and going to the opera; this means they are actively engaged in high culture. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 388–389 OBJ: Culture and Consumption of Media
MSC: Remembering
8. The poor or working class have considerably more leisure time than the wealthy do. Discuss several reasons why this may occur. ANS: The poor generally are seasonal or migrant workers, and some are even homeless, thus the majority of their time involves leisure. Since technology introduced television as a form of leisure, working-class families tend to watch as much as five hours of television per day. The wealthy are more separated from the activities in which they used to engage, like being social in public, due to the shift in how Americans approach technological advancements. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 388–389 OBJ: Culture and Consumption of Media
MSC: Creating
9. How has the media always been an instrument of the state as well as a tool for social change? ANS: The news is used to educate and mobilize citizens. The Constitution was developed with freedom of press and a voice of the people in mind. The press also functions to check and balance political leadership. Today, those who own media outlets can manipulate information to sway citizens in a certain direction. The Internet is used to create rallies for social change, such as we saw in Egypt a few years ago. People are able to network on a global scale and learn more about their human rights. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 381 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: The Study of Media
10. How is media in the United States a profitable export? ANS:
A decade or so ago, there were at least twenty-five media giants in the United States. Conglomeration has resulted in only five large media outlets, 90 percent of which operate from the United States. Therefore, these U.S. companies are supplying the remainder of the world with their television, movies, and Internet service. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 384 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: The Study of Media
ESSAY 1. What are the three developments that have changed the way leisure and recreation are experienced today? ANS: Three developments are the decline of public life, the commercialization of leisure and recreation, and the formalization of recreation. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 377–378 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
2. Define the terms “recreation” and “leisure.” Why does it seem particularly important today to study recreation and leisure? ANS: Recreation and leisure are both defined primarily by their differences from paid labor and other obligatory activities. Leisure is time that can be spent at ease, relaxing, engaging in recreation, or otherwise indulging in freely chosen activities. Recreation is any activity that is satisfying, amusing, and stimulating and that is experienced as refreshing and renewing for body, mind, and spirit. This means that just about any activity could fall under the heading of recreation, depending on individual preferences, and that people can spend their leisure time engaged in all sorts of recreational activities. It is important to note that what makes something a leisure or recreational activity are the experiential features of the activity itself. It needs to feel enjoyable, liberating, and even transformative. One person’s job could be another person’s recreational activity. Recreation and leisure are more important to study today because they have changed dramatically in recent history. In the premodern world, the line between work and play was not nearly as clearly defined as it is today, in part because there was a lot of obligatory work to be done and fewer options for recreational activities. Things that we now engage in almost exclusively as recreation (like gardening, hunting and fishing, and knitting) were necessities in the past, and many of our most ubiquitous current recreational activities (like watching movies and television) did not exist yet. Even in the early years of the Industrial Revolution, low wages and long hours meant that only the privileged and wealthy had the time and resources to pursue leisure and recreation activities with any consistency. This situation began to change rapidly around the dawn of the twentieth century, as the amount of time the middle class could devote to leisure activities “grew much between 1890 and 1940.” This increase in leisure time was largely fueled by increases in industrial productivity as a result of technological progress. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 377 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
3. How has technology changed the way recreational activities are organized? ANS:
All answers should point out the ways in which new technologies have contributed to a shift from spontaneous or informal activities to organized and formal ones. The example used in the text is Little League baseball as an organized alternative to after-school sandlot games. Technology facilitates this shift because new communication technologies allow unprecedented degrees of communication and organization. Cell phones, email, the Internet, and radio and television advertising all make it easier to organize people in different geographic locations and make it much easier to organize activities. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 377 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
4. What does it mean to say that there has been a “massive increase in the commodification of recreational activities”? ANS: In the past, people made their own fun, and today they are increasingly likely to purchase it instead. The text cites a number of different examples: television and other electronic media, the dizzying array of commodities available for activities like hunting and fishing that were once necessities, and the fact that shopping itself is now considered a form of recreation. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 379–380 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
5. Is leisure the opposite of work? Why or why not? ANS: Every answer should say no. Rather than understanding leisure as the opposite of work, sociologists see the two as complementary activities within a capitalist economic system. This relationship manifests itself in a number of ways. For instance, workers’ earned wages fuel multibillion-dollar global leisure industries such as travel and hospitality, spectatorship, entertainment, and luxury services. Work also spills into leisure time. Good answers will remember that Chapter 13 argues that we should place leisure in the larger social context of capitalism to see how patterns of consumerism shape all of the activities of our lives. Rather than juxtaposing leisure with work, it is more useful to think of leisure and work as linked by consumption. Thus, we work for wages so that we can consume a variety of necessities, goods, and services, including leisure. As we consume more leisure, we must earn more wages to pay for it. Leisure is itself a booming industry, with millions of workers serving our desires. We use leisure time to supplement our working lives, and the connection between the two is more than merely oppositional. The best answers will also remember that we should not equate free time (or nonworking time) with leisure time. Leisure, by definition, involves some kind of choice about how to spend time, whether honing tennis skills or studying a new language. Therefore, leisure time is not necessarily free time. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 379–380 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
6. Describe and explain the key differences among the three major theories that explain how mass media are consumed by mass audiences (the magic bullet or hypodermic needle model, the uses and gratifications model, and the encoding/decoding model). ANS: The three major theories are the magic bullet or hypodermic needle model, the uses and gratifications model, and the encoding/decoding model.
The magic bullet or hypodermic needle model assumes that audience members and spectators (of media, sports, books, etc.) are passive recipients of content and that whatever meaning is inherent in the text they consume is transmitted, unaltered, into their brains. The assumption is that, like an injection, media content is shot into audience members, who respond instantly to its stimulus. The uses and gratifications theory assumes a more active audience, whose members have different individual and group interpretive strategies. Whatever meaning may be inherent in texts, the consumers of those texts bring their own interpretive resources to it. They can make, alter, and even invert the meanings of texts to suit their own purposes. So instead of asking, “What does media do to people?” this paradigm asks, “What do people do with media?” The encoding/decoding model combines elements of the two previous theories by assuming both that specific ideological messages are loaded into cultural products and that individuals may respond to those messages in a variety of ways. In fact, when faced with ideologically encoded cultural products, individuals can engage in cultural resistance or construct oppositional or against-the-grain readings of those products, where meaning is subverted. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 390–391 OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences MSC: Understanding 7. What does Henry Jenkins mean by the term “textual poaching,” describing the way some audience members consume mass media? ANS: In textual poaching, audience members take a cultural product and manipulate it, often to tell a very different story or to express a very different ideology than the original product. The textbook uses the deconstruction of Barbie and Star Trek fan fiction that reimagines Kirk and Spock as gay lovers to illustrate this type of media consumption. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 392–393 OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences MSC: Understanding 8. According to Imaginary Social Worlds by John Caughey, encounters with celebrities are the contemporary equivalent of interacting with gods, spirits, or ancestors. How do these interactions take place? ANS: The most important way these interactions take place is through the media, and Chapter 13 argues that, even though these relationships are asymmetrical and media facilitated, they are relationships. Most people put very little energy into developing relationships with celebrities, in part because they are bombarded with information about celebrities from all the media all the time. People cannot help but acquire information about celebrities’ professional and personal lives; it is all around us and difficult to tune out. The text does, however, mention three ways in which fan–celebrity relations may happen face-to-face: at public events, through fan-staged encounters, and through celebrity stalking. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 394–395 OBJ: Media Effects and Audiences MSC: Applying 9. What is ecotourism? What are the arguments for and against ecotourism? ANS: Ecotourism is tourism characterized by the efforts of tourists, tour operators, adventure companies, and the travel industry to lessen the negative consequences of tourism on the environment as well as on local cultures and economies.
Proponents argue that ecotourism generally promotes consciousness about environmentally and culturally sensitive travel options. Tourists are often from highly industrialized nations in North America, Europe, and Australia, and they usually visit less-developed nations in Central and South America as well as in Africa. Critics argue that ecotourism is futile because it is merely consumerism with a “green” wrapping and serves as a mechanism for middle- and upper-class tourists to assuage guilt about exoticizing foreign cultures and locales. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 401 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Leisure and Relationships
10. How has the decline of public life affected recreation and leisure? ANS: All answers should point out that technological developments, especially in information and media technology, have led to a decline in public life, which has impacted recreation and leisure. Americans are increasingly less likely to go out for a dose of the arts and more likely to stay home and enjoy performances in front of their home entertainment centers. The best answers will be able to differentiate between the substantial effect of the decline of public life on music and theater and the lesser impact on the visual arts. The bottom line is that technology is moving our leisure and recreation inside the home, away from public spaces. Most answers should be able to say something about how the mass migration to the suburbs and the development of television encouraged people to stay home and even displaced public activities such as movie going. Television began this move away from public recreation, but video games, DVD players, personal computers, and the Internet have all made the private home even more attractive for leisure and recreation. The best answers might point out that the Internet has begun to isolate individuals even within the home. While it can facilitate contact between people who live in different corners of the world, the Internet can just as easily cut off individuals from their more immediate social surroundings, causing disengagement from family, friends, and spouses. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 378
OBJ: A Sociology of Leisure
11. David Harvey has argued that as the economy has become capable of producing goods more efficiently and rapidly, there have to be parallel increases in the rate at which we purchase and consume goods. How has this happened? Give at least one example from the text as well as one of your own. ANS: Good answers should start with a discussion of Apple and the postmodern economy, where the need to sell more products faster has led to “a shift from the consumption of goods and into the consumption of services,” including “entertainments, spectacles, happenings, and distractions.” Harvey pointed out that there are “limits to the accumulation and turnover of physical goods,” making more “ephemeral” products like mp3s and downloaded movies ideal products for an economy that needs to sell more goods year after year. Examples from the text could easily include downloaded mp3s and downloaded movies. Other obvious examples might include eBooks (perhaps on an Amazon Kindle), downloaded ringtones, software and games, applications for smartphones, and any other nonphysical good that an information economy allows people to purchase. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 385
OBJ: The Study of Media
CHAPTER 14: HEALTH AND ILLNESS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. In the opening of the chapter, the authors note that residents of Las Vegas have 50 percent greater odds of committing suicide than people who do not live in Las Vegas, and that visitors’ risk of suicide doubles while there. Which theory of suicide would assert that Vegas residents and tourists are disproportionately prone to impulsiveness? a. contagion c. ecological b. selection d. psychological ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 404 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
2. Which theoretical explanation for suicide emphasizes there must be something about a place that makes people suicidal? a. psychological c. selection b. contagion d. ecological ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 404 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
3. Single-industry resource towns built around either excavating raw materials like coal or lumber or transporting them by train tend to spring up suddenly. Many people move there to work for the company, and the rate of change is fast: one day there is a forest, the next, a growing town built around mobile homes in the bush. There are often few if any other things to do besides work. Rates of depression tend to be high. Which theoretical explanation for suicide would explain the higher rates of depression that can lead to suicide in places like this? a. selection c. contagion b. psychological d. ecological ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 404 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
4. Which theoretical explanation for suicide argues that when one person commits suicide, this can set off a cluster of other suicides? a. psychological c. selection b. contagion d. ecological ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 404 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
5. When film legend Marilyn Monroe committed suicide, demographers noted a sharp increase in suicide rates in the following month. Which theory would best explain the increase in rates? a. contagion c. selection b. psychological d. ecological ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 404 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
6. Many countries around the world have national policies or guidelines on how to report suicides. These policies range from not using the term “suicide” to describe a death to being careful to use words that do not in any way romanticize the act or show it in a positive light. Policies may also restrict the amount of news coverage of suicides. Which theoretical stance would best explain these types of policies and guidelines? a. psychological c. selection b. contagion d. ecological ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 404 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness 7. Good health is: a. historically and socially contingent. b. biologically determined.
MSC: Applying
c. unrelated to culture. d. consistent around the world.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 405 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
8. What do sociologists ask you to consider regarding health and illness? a. how biomedical models are superior to other explanations b. the physical roots of health and illness c. how health and illness are shaped by social factors d. their similarities throughout the world ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 405 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
9. Ori went to eat at his favorite restaurant and unfortunately got food poisoning. His illness was treated right away. This type of illness would be classified as: a. palliative. c. acute. b. chronic. d. lifestyle based. ANS: C Illness MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 406
OBJ: Defining Health and
10. Kea tries to take good care of herself. She works out regularly, gets plenty of rest, and eats well. Her approach to health is most closely aligned with: a. palliative medicine. c. preventive medicine. b. chronic illness. d. lifestyle medicine. ANS: C Illness MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 407
OBJ: Defining Health and
11. Sid feels horrible. He goes to his doctor, who tells Sid he has got a bad cold and should be feeling better soon. How would Sid’s illness be classified? a. chronic c. crisis b. acute d. preventive ANS: B Illness MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 406
OBJ: Defining Health and
12. In the 1990s, legal researcher Erin Brockovich helped win a lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Company because it had been poisoning the water in the small town of Hinkley, California, for thirty years. Toxic Chromium 6 leached into the water system and sickened many Hinkley residents with ailments like liver damage and cancer. How would the illnesses of the Hinkley residents be classified? a. crisis diseases c. acute diseases b. curative diseases d. chronic diseases ANS: D Illness MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 407
OBJ: Defining Health and
13. ________ diseases come on suddenly and are often contagious. a. Crisis c. Curative b. Acute d. Preventive ANS: B DIF: Easy Illness MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 406
OBJ: Defining Health and
14. The fact that the top causes of death in the United States are due to chronic illness while people in the developing world are continually affected by the threat of acute illnesses indicates that: a. illness is a biological event. b. palliative care is necessary. c. illness is impacted by social factors. d. we can prevent deaths in the United States but not in the developing world. ANS: C Illness MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 407
OBJ: Defining Health and
15. When we focus on making a person comfortable at the end of life, we are practicing ________ care. a. palliative c. chronic b. crisis d. preventive ANS: A DIF: Easy Illness MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 407
OBJ: Defining Health and
16. One organization that conducts large-scale research studies specifically on American college students to determine health behaviors and develop support programs and services for them on a wide variety of health-related issues is the ________. a. World Health Organization b. United Nations c. Surgeon General’s office d. American College Health Association ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Defining Health and Illness
REF: Pages 407–408 MSC: Remembering
17. In the early 1900s, just under 50 percent of births took place at home. Today, around 99 percent of all births take place in hospitals. This is an example of: a. chronic care. c. palliative care. b. medicalization. d. the tragedy of the commons.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 409 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Understanding
18. A popular television program called The Swan aimed to turn less visually appealing people into more socially acceptable ones by radically changing their appearance through plastic surgery, as well as through clothing, style, and makeup artistry. This is an example of: a. medicalization and the social construction of health and illness. b. the rise of the new naturalists. c. acute care transformations. d. a way to finally address the failure of willpower. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 409 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Applying
19. Television announcer Al Roker and singer Carnie Wilson have both undergone stomach stapling, or gastric bypass surgery, as a radical and invasive approach to weight loss. Previously, weight loss was not usually considered a medical problem that could be addressed through surgery. This is evidence of: a. increases in psychiatric approaches to care. b. medicalization and the social construction of health and illness. c. an approach to an acute condition. d. how people today tend to follow television stars’ behavior. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 409 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Applying
20. Why is it important to address that, today, approximately 75 percent of patients die in hospitals or nursing homes in the United States? a. It helps researchers find data on cause of death. b. It indicates that death is a major life event. c. It shows how death has been medicalized. d. It is a sign that more people are dying earlier. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 409 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Analyzing
21. As the process of ________ develops, we will be less likely to treat someone who has a mental health issue as having something he or she should just “deal with” or “get over” individually. Instead, we will be more likely to think of the issue as having to do with a disease. a. medicalization c. hospitalization b. acute care d. the professionalization of doctors ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 409–410 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness MSC: Understanding 22. Michael Moore’s film Sicko explores the U.S. health-care system and compares it to other nations’ health-care systems through the eyes of everyday people. One segment tells the story of a little girl in the United States who needed an expensive surgery to restore her hearing. The insurance company agreed to perform the surgery on one ear, but not both. They reasoned that the child would be able to hear out of one ear and did not really need to have hearing in both. The child’s parents sent a letter to the insurance company explaining that they were being interviewed by Moore for the film, adding, “Has your CEO ever been in a film before?” Shortly after this, the insurance company notified the family that the child’s surgery had been approved. Which theory best explains this family’s experience? a. socialized medicine theory c. conflict
b. structural functionalism
d. symbolic interactionism
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 410 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Applying
23. Jorge recently learned that he has a mental illness. Since then, he has begun to act according to the illness, in ways that he thinks others expect someone with a mental illness to act. Which theory of health and illness best explains his situation? a. doctor-patient confidentiality c. conflict b. developmental sociology d. symbolic interactionism ANS: D DIF: Difficult REF: Page 410 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Applying
24. Drugs and alcohol are used as an escape from the strains of the social system. Which theory takes this approach to understanding addiction? a. structural functionalism c. symbolic interactionism b. conflict d. sick role ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 410 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Applying
25. People of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be scrutinized as problem drinkers or drug addicts. Which theory takes this approach to understanding addiction? a. structural functionalism c. developmental sociology b. conflict d. sick role ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 410 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Applying
26. When the incidence of a particular infectious disease is drastically larger than first estimated, this is referred to as a(n): a. epidemic. c. epidemiology. b. pandemic. d. distribution issue. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 412 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
27. When an epidemic spreads across national borders, across continents, or around the world, it is referred to as a(n): a. epidemiology. c. sick wave. b. epidemiological force. d. pandemic. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 412 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
28. ________ gather and analyze data on particular illnesses; how, where, and to whom they are spread; and how to stop their spread. a. Sociologists c. Epidemiologists b. Psychologists d. Entomologists ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 410 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease 29. What is the study of the social aspects of diseases? a. pharmacology c. entomology
MSC: Remembering
b. demography
d. epidemiology
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 410 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
30. Malaria is a serious health concern in Cambodia. In some villages, especially those surrounded by forests, the rate of malaria infection is 40 percent. Due to your extensive professional experience with the study of social disease patterns, you have been asked to research the problem for the World Health Organization. You are most likely a(n): a. psychologist. c. entomologist. b. political economist. d. epidemiologist. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 410 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Applying
31. Epidemiologists take into account the role of global climate change and its relationship to the spread of disease. In rural areas of Cambodia, epidemiologists have noted that social patterns are linked to the spread of mosquito-borne illness. Which of the following would they consider? a. the excessive cost of mosquito nets b. changes in use of the forests—logging or military use c. intense cultural aversions to bug spray d. increases in the use of antiretroviral drugs ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 412–413 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease MSC: Applying 32. Epidemiologists are currently studying the role of ________ in the spread of diseases globally. a. deforestation c. La Niño b. La Niña d. climate change ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 412 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
33. King and Bearman found that in the years when the diagnostic criteria of autism changed, the odds of a patient being diagnosed with autism: a. increased. c. remained stable. b. decreased. d. fluctuated. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 411 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
34. Liu, King, and Bearman (2010) found that independent of other factors, children living near other children diagnosed with autism are more likely to also be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. this demonstrates that autism spectrum disorder is: a. contagious. b. more common in certain geographic regions. c. a social phenomenon. d. not a real disorder. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 411 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Applying
35. Asperger’s syndrome, one disorder in the autism spectrum family, first appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1994 and was later removed in the fifth edition in 2013, to be folded back into autism spectrum disorder. This is an example of: a. changing professional norms. c. medicalization.
b. indecisiveness.
d. a social movement.
ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 411 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Applying
36. The 26.4 percent increase in California’s caseload of autism spectrum disorder between 1992 and 2005 was the result of: a. dietary changes. b. diagnostic changes. c. advanced maternal age. d. increased exposure to environmental toxins. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 411 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Applying
37. In the early twentieth century women who had children out of wedlock were considered to be “feeble-minded” or to suffer from mental retardation and more likely to give birth to children who were also feeble-minded. Today, this attitude seems ridiculous. This is an example of: a. preventative medicine techniques. b. epidemiological change. c. the social construction of mental illness. d. developmental genealogy. ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 409–410 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease MSC: Applying 38. Since AIDS was identified in the early 1980s, approximately ________ people have died from having contracted the virus. a. 39 million c. 3 million b. 250 thousand d. 100 million ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 413 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
39. AIDS is distributed disproportionately throughout the world. Approximately ________ of cases occur in the wealthy, industrialized nations. a. 1 percent c. 10 percent b. 4 percent d. 14 percent ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 413 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease 40. HIV/AIDS is considered a(n): a. epidemic. b. pandemic.
MSC: Remembering
c. crisis. d. event.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 413 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Understanding
41. Epidemiologists are currently studying the role of temperature increases in the spread of diseases globally. Specifically, they have found that increases in temperature can also increase pathogen-carrying agents called: a. vector organisms. c. mosquitoes. b. infectious agents. d. pathogens. ANS: A
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 412
OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
42. ________ carry and spread germs in geographic locations around the world. a. Pathogens c. Ecosystem deterrents b. Vector organisms d. Infectious agents ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 412 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
43. Epidemiologists predict that rates of certain diseases or viruses may dramatically increase when vector organisms and animals enter new ecosystems due to global climate change. Which of the following have epidemiologists linked to climate change? a. diabetes c. malaria b. obesity d. HIV/AIDS ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Pages 412–413 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease MSC: Understanding 44. Epidemiologists predict that ________ rates may dramatically increase when vector organisms and animals enter new ecosystems due to global climate change. a. heart disease c. plague b. obesity d. cancer ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 413 OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
MSC: Remembering
45. Dean is an upper-middle class American. He lives in an affluent area, holds a bachelor’s degree, and has a great job. It is likely that his health status is: a. marginal. c. middling. b. excellent. d. poor. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
46. Kendra is a lower-class American. She lives in public housing, did not finish high school, experiences lapses in employment, and has a hard time making financial ends meet. It is likely that she: a. will have an average life expectancy. b. will have a slightly higher life expectancy. c. reports having good physical well-being. d. will have a higher incidence of depression. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
47. You are an American with a lower socioeconomic status. You are a racial minority, live in public housing, and did finish high school but work at a physically labor-intensive job. You are supporting a family of four on your wages. It is likely that you: a. have a number of ailments, like arthritis and asthma. b. will have a slightly higher life expectancy. c. report having good physical well-being. d. engage in regular good health practices. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
48. Rosenbaum (2008) found that it was more common for ________ in New York City to live in substandard housing located in marginalized neighborhoods than in healthy neighborhoods with decent housing. a. whites and Asians c. blacks and Hispanics b. Asians and blacks d. Hispanics and whites ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Remembering
49. There is evidence that ________ make(s) men more sick. a. biological features b. traditional male gender role expectations c. traditional female gender role expectations d. male gender inequality ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
50. Marcia, a female, and Mario, a male, are both fifty-year-old Hispanics. Marcia has a similar socioeconomic status to Mario, but both of them adhere closely to traditional gender role expectations. According to information from Chapter 14, what prediction could we make about them? a. Marcia will live a longer life than Mario. b. Mario will live a longer life than Marcia. c. Mario will suffer from more disease in his lifetime than Marcia. d. Marcia will not divorce in her lifetime. ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
51. Dana, a female, and Rio, a male, are both sixty years old and from the same socioeconomic background. Based on information from Chapter 14 of your text, what health prediction could we make about them? a. Rio is more likely than Dana to get cancer or diabetes. b. Dana is more likely to suffer from heart disease than Rio. c. Rio is less likely than Dana to have a stroke. d. Dana is more likely than Rio to suffer from depression. ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
52. Many health inequities that people of lower socioeconomic status experience are further exacerbated in ________ groups. a. older c. minority b. family d. majority ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 414 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
53. You live in a densely populated American city, are nonwhite, and survive on a low income. According to Chapter 14 of your text, it is likely that you live in: a. a food desert. c. the South. b. a ghetto. d. a barrio. ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
54. A neighborhood where there is no grocery store but there are more liquor stores, convenience and drug stores, and fast food outlets than most other locations is referred to as a: a. total institution. c. chain food center. b. locavore problem. d. food desert. ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
55. Which of the following is an effect of food deserts for minorities? a. They are only located in densely populated urban areas. b. They are only located in sparsely populated rural areas. c. There is access to fresh meats but not vegetables or fruits. d. There is higher risk of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Remembering
56. According to your textbook, if you live in a(n) ________ , you are at increased risk of obesity, diabetes, or heart disease. a. densely populated urban area c. East Coast city b. sparsely populated rural area d. food desert ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
57. When our individual, genetic, and physiological illness and disease risks are exacerbated by social factors like the neighborhood where we live, race, ethnic and class inequality, and corporate and governmental policies and practices, this is referred to sociologically as: a. a human rights dilemma. c. a food desert. b. deprivation amplification. d. impression management. ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Remembering
58. The documentary Unnatural Causes explores the lives of several Louisville, Kentucky, residents at different socioeconomic status levels and from various racial backgrounds. It found that poorer Louisville residents suffered greater rates of illness and died earlier than wealthier ones. What is this an example of? a. deprivation amplification c. environmental racism b. food deserts d. impression management ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
59. C. Wright Mills used the term “the sociological imagination” to refer to important interconnections between personal troubles and public issues. What would he have said about deprivation amplification? a. Public issues cause poor health, so work needs to be done to more properly address disease rates solely at the public level. b. Personal troubles cause poor health, so work needs to be done to more properly address disease rates solely at the personal level. c. Both public issues and personal troubles contribute to poor health, so work needs to be done at both levels to more properly address disease rates. d. Neither public issues nor personal troubles contribute to poor health, so work done at these
levels would not address disease rates any differently. ANS: C DIF: Difficult REF: Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Applying
60. Is medicine in the United States a social institution? a. Yes, because doctors need licenses to practice. b. No, because it is more of an ideal than a social institution. c. Yes, because organizations like the American Medical Association set policy and shape definitions of health and illness throughout the nation. d. No, because organizations like the American Medical Association are brick-and-mortar places and not really large-scale patterns of interaction. ANS: C DIF: Difficult OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Pages 416–417 MSC: Understanding
61. Since ordinary consumers do not have the same expertise to evaluate prescription drugs, pharmaceutical companies often appeal to desires for: a. learning more about the medication. b. happy relationships. c. avoiding doctors. d. “being in the driver’s seat” regarding our health. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Page 416 MSC: Remembering
62. The American Medical Association: a. creates, maintains, legitimizes, and controls medicine in the United States. b. really has had a hands-off approach to medicine, while corporations have had more say. c. really has had a hands-off approach to medicine, while the government has had more say. d. is a complicated organization with a long history of social policy advocacy around improving health for all Americans regardless of social class, racial or ethnic group, or gender. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Pages 417–418 MSC: Understanding
63. What have both classic and more recent studies of hospital experiences found? a. The hospital experience is often dehumanizing, and the power of the institutions to define diagnoses is heavily skewed. b. The hospital experience is usually highly satisfactory to patients and doctors alike. c. Mixed results have been found, as studies are of varying ages. d. Mixed findings were revealed, as different studies used different research methods. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Pages 417–418 MSC: Remembering
64. Studies of doctor-patient relations find that: a. the institutional setting is dominated by doctors. b. the institutional setting is dominated by patients. c. doctor-patient relations have more to do with agreement on diagnoses than anything else. d. the institutional setting is where doctor-patient relationships occur and that the interactions determine who has power or status. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Page 418 MSC: Remembering
65. The concept of acknowledging and incorporating a patient’s cultural background as part of the treatment process is called: a. patient rights. b. cultural competence. c. the Association of American Medical Colleges. d. stigma management. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Page 418 MSC: Remembering
66. What does research on medical interaction generally take into account? a. basically the doctor-patient dyad b. dyads, triads, and groups in interaction c. individuals d. all age groups, but usually only combinations between two main groups ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Page 419 MSC: Remembering
67. Talcott Parsons researched ________ from a structural functionalist perspective. a. the medical establishment c. the sick role b. doctor-patient confidentiality d. doctors’ power and status ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Page 420 MSC: Remembering
68. Death and illness in a population is bad for the productivity of the system and is a destabilizing force. Which theory takes this approach to medicine? a. structural functionalism c. symbolic interactionism b. conflict d. the sick role ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution
REF: Page 410 MSC: Applying
69. The 2010 Health Care Reform Act (formally called the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”) represents: a. the medical establishment. b. doctor-patient confidentiality. c. universal health-care coverage that has the potential to ensure all U.S. citizens are covered. d. the relative unimportance of medical systems in the United States. ANS: C DIF: Easy REF: Page 422 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Remembering
70. What is a group of medical treatments and products called that includes practices like acupuncture, homeopathy, hypnosis, and meditation, as well as traditional healers like shamans and movement therapies like Pilates? a. ObamaCare b. the Medical Care Act of 2010 c. naturopathy d. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 423 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Remembering
71. What does one call the study of controversial, moral, or ethical issues related to scientific and medical advancements? a. ecological approach c. biological imperative b. bioethics d. conflict ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 424 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Remembering
72. The 2010 entering freshman class at the University of California, Berkeley, was invited to give a saliva sample to test for genetic markers. Eventually, the university was forced to shut down the study due to ethical concerns. What might have been a main ethical concern of this study? a. the use of genetic profiles c. the lack of human subjects’ clearance b. student confidentiality d. an inability to ensure anonymity ANS: A DIF: Difficult REF: Page 424 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Applying
73. Rescission refers to: a. stabilizing the price of health care. b. insurance companies canceling a client’s coverage only after the person gets sick. c. insurance companies denying health-care coverage due to a preexisting condition. d. a client’s inability to pay for health insurance due to economic hardship. ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 423 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Remembering
74. Which of the following U.S. presidents described comprehensive health-care reform as the highest priority on his unfinished agenda for America? a. Franklin Delano Roosevelt c. George W. Bush b. Richard Nixon d. Bill Clinton ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: Page 422 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Remembering
75. Jordan has been suffering from sinus pain for several months, and his physician prescribes over-the-counter decongestants and acupuncture. This is an example of ________ medicine. a. conventional c. curative b. alternative d. integrative ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: Page 423 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Understanding
76. Genetic testing in utero can inform parents of possible genetic mutations in the embryo. There are ethical concerns regarding this type of genetic testing because some assert that the selection of only healthy babies is a form of: a. eugenics. c. genocide. b. population control. d. quantitative easing. ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: Page 424 OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Analyzing
77. ________ health care makes ill patients more comfortable and prepares them for the end of life. a. Integrative c. Palliative b. Alternative d. Comprehensive ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 424
OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
MSC: Remembering
SHORT ANSWER 1. Paolo broke a finger playing soccer and was seen by a medical practitioner very soon after the accident. How would his ailment be classified? ANS: acute DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 406
OBJ: Defining Health and Illness
2. When we take care of a person at the end of his or her life, consider his or her quality of life, and ensure his or her comfort and safety, what approach to medicine are we using? ANS: palliative DIF: Moderate REF: Page 407 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Defining Health and Illness
3. What is the name of the association that conducts large-scale research projects on college student populations with the aim of addressing student health issues and providing support programs and services for them? ANS: the American College of Health Association (ACHA) DIF: Easy REF: Page 407 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Defining Health and Illness
4. Another word for curative medicine is ________ medicine. ANS: crisis DIF: Easy REF: Page 407 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Defining Health and Illness
5. Surgery and drugs have become acceptable treatments for obesity. What is the term that describes this social process? ANS: medicalization DIF: Moderate REF: Page 409 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
6. List one way the social meaning of the causes of mental illness has changed considerably over time. ANS:
Answers may vary but could mention demonic possession, being born at certain times during the lunar cycle, or being seen as located in a specific part of the brain (thus, removing it). DIF: Easy REF: Pages 409–410 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Understanding
7. Which sociological perspective would view disease as a threat to social order? ANS: structural functionalism DIF: Moderate REF: Page 410 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
8. Which sociological perspective would consider the inequalities between the haves and have nots in health care? ANS: conflict DIF: Moderate REF: Page 410 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
9. Which sociological perspective would pay close attention to how stigma is related to disease? ANS: symbolic interactionism DIF: Moderate REF: Page 410 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
10. What environmental factor have epidemiologists found increases the spread of diseases via vector organisms? ANS: a rise in global temperature DIF: Moderate REF: Page 412 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
11. A disease that covers a large geographical region, such as a continent or the entire globe, is called ________. ANS: a pandemic DIF: Easy REF: Page 412 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
12. A disease that occurs in significantly higher numbers than might otherwise be expected is called ________. ANS: an epidemic
DIF: Easy REF: Page 412 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Epidemiology and Patterns of Disease
13. Until Congress passed ________ in 2010, the United States was the only industrialized nation without some form of nationalized health care. ANS: the Affordable Care Act, or ACA DIF: Moderate REF: Page 422 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Issues in Medicine and Health Care
ESSAY 1. Television programs in the United States like The Biggest Loser emphasize that a cultural belief of having a slim body is more highly valued here than having a larger, heavier, fleshier body. How is this perspective an example of how the nature of health is defined by its social rather than biological context? ANS: Student responses should include how a healthy body in the United States is generally perceived as one that is thinner, trimmer, and more athletic looking. Television programs like The Biggest Loser reflect this belief. In other countries, values differ. For example, in some impoverished areas around the world, great status is given to those who are fatter, because people who cannot get enough food to eat consider this a marker of both health and wealth. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 405
OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
2. Shortly before Josefina’s grandmother passed away, her family gathered to make some decisions about how best to take care of her. The family members eventually decided to bring their grandmother home from the hospital and take care of her where she would be most comfortable. Describe the three approaches to medical treatment. Which approach best describes Josefina’s family’s actions, and why? ANS: There are three main approaches to medical treatment. The preventive approach tries to stop diseases before they happen and focuses on lifestyle choices individuals make, to decrease the likelihood of illness. The curative or crisis medicine approach focuses on treating disease once it has been discovered. The palliative approach focuses on how to deal with diseases once they have progressed and how to help those inflicted to be comfortable in a nurturing environment. Josefina’s family members determined how to help their grandmother be more comfortable and to take care of her well at the end of her life. Therefore, the palliative care approach best applies to her situation. DIF: Difficult MSC: Applying
REF: Page 407
OBJ: Defining Health and Illness
3. Compare and contrast structural functionalist and conflict theories’ approaches to American medicine. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach? ANS:
Structural functionalist theory explains that having a healthy populace is good for system maintenance and stability. Therefore, it is counterproductive to have high rates of sickness. People cannot contribute to their society if they are sick. Societies should work to ensure the health of all people. Preventive medicine is a priority. The strength of this theory is an emphasis on the importance of health for the system. A weakness is that this theoretical paradigm is sometimes considered to take a “sunshine sociology” approach, where problems are deemphasized and underconsidered. Conflict theory would focus on how “health follows wealth.” The more wealth you have, the healthier you will be, although this is unfair and essentially unethical. Health-care corporations have come to dominate the American landscape at the expense of not-for-profit or nationalized health care. This has caused greater inequality in American society. A strength of the conflict theory approach is that it emphasizes where the health-care system needs to change to decrease inequality in health and illness. A weakness is that it tends to overly focus on the negative aspects of health care. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 410 | Table 14.1 OBJ: Medicalization of Health and Illness
MSC: Analyzing
4. Discuss the three theoretical approaches to suicide from your text. What are their key features and strengths and weaknesses? ANS: Student responses must include a discussion of research by Wray and colleagues (2008), which found three basic approaches to suicide. First is the ecological approach, which is “place based” and focuses on how aspects of a geographical location affect suicide rates. Las Vegas is a “fast-growing city,” and this factor may play into the higher suicide rates. A strength of this approach is that it does consider place more so than other approaches, and place is obviously an important factor to consider. A weakness is that depression can affect a person regardless of where he or she lives. Second is the selection approach, which argues that people tend to self-select where to commit suicide. Potentially, Las Vegas residents and tourists select Vegas as a site of suicide because people who live and travel there are more prone to risky and impulsive behavior. A strength of this approach is that it takes into consideration the importance of selection. A weakness is that this is seen as a theory that does not consider context enough. Third is the contagion theory, which combines the first two theories and highlights how one suicide can set in motion many other suicides. This theory would propose that Las Vegas is known as a site of suicide and thus people choose Vegas via a kind of so-called copycat effect. A strength of this approach is that there is a lot of clear evidence for contagion theory. Consider the example of a spike in suicides after actress Marilyn Monroe’s death and how the journalistic community has codes and policies regarding the reporting of suicides. A weakness of this approach is that it cannot be applied to suicides that are not copycat occurrences. Taken individually, none of these theories explains suicide fully—thus the importance of various theories that do so. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 402 |Page 404 OBJ: The Sociology of Medicine, Health, and Illness
MSC: Analyzing
5. Use conflict and symbolic interactionist theories to explain why 20.2 percent of all African American males between the ages of 20 and 44 die by homicide. ANS:
Student responses should include information from Chapter 14 reflective of the social context and the social inequality that affect health and illness. Possible responses could include that the rate of death by homicide among African American males is connected to their lower socioeconomic status due to historical discrimination. They have higher rates of disease and a shorter life expectancy than whites. They are less likely to be able to afford health insurance, and they often live and work in socially toxic environments where they partake in high-risk behaviors such as drug dealing in order to survive financially. There is a gendered dynamic here as well, with males’ homicides connected to high-risk traditional gender roles. One cultural argument to explain this statistic is that once the homicide rate for blacks is high, it remains elevated due to lifestyle factors of the group. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 414–415 | Table 14.1 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Understanding
6. People with higher socioeconomic status can expect to live longer lives and have greater physical well-being than those in lower socioeconomic status groups. What factors contribute to these unequal health outcomes? ANS: Answers should explain how individuals with a higher socioeconomic status can afford better health-care services such as insurance plans, doctor visits, diagnostic tests and treatments, and prescribed medications. They should also mention that those with higher socioeconomic status have better access to resources that help with disease prevention (better nutrition, cleaner neighborhoods, and exercise). Answers might also mention the negative affect of food deserts on the health outcomes of those with a lower socioeconomic status (i.e., the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease). DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 414–415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
MSC: Analyzing
7. How did food deserts emerge, and what is their effect on the health of nearby residents? ANS: Good answers will mention that food deserts began to emerge when grocery store chains left urban areas for the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s as a result of perceived problems of security, profitability, real estate costs, and parking. In the absence of grocery stores, liquor stores and fast food chains emerged, leaving urban populations with few healthy food options. Consequently, residents of these neighborhoods—who tend to be low-income and/or nonwhite—suffer a greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Very good answers will also make a connection to deprivation amplification, the concept that explains how individual disease risks are amplified by social factors such as neighborhoods. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 415 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness
8. What is a food desert and how does it exemplify the main point of this chapter: that health and illness are socially constructed? ANS:
Good answers will mention that food deserts began to emerge when grocery store chains left urban areas for the suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s as a result of perceived problems of security, profitability, real estate costs, and parking. The result was less healthy food options for those living in these urban areas, and instead other fast food and convenience type food sources moved in. The effects, due to a change in food sources, include a greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. A very social process has impacted the physical bodies (and health) of individuals who live in these poor, urban spaces. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 405–406| Pages 409–410| Page 415 OBJ: Social Inequality, Health, and Illness MSC: Analyzing 9. How have pharmaceutical advertisements changed the patient-doctor relationship? ANS: Good answers will mention that the advertisements do not educate the consumer on the science of the medicine but rather draw on the idea that the medicine will make the consumer’s relationships better. Good answers should also draw in information from the “Doctor-Patient Relations” part of the text. For example, the student could address the concept of the “sick role” (not an empowering role to play) that does not create space for patients to be empowered consumers, which can cause friction between patients seeking various pharmaceuticals and feeling “empowered” to request certain medicine and the doctors who, traditionally, have ownership of medical knowledge and want patients to play a proper “sick role.” DIF: Difficult REF: Page 416| Pages 418–420 OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution MSC: Analyzing 10. How does the story of Lia Lee illustrate the problem of health-care providers who have not developed cultural competence? ANS: Good answers will mention that Lia Lee and her family were Hmong and perceived disease differently than the U.S. doctors. Due to an inability to communicate treatment for her seizures in a way that her family could embrace the Western treatment, Lia Lee suffered a debilitating seizure and eventually died. The text does not note what the doctors could have done differently but rather asserts that due to the social construction of how illness is perceived, doctors must attend to the fact that other people may view disease differently—they must address and be aware that not only is medicine “science” but that it is also a social institution. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 418–419 OBJ: Medicine as a Social Institution MSC: Analyzing
CHAPTER 15: POPULATIONS, CITIES, AND THE ENVIRONMENT MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. How has Earth’s population changed in the past fifty years? a. It has shrunk slightly. b. It peaked around twenty-five years ago and has been shrinking ever since. c. It has increased by around 25 percent. d. It has nearly tripled. ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 437
OBJ: Population
2. The study of the size, composition, distribution, and change in a human population is called: a. environmental sociology. c. conservationism. b. an ecological paradigm. d. demography. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 437
OBJ: Population
3. Which of the following is an example of a study of demography? a. voluntary simplicity and recycling b. organizing environmental activist groups to engage in direct actions c. the U.S. Census Bureau sending out surveys d. the Malthusian theorem ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 437
OBJ: Population
4. Which of the following is a basic demographic variable? a. agglomeration c. pluralism b. dystopia d. migration ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 438
OBJ: Population
5. The net migration rate is the: a. number of deaths that can be expected per one thousand people in a given year. b. average number of births per one thousand people in the total population. c. average age to which a person can expect to live. d. number of emigrants subtracted from the number of immigrants. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 438
OBJ: Population
6. Although Japan has one of the world’s highest life expectancies, it has experienced a net loss of population for many years, the result of declining birth rates and very low immigration rates. However, the population rose in both 2008 and 2009, largely due to Japanese citizens abroad returning home. This data was collected by a: a. demographer. c. environmental sociologist. b. social ecologist. d. nongovernmental organization. ANS: A OBJ: Population
DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 437–438
7. Even according to the lowest United Nations estimates, the globe will have two billion more people living on it by the year 2050. After that, the population may actually shrink because, while life expectancy may continue to rise, the average number of children each woman gives birth to is poised to drop below 2.1. What demographic variable might make the global population drop? a. a return to agrarianism c. race b. fertility d. immigration ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 438
OBJ: Population
8. According to a controversial study published in the British medical journal The Lancet, before the United States invaded Iraq, about 5.5 people out of every thousand would die each year, but after the invasion, that number rose to over 13. This study was attempting to measure: a. immigration. c. morbidity. b. suicide. d. mortality. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 437
OBJ: Population
9. Given that fertility rates in the United States have dropped below the level needed to maintain the population level, why is the population here growing? a. There has been a decrease in life expectancy. b. The mortality rate is increasing. c. There have been considerable advances in modern medicine. d. Immigration rates have risen. ANS: D OBJ: Population
DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 437–438
10. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, huge numbers of dispossessed U.S. farmers left places like Oklahoma and moved to California. This is an example of: a. mortality. c. internal migration. b. internal colonization. d. emigration. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 438
OBJ: Population
11. Due to an oil boom, North Dakota has experienced the greatest population increase among all of the states in the United States in the recent past. Which demographic variable explains this? a. fertility c. mortality b. migration d. lifespan ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 438
OBJ: Population
12. Which of the following helped lead to rapid population growth in Europe in the eighteenth century, around the time of Thomas Malthus? a. the potato c. the automobile b. penicillin d. better methods of contraception ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 440
OBJ: Population
13. Which of the following would be an example of a “positive check” on population growth? a. family planning c. cloning
b. emigration
d. famine
ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 440
OBJ: Population
14. Anti-Malthusians believe that Thomas Malthus could not have envisioned the many modern developments that impact population demographics. What is it that the anti-Malthusians worry about? a. Populations will begin to decline. b. Populations will spiral out of control, far outstripping the supply of food. c. Populations in the industrial world will grow faster and faster. d. Populations in the less industrialized world will continue to grow quickly. ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 441
OBJ: Population
15. Will world population continue to grow, or will it eventually stabilize? a. It will continue to grow until a disaster strikes that reduces the population. b. It will continue to grow indefinitely, but new solutions for overpopulation will be found. c. It will eventually stabilize, but not for many years. d. We may not know the answer for many years. ANS: D OBJ: Population
DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 440–442 MSC: Understanding
16. The “green revolution” refers to a major transformation in agriculture that occurred in the twentieth century and resulted in an explosion in food production. For example, plant biologists bred wheat that had much shorter stalks and carried more wheat on top without falling over. What effect would you expect this to have on global demographics? a. There will be more pressure on edge cities. b. There will be no effect whatsoever. c. The population will increase. d. The amount of pollution will decrease. ANS: C OBJ: Population
DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 441–442 MSC: Understanding
17. Garrett Hardin believes that “a ‘just’ sharing of the world’s wealth among all the inhabitants, without coercive control of individual reproduction, would result in a continual, exponential growth of the human population” and much more suffering. This means Hardin is a: a. grassroots organizer. c. neo-Malthusian. b. believer in sustainable development. d. mainstream environmentalist. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 440
OBJ: Population
18. The birth rate in Italy is much lower than it was in the past, with the average woman now expected to bear about 1.3 children, far fewer children than are needed to replace two parents. What might this lead to? a. higher emigration rates c. increases in pollution b. lower mortality rates d. a demographic free fall ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 441
OBJ: Population
19. If the pattern of demographic transition that followed the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States is repeated in Africa, which of the following would you NOT expect to see happen in the future? a. decreasing infant mortality rates c. increasing immigration rates b. decreasing mortality rates d. increasing mortality rates ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 440
OBJ: Population
20. Which of the following would most worry Thomas Malthus? a. an aggressive U.S. foreign policy b. new diseases for which antibiotics are ineffective c. the U.S. government refusing to fund international agencies that provide family planning services d. child labor laws ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 440
OBJ: Population
21. In countries where ________ has happened, there no longer is a “natural increase” in population. a. extreme water pollution c. the Industrial Revolution b. the demographic free fall d. the demographic transition ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 441
OBJ: Population
22. In the early 1900s, what percentage of Americans lived in cities? a. 90 percent c. 6 percent b. 10 percent d. 40 percent ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 442
OBJ: Cities
23. Milwaukee has over 500,000 inhabitants. What type of city is this, according to demographers? a. megacity c. metropolis b. global city d. metropolitan statistical area (MSA) ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 443
OBJ: Cities
24. How is urban density measured? a. the number of square miles occupied by a city b. the number of adults in a given metropolitan area c. the number of people per square mile d. the number of people in an economically and socially integrated area ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 443
OBJ: Cities
25. The city of Mumbai, India, has fourteen million people, making it the second-largest city in the world, and Mumbai handles the majority of India’s maritime commerce. These facts help to explain why Mumbai would be called a(n): a. metropolitan statistical area. c. agglomeration. b. global city. d. agrarian area. ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 443
OBJ: Cities
MSC: Applying 26. The shift of large segments of the population away from the urban core and toward the edges of cities is called: a. social ecology. c. civil inattention. b. urban deforestation. d. suburbanization. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
27. How is an edge city different from a suburb? a. An edge city is primarily a bedroom community. b. An edge city has its own centers of employment and commerce. c. An edge city is smaller than a suburb. d. An edge city tends to be located far from major highway intersections. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
28. What group was most likely to move away from the urban core to the suburbs? a. single mothers c. racial and ethnic minorities b. senior citizens d. whites ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
29. What sort of rural areas are most likely to experience a “rural rebound”? a. areas that are especially far from large cities b. areas that are near urban areas c. areas with especially low housing costs d. areas with lots of ranching, as opposed to farming ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 446
OBJ: Cities
30. If the California legislature passes a bill designed to make people live in tighter, denser spaces, what problem is it attempting to combat? a. gentrification c. racial segregation b. low levels of mobility d. urban sprawl ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
31. Some urban planners are working hard to make sure their communities use the same land for multiple purposes, especially by using the land “vertically”—that is, having apartments on top of retail space. This type of planning is called: a. smart growth. c. suburbanization. b. urban sprawl. d. edge city development. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
32. If a blighted urban neighborhood were to suddenly develop an assortment of upscale restaurants, coffee shops, hip boutiques, and art galleries, then the neighborhood is: a. changing patterns of gender relations. b. becoming gentrified.
c. experiencing smart growth. d. growing into an edge city. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 446
OBJ: Cities
33. Which of the following is one of the categories of urbanites identified by Herbert Gans in his ethnography Urban Villagers? a. bohemians c. Roma b. cosmopolites d. the dispossessed ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 450
OBJ: Cities
34. The Industrial Revolution made cities necessary, as a large number of people were needed to work in factories, but ever since, many people have found city life attractive. Why? a. Cities offer a profound sense of security. b. Cities bring people together and help to develop community. c. Cities offer a high degree of personal freedom. d. Cities help people develop deep and intense relationships. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 448
OBJ: Cities
35. What sorts of places are associated with an increase in social atomization? a. rural areas c. suburbs b. frontier counties d. cities ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 450
OBJ: Cities
36. Chris McCandless lived on his own in the wilderness because he felt constrained and betrayed by a society that cared so little for its individual members. What term describes the attitude to which McCandless objected? a. suburbanization c. edge cities b. the rural rebound d. social atomization ANS: D OBJ: Cities
DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 434–436 |Page 450 MSC: Understanding
37. In the past, the vast majority of people lived in rural areas and small towns where it was truly shocking to encounter a genuine stranger, but today most of us live in cities where we are constantly surrounded by total strangers. This leads directly to: a. suburbanization. c. social atomization. b. a demographic transition. d. increased divorce rates. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 450
OBJ: Cities
38. According to Herbert Gans, if you move to New York City because you love theater, you are a(n): a. cosmopolite. c. single. b. ethnic villager. d. student. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 450
OBJ: Cities
39. According to Georg Simmel, how do city dwellers relate to one another? a. through restrictive constraints on personal behavior b. through family connections c. in terms of class-based loyalties d. in objective and instrumental terms ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 450
OBJ: Cities
40. Under what circumstances are bystanders LESS likely to attempt to help a stranger who appears to be in danger? a. when the bystander could also be in danger b. when there are lots of bystanders c. when the danger comes from a natural, rather than a human, source d. when the danger might lead to legal liability for a bystander who intervenes ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 451
OBJ: Cities
41. The process by which members of a group individually conclude that nothing is wrong because they observe that no one else seems to be worried is called: a. alienation. c. pluralistic ignorance. b. community feeling. d. the bystander effect. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 451
OBJ: Cities
42. If Georg Simmel is correct, in which type of community would you be LEAST likely to have a friendly relationship with your neighbors? a. a rural area c. an exurb b. a suburb d. a large city ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 450
OBJ: Cities
43. According to law enforcement, if you are in trouble or injured, rather than yelling for help or appealing to a group, you should pick out an individual—even a stranger—point to him or her, and request assistance. This strategy would help to defeat: a. the broken windows paradigm. c. the bystander effect. b. alienation. d. street crime. ANS: C DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 451
OBJ: Cities
44. What is the name of the subdiscipline that studies the social causes and consequences of environmental problems? a. transformative environmentalism c. environmental sociology b. sociobiology d. biological ecology ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 452
OBJ: The Environment
45. The study of human populations and their impact on the natural world is called: a. social ecology. c. conservationism. b. biodiversity. d. radical environmentalism.
ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 452
OBJ: The Environment
46. A sociologist who examines how cities are organized or the migration of human populations is studying: a. renewable resources. c. social ecology. b. environmental attitudes. d. environmental justice. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 452
OBJ: The Environment
47. What are environmental sociologists referring to when they use the term “environment”? a. wilderness and other areas that have not yet been developed by humans b. only renewable and nonrenewable resources c. those elements of the world that were not constructed through human effort d. both the natural and the human-made environment ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 452
OBJ: The Environment
48. When environmental sociologists study the problems of waste and consumption, how are they understanding the environment? a. as a source of meaning b. as a resource to be used for development c. as a place of recreation and leisure d. as a social problem ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: The Environment
REF: Pages 454–456 MSC: Understanding
49. Damage to tropical rain forests is causing the extinction of many rain forest species, but it is also detrimental to human life. Why? a. Rain forests provide vast amounts of food for the Western world. b. Rain forests absorb carbon dioxide and provide valuable plants. c. Rain forests provide much-needed water for people. d. Rain forests are home to much of the world’s population. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Environment
REF: Pages 454–456 MSC: Analyzing
50. Resources, like coal and oil, that CANNOT be replaced except through very slow geological processes are called: a. nonrenewable resources. c. renewable resources. b. social problems. d. environmentally friendly. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 453
OBJ: The Environment
51. If a sociologist is studying the problems associated with resource depletion, which of the following facts might he or she be interested in when he or she investigates the way our society uses paper? a. It requires more than three pounds of tree pulp to make one pound of paper. b. Making paper pumps acid into rivers and streams. c. Paper products are useful for storage. d. Paper products are used to spread information. ANS: A
DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 452–453
OBJ: The Environment
MSC: Understanding
52. Aldo Leopold, an ecologist, wrote about his home state of Wisconsin in The Sand County Almanac. In one moving section, he described a triangular cemetery, founded in the nineteenth century, that, because of its unusual shape, contained a tiny patch of prairie, unmowed and undisturbed. Every year, sometime in July, Leopold would watch a single silphium plant bloom there, the only one he found in that part of the state. He used this example to discuss the many plants native to the prairie that have been replaced by a few commercial plants grown by farmers. Leopold is observing about a change in: a. pollution. c. social ecology. b. suburbanization. d. biodiversity. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 454
OBJ: The Environment
53. The Environmental Protection Agency claims that the United States has one of the safest supplies of drinking water in the world, but: a. 10 percent of U.S. water systems do not meet EPA standards. b. the EPA has covered up systematic contamination of the water supply. c. most Americans still complain of waterborne disease. d. most of the U.S. water supply comes from desalinization plants. ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 454
OBJ: The Environment
54. What sort of pollution is responsible for global warming? a. water pollution b. light pollution c. air pollution that reflects the sun’s rays away from Earth d. greenhouse gases ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 456
OBJ: The Environment
55. Why is the “water grabbing” of developing countries possible? a. Water is a transboundary resource. b. Developing countries sell their water to wealthier countries. c. Developing countries have more water. d. No one owns the water. ANS: A DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 455
OBJ: The Environment
56. What problem will result from even slightly higher global temperatures? a. rising sea levels c. larger islands b. loss of sites to store garbage d. gentrification ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 456
OBJ: The Environment
57. Some types of air pollution cause less sunlight to reach Earth, a phenomenon known as: a. global warming. c. the treadmill of production. b. global dimming. d. the ecological footprint. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 456
OBJ: The Environment
58. Few people today even know that the Milky Way is a spiral arm of our galaxy, containing such a dense cluster of stars that in the past it appeared not as individual points of light but as a splash of light across the night sky. Why is it no longer visible this way? a. the greenhouse effect c. global dimming b. light pollution d. air pollution ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
59. Which of the following is a major area of concern within the four analytic frameworks of environmental sociology? a. demography c. incarceration rates b. attitudes about the environment d. biodiversity ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
60. What classic sociological theorist has most influenced the study of the political economy of the environment? a. Emile Durkheim c. Erving Goffman b. Talcott Parsons d. Karl Marx ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
61. Modern economies require constant growth, and with that growth comes an ever-increasing need for resources, called: a. global dimming. c. the treadmill of production. b. economic modernization. d. the new ecological paradigm. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
62. How do people with an anthropocentric relationship with the environment perceive nature? a. as something to be preserved b. as a place to find spiritual truth c. as something to be conquered d. as something to be studied and examined before it is tainted by human activity ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
63. The belief that humans will find ways to overcome any problems posed by pollution and waste is consistent with what attitude? a. conservation b. the modern environmental movement c. the Malthusian theorem d. human exceptionalism ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
64. An environmentalist named Aldo Leopold believed that we need to develop a “land ethic” that “changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it.” What sort of attitude is Leopold trying to move our society away from?
a. the new ecological paradigm b. grassroots ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
c. conservation d. anthropocentric REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
65. A nature writer, Barry Lopez, spent time with the Inuit of the Arctic and concluded that hunting societies had different attitudes about the land than industrial ones because “the focus of a hunter in a hunting society was not killing animals but attending to the myriad relationships he understood bound him into the world he occupied with them.” What kind of attitude do hunting societies have? a. Judeo-Christian c. human exceptionalism b. the new ecological paradigm d. anthropocentric ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
66. According to the text, which of the following is one of the four major eras of environmental activism? a. Earth Day c. environmental terrorism b. postmodern environmentalism d. the conservation era ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Environment
REF: Pages 459–462 MSC: Understanding
67. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, most environmental activism was focused on: a. the protection and conservation of wilderness. b. environmental justice. c. grassroots activism to involve individual community members. d. lowering the ecological footprints of both individuals and society as a whole. ANS: A DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 459
OBJ: The Environment
68. On July 1, 1908, Theodore Roosevelt signed legislation that created forty-five national forests. Roosevelt was a passionate hunter and believed that all the game in America would soon be gone unless something was done to preserve some wild areas. To which era of the environmental movement does this goal belong? a. grassroots environmentalism b. the conservation era c. mainstream environmentalism d. the modern environmental movement ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 459
OBJ: The Environment
69. What book sparked the modern environmental movement in the 1960s? a. Walden by Henry David Thoreau b. Earth Day by Gaylord Nelson c. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion d. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 459
OBJ: The Environment
70. Today, many parents are worried about the bottles out of which their babies drink, because many contain plastics made with Bisphenol A, a compound that helps to make hard, clear, shatter-proof plastics but that might also be a neurotoxin, especially for children. Though science has yet to fully explore this issue, what era of the environmental movement does this concern most closely follow? a. the conservation era b. mainstream environmentalism c. grassroots environmentalism d. the modern environmental movement ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: The Environment
REF: Pages 459–461 MSC: Applying
71. What environmental activist is credited with organizing the first Earth Day? a. Rachel Carson c. Ralph Nader b. Gaylord Nelson d. Iona Frisbee ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 460
OBJ: The Environment
72. The Environmental Defense Fund hires scientists, economists, and lawyers to lobby the government and to educate the public about the environmental consequences of modern life. They brag that they had a part in passing important elements of the Clean Air Act, California’s emissions rules, and a treaty to phase out CFCs. With what era of the environmental movement is this sort of organization most commonly associated? a. the modern environmental movement b. conservation environmentalism c. Earth Day d. mainstream environmentalism ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 459
OBJ: The Environment
73. Which political party made social justice, community-based economics, feminism, and diversity central to its platform? a. the Green Party c. the Libertarian Party b. the Republican Party d. the Natural Law Party ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
74. During what era did the environmental movement focus on citizen participation and change at the local level? a. mainstream environmentalism b. the conservation era c. the modern environmental movement d. grassroots environmentalism ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
75. Earth First describes itself as a global organization, but its website contains links to local chapters in Montreal, the Netherlands, and Humboldt and Santa Cruz, California. What does this suggest about the organization? a. It believes in grassroots environmentalism. b. It came out of the modern environmental movement.
c. It primarily cares about sustainable development. d. It works for conservation of wilderness areas. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
76. Although the federal government plans to store nuclear waste under a mountain in Nevada, many people who live in Nevada are trying their best to have it housed elsewhere, a classic example of: a. conservation. c. human exceptionalism. b. mainstream environmentalism. d. NIMBY. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
77. People who use violent or criminal methods to disrupt or destroy businesses or organizations that they believe are harming the environment are called: a. environmental racists. c. slow growth advocates. b. ecoterrorists. d. conservationists. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
78. In 2007 Kevin Tubbs was sentenced to more than twelve years in prison for his part in setting fire to an SUV dealership, a ranger station, and a tree farm. He expressed remorse and said that he was motivated by “hopelessness and desperation over cruelty to animals and destruction of the earth.” What are his actions called? a. ecoterrorism c. mainstream environmentalism b. NIMBY d. anthropocentric ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
79. Factories that produce noxious levels of pollution and toxic waste dumps are often located near areas where minorities and the poor reside. Which of the following terms could be used to describe this situation? a. corporate welfare c. ecoterrorism b. resource environmentalism d. environmental racism ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
80. Why are the poor and minorities more likely to suffer health problems that result from exposure to pollution? a. They are disproportionately exposed to pollution. b. They are poorly educated about the risks of pollution. c. Slumlords are not required to maintain their properties at the same level as they would be in other communities. d. Members of these communities simply do not care about the dangers of pollution. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Environment
REF: Pages 461–462 MSC: Applying
81. Environmental racism occurs when: a. environmental groups avoid hiring or recruiting racial minorities. b. people use violent or criminal methods to achieve their goals of protecting the environment.
c. an environmental policy or practice negatively affects individuals, groups, or communities as a result of their race. d. people believe that humans are exempt from natural ecological limits. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 462
OBJ: The Environment
82. An industry dumps waste in an area adjacent to where minorities reside. What is this practice called? a. corporate welfare c. ecoterrorism b. resource depletion d. environmental racism ANS: D DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 462
OBJ: The Environment
83. The Environmental Protection Agency has a department whose mandate is to work for the “fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” What is this department most likely to be called, based on your reading in Chapter 15? a. the Environmental Justice Department b. the Cooperative Environmental Management Department c. the Environmental Education Department d. the Policy, Economics, and Innovation Department ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 462
OBJ: The Environment
84. Although Los Angeles is infamous for its air pollution and smog, there are many parts of LA where the air is quite nice, especially in the mountains and by the sea. However, the people who live in these places are disproportionately white, while the people who live in the places with the worst air quality are disproportionately likely to be racial and ethnic minorities. This is an example of: a. conservation. c. environmental racism. b. sustainable development. d. environmental justice. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 462
OBJ: The Environment
85. The attempt to reconcile global economic development with protections for the environment is called: a. biodiversity. c. social demographics. b. environmental integrity. d. sustainable development. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 462
OBJ: The Environment
86. An estimate of the land and water area that is required to produce all of the goods that an individual consumes and to assimilate all of the waste that he or she produces is called: a. smart growth. c. demographics. b. an ecological footprint. d. biodiversity. ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 462
OBJ: The Environment
87. One of the major problems with slowing greenhouse gas emissions lies in the developing world, where many countries are just now starting to burn fossil fuels at the same rate as the industrialized world. Aside from the pollution produced, this is also a problem because there is not enough oil left for the world to burn it at its current rate. To solve this problem, many believe that we need: a. environmental racism. c. a return to feudalism. b. ecological footprints. d. sustainable development. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: The Environment
REF: Pages 462–463 MSC: Applying
88. If someone starts taking public transportation and riding a bicycle, this person is reducing his or her: a. anthropocentrism. c. gentrification. b. white flight. d. ecological footprint. ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 462
OBJ: The Environment
SHORT ANSWER 1. If I am gathering information on the fertility rates and death rates of a population in order to understand patterns in why a population is shrinking, what branch of sociology am I studying? ANS: demography DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 437
OBJ: Population
MSC: Understanding
2. List one of the four major factors that New Malthusians credit with influencing the reproductive lives in societies that promote large families. ANS: Answers vary but could include religion, financial support, government policies, or cultural influences. DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 440
OBJ: Population
MSC: Remembering
3. Why does the textbook include a section on centenarians? ANS: Answers vary. A good answer would show how the points made in this section are examples of demography. Students could also draw on how it refers to longer lives as leading to a change in population, drawing on the theories of population change. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 439
OBJ: Population
MSC: Analyzing
4. What human event was the catalyst for city life becoming the most common way of living? ANS: the Industrial Revolution DIF: Easy
REF: Page 442
OBJ: Cities
MSC: Remembering
5. If the vast majority of people in the cities and towns of Riverside County, a suburban Southern California community near Los Angeles, were not able to commute to work in Los Angeles, in what type of community would they live? ANS: edge city DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
MSC: Applying
6. What is the derogatory term applied to the expansion of urban or suburban boundaries? ANS: urban sprawl DIF: Easy
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
MSC: Remembering
7. A town developer is advocating for economic and urban planning policies that emphasize responsible development and renewal. Classify his or her approach to growth. ANS: He or she is advocating “smart growth.” DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 445
OBJ: Cities
MSC: Understanding
8. Which theoretical approach to reducing urban sprawl would assert that open land should be redefined as a scarce resource and that urban areas be redefined as valuable spaces? ANS: symbolic interactionist DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 447
OBJ: Cities
MSC: Applying
9. Why did many individuals react counter to how the “bystander effect” predicts they might have reacted during the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City? ANS: Answers can vary but should address that the attacker was perceived immediately to be an outsider; it was perceived as an attack on an entire country. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Pages 451–452
OBJ: Cities
10. What type of nations are the largest consumers of energy worldwide? ANS: industrialized DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 453
OBJ: The Environment
11. Why do wealthier countries take water from poorer countries (water grab)? ANS: in order to prevent the depletion of their own resources
DIF: Moderate MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 455
OBJ: The Environment
12. How are global dimming and global warming similar? ANS: Answers could vary but they both include an increase and change of matter in the atmosphere. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 456
OBJ: The Environment
13. Identify the difference between environmental justice and environmental racism. ANS: Environmental justice is a movement to address environmental inequities; environmental racism is the result of policies and practices. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 461
OBJ: The Environment
ESSAY 1. Why do anti-Malthusians believe that people should be worried about a drop in population rather than uncontrolled growth? Do you share this view? ANS: Anti-Malthusians believe that Malthus was wrong both because he did not anticipate the way birth rates would change as societies industrialized and because he did not expect technology to advance as fast as it has, providing increasingly efficient food production. Anti-Malthusians believe that Malthus reached faulty conclusions and that he could not have envisioned the many modern developments that would impact population dynamics. Anti-Malthusians’ main concern is the possibility of a demographic free fall rather than the possibility of the population growing indefinitely. They do not see a free fall happening immediately but forecast a future where the pattern of demographic transition now taking place in many more industrialized nations would spread to the developing world. The anti-Malthusians believe that, when people can achieve a better standard of living, they prefer smaller families. In these circumstances, children become more of an economic liability than an asset. As people become better educated and have easier access to health care, they have more reproductive choices available to them, such as methods of family planning. Governments in some countries are also adopting policies that discourage large families. Furthermore, the anti-Malthusians claim that technological advancements applied to agriculture and raising livestock—such as better pesticides and fertilizers, genetic modification, and the use of hormones and antibiotics—have enabled humans to produce much larger quantities of food than ever before, thus providing for the nutritional needs of more of the world’s population. DIF: Easy
REF: Page 441
OBJ: Population
MSC: Analyzing
2. What is demography? List and explain the three basic variables that demographers use to understand population dynamics. ANS:
Demography can be defined as the study of the size of, composition of, distribution of, and changes to human population. The three basic demographic variables that are crucial to understanding population dynamics are fertility rates (the average number of births relative to the total population), mortality rates (the number of deaths that can be expected relative to the total population), and migration (including immigrants who arrive in a region and emigrants who leave it). The best answers will also mention infant mortality, internal migration, and the net migration rate. DIF: Easy REF: Pages 437–438 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Population
3. Summarize the changes urban areas in the United States experienced in the years after World War II. ANS: The most important change in urban areas after World War II was the increasing shift toward the suburbs. Increasing levels of postwar prosperity made suburbs and home ownership attractive to many, although suburbs were strictly segregated along racial lines. Suburbanization was not just a response to new levels of postwar prosperity but also reflected a retreat from some of the problems associated with city living—close quarters, noise, and crime. As more families were able to afford single-family homes, large yards with proverbial white picket fences and two-car garages became the image of the American Dream. But while suburban life allows families to avoid some of the problems associated with city living, it has its own problems: long commutes, little contact between neighbors, and de facto racial segregation of housing and schools. Some observers have also criticized the monotonous uniformity of suburbs, claiming that they promote listless personalities, conformity, and escapism. The decades-long shift of population to the suburbs has accelerated and expanded throughout the nation, with more families moving farther and farther away, into what have been called the “exurbs.” The best answers will also mention urban or suburban sprawl, a derogatory term applied to the peripheral expansion of urban boundaries associated with irresponsible or poorly planned development. According to critics, areas affected by urban sprawl are often unsightly and characterized by a homogenous landscape of housing subdivisions, office parks, and corner strip malls without character or green space. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 445–446 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Cities
4. The tragic murder of Kitty Genovese was especially shocking because police later determined that “38 people either saw Kitty Genovese stabbed and raped or heard her scream for her life, but no one called the police.” What stopped these bystanders from taking action? How does the Genovese example differ from why some bystanders took action to help victims in the attack of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001? ANS: Good answers should mention both the bystander effect and the idea of pluralistic ignorance. The bystander effect, or the diffusion of responsibility, refers to the way that as a number of bystanders are present, they become less likely to help someone in need. Responsibility is “diffused” throughout the crowd so that no one person feels responsible enough to do anything, most people assuming that someone else will help. However, in smaller groups, the chances that someone will help increase greatly.
Pluralistic ignorance describes how large groups of people react to an ambiguous or unusual situation. They tend to look to one another for help in defining the situation. If no member of the group decides that it is an emergency, and therefore worthy of worry, it is likely that all members will continue to ignore the situation. In the case of the World Trade Center attack, the scale of the attack allowed bystanders to easily identify the attacker, and there was a sense of community that was breached. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 450–452
OBJ: Cities
5. Think about the town in which you are currently living. What changes could be made to make it more smart-growth friendly? ANS: The textbook lists a series of innovations that follow from smart-growth principles, including pedestrian-friendly streets; a greater mix of housing, commercial, and retail properties; and the preservation of open space and other environmental amenities that make it more pleasant to live in a large city—such as public art, easily accessible bathrooms, and water fountains. The most important item on this list is mixed-use zoning, creating housing and retail areas with much greater overlap as opposed to suburbs that strictly separate the places where we live, work, and shop. A good answer should list specific changes that could be made to a particular community, which can include items from the list above, but any answer that follows the principles of smart growth (reducing sprawl and preventing flight to the suburbs) is a good answer. DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 443
OBJ: Cities
MSC: Applying
6. In the summer of 2002, the Los Angeles Times ran a story about a couple in downtown LA who watched a coyote jump a three-foot fence and eat their pet Chihuahua, Zu-Zu. Writing about this event, Jenny Price says: When you bring domestic dogs into a landscape of native animals, then the resident carnivores are likely to see the pets as prey. When you use and change a landscape, then the place will respond. Nature is never passive. What attitude toward nature does Jenny Price have? Using terminology from the text, why do you think she responds in this way? Explain your answer. ANS: The two attitudes discussed in the text are human exceptionalism (or anthropocentrism), which is the wrong answer (unless the student uses this term to describe the dog’s owner), and the new ecological paradigm (or social ecology), which is the correct answer. Both of these terms refer to an understanding of nature or the environment that focuses on how social developments occur within a physical environment that shapes and responds to social trends. The new ecological paradigm is a way of understanding human life as just one part of an ecosystem that includes many species’ interactions with the environment and with one another. Unlike the anthropocentric worldview, this understanding of nature holds that humans must adjust to their environment, not simply seek to dominate it. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
7. What are the two elements of the ecological footprint? Discuss, for each element, ways a U.S. citizen could reduce his or her ecological footprint. ANS:
An ecological footprint is (1) “an estimation of the land and water area required to produce all the goods an individual consumes” and (2) “to assimilate all the waste an individual generates.” The students’ examples should draw on both elements. Because the estimate is thirty acres in the United States but fifteen acres in the United Kingdom, examples should be specific to U.S. consumption habits. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 462–463
OBJ: The Environment
8. What are the two major areas that sociologists study when they consider the environment as a social problem? How does the ecological footprint exemplify this? ANS: The first area is the problem of consumption, focusing on the depletion of nonrenewable resources. The second area includes all the problems of waste, meaning the sorts of pollution generated by modern industrial economies, such as water contamination, greenhouse gas emissions, overflowing landfills, light pollution, and noise pollution. The ecological footprint also includes these two major areas (consumption and waste). A good answer will also note that both recognize the social aspects of environmental problems. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Pages 453–454
OBJ: The Environment
9. What do environmental sociologists refer to when they talk about “the treadmill of production”? ANS: “The treadmill of production” is a term that grew out of the study of the political economy of the environment, which focuses on how economic factors influence the way organizations use the environment and how this use is often supported by accompanying political systems and policies. Specifically, the “treadmill of production” describes the process by which contemporary industrial societies are built on the premise of progress—in particular on conquering nature and using natural resources to fuel production and expand profits. Government policies and economic systems have frequently supported this belief in progress. While progress has usually meant both a generation of great wealth for some and an abundance of goods and services for many, it has come at a price. That price is increased environmental degradation and the social problems that typically go along with it; like a treadmill, there seems to be no particular spot at which this process will end, short of exhaustion. DIF: Easy REF: Page 457 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: The Environment
10. How is the new ecological paradigm different from the attitudes of human exceptionalism that preceded it? ANS: Historically, Americans have been particularly anthropocentric. From an anthropocentric perspective, humans perceive nature as something to master or to conquer. Nature is believed to be inexhaustible and hence can be manipulated or used with impunity in order to serve humankind. Consumption is equated with success. This is consistent with the Judeo-Christian belief in “man’s” dominion over the earth. Western culture thus perpetuates human exceptionalism, an attitude that humans are exempt from natural ecological limits. Progress through industrialization supports the notion that culture and technology will provide us with ways to overcome any environmental challenge.
In contrast, the new ecological paradigm views humans as part of the ecosystem or biosphere—one of many species that interact with the natural environment. Nature has limits we must respect, and this may in turn constrain economic development. The new ecological paradigm recognizes that human activity can have both intended and unintended consequences that shape social life and life on the planet, and that humans are part of a system that must be maintained in balance. DIF: Easy MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 457
OBJ: The Environment
11. What is environmental justice? ANS: Environmental justice is the idea that access to environmental equality, or living in a healthy environment, is a basic human right. The environmental justice movement represents a significant branch of the environmental movement and is also an example of grassroots organization. The environmental justice movement emerged as a response to environmental inequities, threats to public health, and differential treatment of certain communities with regard to ecological concerns. Despite significant improvements in environmental protections, there are still millions of people in the United States who live in communities threatened by ecological hazards. The poor and minorities are disproportionately at risk and bear a greater portion of the nation’s environmental problems. The best answers will mention the related concept of environmental racism, which occurs when an environmental policy or practice negatively affects individuals, groups, or communities based on race. Research on environmental justice is one of the fastest growing areas of scholarship within environmental sociology. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 461 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: The Environment
12. Which analytic subfield within the sociology of the environment do you think best explains how the greenhouse effect came into being? Justify your answer. ANS: The text lists four major analytic frameworks: the political economy of the environment, attitudes about the environment, environmental movements, and sustainable development. In theory, any one of these could be the correct answer, as long as it could be justified. The political economy of the environment is the most obvious answer. Good answers would point out that this is the area that looks at how economic factors influence the way organizations (typically corporations) use the environment and how this use is often supported by political systems and policies, which in this case means how we burn fossil fuels to produce power and transportation. Attitudes about the environment is also possible. Good answers would talk about how an attitude of human exceptionalism would lead people to believe that we are exempt from natural ecological limits and that technology will allow us to overcome any environmental challenge. Environmental movements is a much less likely answer, but a case could be made if the answer pointed out that the early environmental movement focused on conservation, which would not have led it to worry about greenhouse gases. It was not until the modern environmental movement and mainstream environmentalism that people began to think about pollution in this way. Sustainable development is also an unlikely answer, but it could work if it were used to show that the development aspirations of all countries cannot be met by following the path that industrialized nations have already taken, because the world’s ecosystems cannot support it. This explains both why the greenhouse effect exists and why people are worried about it. DIF: Difficult
REF: Pages 457–461
OBJ: The Environment
MSC: Analyzing
CHAPTER 16: SOCIAL CHANGE MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. The transformation of culture over time is called: a. social revolution. c. social iteration. b. cultural evolution. d. social change. ANS: D DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
2. Periods in which social change happens so rapidly that whole societies are dramatically redefined are called: a. contagion theory eras. c. social revolutions. b. mass behavioral evolutions. d. the tragedy of the commons. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
3. Which of the following statements about social change is true? a. It occurs exclusively during unmistakable periods in history. b. It happens quickly. c. It occurs rarely. d. It is always happening. ANS: D MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
4. Experts have posited that Syria’s change from a stable country to an unstable country is due in part to an extensive drought. In part, then, the recent social change in Syria is due to: a. a major physical event. c. a new innovation or discovery. b. wide-scale demographic changes. d. war. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
5. In recent years, salsa has overtaken ketchup as America’s most popular condiment. This is an example of: a. resource mobilization. c. cultural leveling. b. social change. d. the political power of Hispanics. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
6. Today, it is not uncommon for parents to call their children because they need help performing a simple task on a computer, like ripping a CD and using an email program to mail a song to someone. Typically, parents teach children, not the other way around. What creates situations in which parents have to turn to their children for help? a. war c. social dilemmas b. emergent norms d. social change ANS: D MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
7. Around twelve thousand years ago, in what we now call the Middle East, people began to domesticate grain, a process that slowly spread around the world over the next six to seven thousand years. In 1984, 8 percent of U.S. households had a computer; by 2008, that number was estimated to be above 70 percent. How do these two things relate to social change? a. Neither is an example of social change. b. Both are examples of social change, occurring at different rates. c. The change in agriculture was a social change, but not the change in computer ownership. d. The change in computer ownership was a social change, but not the change in agriculture. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
8. The majority of households in the United States now have personal computers. This trend has been encouraged by the federal government for many reasons, including increased productivity, better education, and a better-informed public. At the same time, there has been an increase in acute injuries related to computers or computer tools. This is an example of: a. the way individuals can change the world. b. a fad, or a temporary trend. c. the unintended consequences of social change. d. the rapid pace of change. ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
9. What was one of the earliest theories of collective behavior? a. contagion c. resource mobilization b. emergent norms d. collective action ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
10. Until it was canceled due to safety concerns in 2009, thousands of UCLA students used to gather several times a year for an “undie run” as a way of relieving stress during finals. What is this an example of? a. emergent norms c. the tragedy of the commons b. a public goods dilemma d. collective behavior ANS: D MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
11. What do large numbers of people form when they come together? a. a crowd c. a riot b. a collective behavior group d. a fad ANS: A DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
12. What theory of collective behavior would suggest that when crowds come together a “mob mentality” takes over and rational thought disappears? a. regressive action c. contagion theory b. relative deprivation theory d. emergent norm theory ANS: C DIF: Moderate MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
13. “An agglomeration of men presents new characteristics very different from those of the individuals composing it. The sentiments and ideas of all the persons in the gathering take one and the same direction, and their conscious personality vanishes. A collective mind is formed, doubtless transitory, but presenting very clearly defined characteristics. The gathering has thus become what, in the absence of a better expression, I will call an organized crowd. . . . It forms a single being . . .” Which theory describes this quote? a. public goods dilemma c. mass society theory b. tragedy of the commons d. contagion theory ANS: D DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
14. In trying to understand the evacuation of the World Trade Center when it was first bombed in 1993, B. E. Aguirre, Dennis Wenger, and Gabriela Vigo argue that the more “the search for meaning in the milling process focuses upon defining the situation as serious, the quicker should be the mobilization of people and the initiation of collective behavior.” What type of theory are they using to make this prediction? a. technological determinism c. contagion theory b. emergent norm theory d. cultural diffusion ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
15. You are walking across campus and see a large group of students gathered outside the student union listening to someone talk. You stop and try to listen, but you cannot get close enough. You ask another member of the crowd what is happening, and you are told that someone was proselytizing and that some students gathered to listen while others argued. What does this tell you about crowds? a. A crowd does not have to share a geographic location. b. In any crowd, people have many different motivations. c. Crowds are illogical. d. When people join a crowd, they lose their individuality and become part of something like a collective mind. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Collective Behavior
REF: Pages 470–471 MSC: Analyzing
16. In Lincoln, Nebraska, in the summer of 2009, two groups held rallies about health care, one supporting and one opposing legislation proposed to overhaul America’s health-care system. At one point, the two groups went beyond holding signs and shouting slogans, and tempers flared. Objects were thrown, shoving matches broke out, and the police had to step in to break up the: a. social movement. c. rally. b. riot. d. march. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Collective Behavior
REF: Pages 470–471 MSC: Applying
17. When a large number of people either collectively or individually engage in similar behaviors, sociologists call it: a. collective behavior. c. mass behavior. b. riots. d. contagion. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 471
OBJ: Collective Behavior
18. In 2007 Jason Fox and the Hood Presidents, a hip-hop group, uploaded a video of their song “Aunt Jackie” to YouTube, and almost instantly people started imitating the dance moves seen in the video. What is this an example of? a. a public goods dilemma c. a crowd b. mass behavior d. contagion theory ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 471
OBJ: Collective Behavior
19. Anna’s father tried a low-carb diet for a while, but stopped when he became aware of a new diet called “paleo.” This is an example of: a. a fad. c. a social dilemma. b. fashion. d. contagion theory. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 472
OBJ: Collective Behavior
20. The relatively short-lived enthusiasm for leg warmers during the 1980s was an example of a: a. social dilemma. c. fad. b. riot. d. virtual community. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 472
OBJ: Collective Behavior
21. When a recruiter for a social movement organization assumes everyone has the same reason for joining, he or she fails to understand that: a. social movements must emerge naturally and cannot be organized by people. b. individuals often have different understandings of themselves and their own participation in collectives. c. people do not need a reason to join a social movement; they will join if they feel like it. d. people cannot be convinced to support a cause that they did not support in the first place. ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
22. How does a fad differ from fashion? a. Fads can mark you as belonging to a certain social group, while fashion is widespread in society. b. Fashion changes, while fads are stable, if only among a small group of people. c. Fads become very popular for short periods of time, while fashions are widespread styles of behavior that may last for longer periods of time. d. Fads and fashions are the same thing. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 472
OBJ: Collective Behavior
23. What do sociologists call behaviors that are rational for any given individual but that lead to disaster for an entire group? a. cultural leveling c. social dilemmas b. postmodern dilemmas d. fads ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 472
OBJ: Collective Behavior
24. When individual fishing boats harvest more fish each year in order to maximize profits while, as a result, threatening the fish population with extinction, it is called:
a. a public goods dilemma. b. the tragedy of the commons. ANS: B MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
c. relative deprivation. d. sustainable consumption. REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
25. According to Garrett Hardin, how can social dilemmas be solved? a. with the proper application of science and technology b. by changing the behaviors of the people involved c. with specific technical solutions implemented by the government d. by increasing the resources available for exploitation ANS: B MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
26. A company that dumps toxic waste in a river to keep costs down will likely never get caught by environmental regulators. According to Garrett Harden, we can best understand the costs of this action in terms of a: a. public goods dilemma. c. tragedy of the commons. b. relative deprivation. d. social dilemma. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Collective Behavior
REF: Pages 472–473 MSC: Analyzing
27. In 1968 Garrett Hardin described the tragedy of the commons. The classic example of the commons is a pasture where any community member can graze his or her livestock. What would be the modern equivalent of the commons? a. mass public entertainment, such as the circus and rock concerts b. natural resources, like water, air, forests, and plants c. the Internet d. shopping malls and retailers ANS: B DIF: Difficult MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
28. According to a study published in Conservation Letters, a research team led by biologist Brian MacKenzie ran computer models of the population dynamics of the bluefin tuna that suggest that, even if fishing were banned immediately, the population of bluefin in the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans will most likely collapse. This is a serious issue for sushi lovers everywhere, and some sociologists call it: a. technological diffusion. c. a tragedy of the commons. b. ecoterrorism. d. a public goods dilemma. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
29. Although it might cause a great deal of harm in the long run, individual companies have an economic interest in fossil fuels. What is it called when the pursuit of individual gain leads to loss for a larger group? a. social change c. a fad or fashion b. a tragedy of the commons d. a public goods dilemma ANS: B DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
30. Many people think that nuclear proliferation can be best understood as a tragedy of the commons. If someone sees nuclear proliferation this way, which of the following might he or she propose as a solution? a. a global grassroots movement demanding that governments destroy nuclear warheads b. a better missile defense system that could make nuclear missiles obsolete c. a series of technical innovations that could make nuclear inspections more effective by making illegal reactors easier to detect d. better bomb shelters and new medical techniques to treat radiation poisoning ANS: A MSC: Analyzing
DIF: Difficult
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
31. A public goods dilemma occurs when: a. individual actions that may be rational by themselves lead to a collective disaster. b. individuals must give something to a collective resource without necessarily taking anything in return. c. an individual tries to cheat the system by getting more than his or her fair share of the commons. d. individuals encourage others to participate in a social movement. ANS: B DIF: Moderate MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
32. People who take advantage of a public good without contributing to it are called: a. social dilemmas. c. free riders. b. members of a virtual community. d. interest groups. ANS: C DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
33. According to the text, when someone listens to public radio but never contributes during pledge drives, sociologists would consider that person a: a. free rider. c. social tragedy. b. parasite. d. community malcontent. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
34. Litter may not be the most pressing problem facing our society, but many people still wish that our streets and parks had less trash strewn about. However, it is difficult to convince people to clean these public areas, a problem that sociologists would call: a. a public goods dilemma. c. resource mobilization theory. b. the tragedy of the commons. d. community policing. ANS: A MSC: Applying
DIF: Moderate
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
35. An office has a “coffee fund,” an old coffee can where people can toss change anytime they pour a cup of coffee. The fund can be used to buy new coffee for the office when the supply runs out. However, one individual always takes coffee and never puts any money in the fund, making him a: a. dilemma. c. free rider. b. resource mobilizer. d. prisoner. ANS: C MSC: Applying
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
36. What do the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, Nazism, birth control, and Protestantism all have in common? a. They all began in the twentieth century. b. They all are the products of social movements. c. They all have had a negative effect on society. d. They all are the products of a single charismatic leader. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 474 MSC: Analyzing
37. When African Americans joined a protest movement because it was harder for them to vote than it was for white Americans, they were acting out of: a. contentedness. c. relative deprivation. b. relative mobility. d. deprived rationality. ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 475 MSC: Applying
38. A group is organizing to change cultural “codes” related to substance addiction. What would we call this group? a. a crowd c. a riot b. a social movement d. a protest ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 474 MSC: Applying
39. The Shriners are a fraternity based on the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. They have roughly 375,000 members and 191 temples in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Shriners support Shriners Hospitals for Children, a system of twenty-two hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care. Why are the Shriners NOT a social movement? a. It is very hard to imagine membership in the Shriners transforming anyone’s life. b. They are not dedicated enough to their work. c. They do not seek to alter the status quo. d. They do not have an ideological commitment. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 474 MSC: Analyzing
40. Sometimes the motivations for large protests organized by college activists are criticized. Highly organized and attended protests in Washington, D.C., are seen as “spring break” for activists, who take part more for an escape and to belong to something than for anything else. What theory would support this critique? a. public goods theory c. the global village theory b. Postmodernism d. mass society theory ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 474 MSC: Applying
41. If you theorize that poor people join groups dedicated to keeping toxic waste dumps out of low-income communities because they want to enjoy the same standard of living and quality of life as the rest of society, then you are asserting: a. structural functionalism. c. mass society theory. b. relative deprivation theory. d. resource mobilization theory. ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 475
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
MSC: Applying
42. When did African Americans gain the legal right to exercise their right to vote? a. with the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act b. shortly after the Civil War c. with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919 d. with the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment in 1870 ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 475 MSC: Applying
43. Sociologists who focus on how practical constraints and opportunities can help or hinder a social movement are using: a. relative deprivation theory. c. technological determinism. b. resource mobilization theory. d. activist politics. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 476 MSC: Understanding
44. When activists begin to amass the things they need to sustain their movement—including volunteers, money, and office space—they are engaging in: a. resource mobilization. c. individual behavior. b. bureaucratization. d. coalescence. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Pages 475–476 MSC: Understanding
45. For many years there have been efforts to organize teaching assistants on college campuses and form a union. Often these efforts fail because of practical reasons: there are limited volunteers, leaders graduate and leave, and the organizers have limited money for supplies. What theory would be interested in these reasons? a. resource mobilization c. mass society b. relative deprivation d. technological diffusion ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 476 MSC: Applying
46. MoveOn.org was one of the first groups to successfully organize a large number of people around issues like partisan bickering and the power of corporate lobbies in Washington, in large part because it used innovative technology to locate, recruit, and organize supporters. This is exactly what ________ theory would predict. a. mass society c. emergent social movement b. relative deprivation d. resource mobilization ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 476 MSC: Analyzing
47. According to Armand Mauss, what happens in the “incipient” stage of a social movement? a. The social movement begins to fade away. b. The movement is absorbed by the very bureaucracies and institutions that it initially challenged. c. The public just begins to take notice of an issue and define it as a problem. d. Members of the social movement begin to organize and select leaders. ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Remembering
48. A social movement’s long-term development often looks a lot like: a. revolution. c. social transformation. b. failure. d. reform. ANS: B DIF: Difficult OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Understanding
49. According to Armand Mauss, what happens in the second stage of a social movement’s development? a. The social movement becomes incorporated into institutions. b. The social movement turns into a bureaucracy. c. The social movement declines and disappears from view. d. Like-minded individuals begin to organize. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Remembering
50. In the 1990s, many isolated individuals began to see the growth of federal prison populations as a problem. Later they would form groups to protest the policies that imprisoned so many, but first they were part of: a. a fad or fashion. b. cultural lag. c. the incipient stage of a social movement. d. the bureaucratized stage of a social movement. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Applying
51. People who believe that the government is not doing enough about climate change have gotten fed up and are starting to organize, which means they are starting to: a. achieve their goals. b. become part of the mainstream. c. take notice of a situation but refuse to define it as a problem. d. coalesce. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Understanding
52. Why is the “decline” phase of social movements interesting? a. After a movement declines, it always perishes. b. After a movement declines, it is possible that the movement changes and continues. c. The coalescence phase comes right afterward. d. Social movements always decline very quickly after they begin. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Understanding
53. The “bureaucratization” stage of a social movement: a. always happens at the beginning. b. has not yet happened for the gay rights movement. c. happened when American colonists transitioned from being revolutionaries to the official government leaders. d. happened for the environmental rights movement with the release of the film An Inconvenient Truth.
ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Applying
54. A major achievement of social movements geared toward increasing employment equality for minorities and women has been the widespread adoption of equal employment officers in many large organizations. When they got to this stage, the social movements could be said to have: a. succeeded. c. coalesced. b. failed. d. bureaucratized. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Analyzing
55. Which historical event convinced American scholars that NOT all social movements can be explained in terms of the psychological needs of their members? a. the Civil Rights Movement c. McCarthyism b. Protestantism d. the rise of Nazi Germany ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Remembering
56. According to relative deprivation theory, why do people join social movements? a. They are filling a psychological need to belong to something. b. Social movements are a necessary part of a system of social stratification. c. Joining a social movement is a rational response to inequality or oppression. d. Social movements are good places to meet people and network. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 475 |Page 479 MSC: Understanding
57. To what extent do the poorest members of American society participate in social movements? a. more than any other class b. in about equal numbers as other class groups c. more than members of the upper class, but less than members of the middle class d. less than any other class ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Remembering
58. What is one reason the poor might participate less in social movements compared to college students with adequate financial support? a. Social issues do not matter to the poor. b. The poor have a different culture leading them to value different things. c. They care more for their children. d. They may have to work multiple jobs, leaving little energy left for activism. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Understanding
59. Which of the following people would be most likely to join a social movement? a. a young woman who attends college and is involved in campus government and volunteers for local and state political campaigns b. a disaffected loner taking lots of math classes but without a real social life or a good outlet for making friends or forming romantic relationships c. a young man from the lower class who gets a job in a campus cafeteria and notices how well off the students he serves are
d. a single mother who works nights as a stocker at a grocery store and has relatives both in the Deep South and on the West Coast ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Analyzing
60. On average, participants in social movements are: a. more marginal and more isolated than nonparticipants. b. more socially engaged than nonparticipants. c. less oriented toward conventional politics. d. more alienated from society than nonparticipants. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 479 MSC: Remembering
61. If a social movement works to resist some kind of social change, or even to roll back elements of a change, it is said to be: a. progressive. c. resistant. b. cosmopolitan. d. regressive. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 481 MSC: Understanding
62. The World Church of the Creator, founded by Matt Hale, wants to stop both religious and racial integration of America. This makes his movement a: a. tragedy of the commons. c. voluntary simplicity movement. b. postmodern movement. d. regressive social movement. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 481 MSC: Understanding
63. Regressive or reactionary social movements are always: a. the most common type of social movement. b. motivated by prejudice or hate. c. working to make sure things stay the same, or even to turn them back to an earlier point in history. d. motivated by a desire to protect the environment. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 481 MSC: Remembering
64. “Buy Nothing Day” might best be described as a ________ social movement. a. regressive c. conservative b. progressive d. radical ANS: A DIF: Difficult OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Pages 477–478 MSC: Understanding
65. The Occupy Wall Street movement demonstrates the efficacy of: a. public protests. b. hashtag activism and the new role technology is playing in social movement organizing. c. tactics that led to a decline in income inequality in the United States. d. the bureaucratization of a social movement. ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 477 MSC: Applying
66. What features of modern life do social movements like Critical Mass protest? a. the crippling debt load carried by African nations b. the way automobiles make other forms of transportation less feasible c. the unethical and inhumane treatment of animals d. violations of voting rights in poor and minority communities ANS: B DIF: Easy OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 481 MSC: Understanding
67. The Promise Keepers are a Christian men’s organization that seeks to train men to be better fathers and husbands, while working to preserve what they call “traditional” family values in which the man is the head of the household and makes decisions for his wife and family. In this way, the Promise Keepers are: a. secular. c. bureaucratic. b. regressive. d. coalescing. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
REF: Page 481 MSC: Applying
68. What theoretical perspective argues that technology plays a defining role in shaping society? a. technological determinism c. structural functionalism b. symbolic interactionism d. idealism ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 482 MSC: Remembering
69. Hero of Alexander, a mathematician who lived in Rome, invented a steam engine in the first century CE. What does this say about William Ogburn’s theory of technological determinism? a. It strongly supports the theory. b. It suggests that ancient Rome was less advanced than was previously suspected. c. It demonstrates the ways in which technology always changes society. d. It suggests that technological determinism cannot always explain social change. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 482 MSC: Analyzing
70. The use of in vitro fertilization solved a specific problem, but it seems to have created a wide range of ethical dilemmas and problems that were NOT anticipated when it was first invented. This is an instance of: a. cultural leveling. c. dystopia. b. cultural imperialism. d. cultural lag. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 482 MSC: Applying
71. Today, many young people face an unprecedented problem: what to do when their parents try to friend them on Facebook or another social networking site. Technology has given us unprecedented ways to document our lives online, but some are not quite sure how to share this documentation with older generations. What is this problem called? a. technological determinism c. regressive social change b. cultural imperialism d. cultural lag ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 482 MSC: Applying
72. How did Marshall McLuhan believe that the world would turn into a “global village”? a. Television and other media technology would link people all over the world. b. Cultural imperialism would lead to greater homogenization. c. Improvements in transportation technology would make tourism cheaper. d. Mass production would ensure that people all over the world were using the same products. ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Pages 483–484 MSC: Remembering
73. The English Premier League broadcasts its games to hundreds of millions of households in more than two hundred countries and is reportedly watched by more than a billion people each week. This is what Marshall McLuhan would call: a. a social movement. c. television. b. a global village. d. faith in technology. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 484 MSC: Applying
74. The spread of beliefs and practices from one cultural group to another is called: a. cultural diffusion. c. cultural lag. b. cultural leveling. d. culture shock. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 482 MSC: Remembering
75. The process by which social structures and institutions become global rather than national is called: a. globalization. c. cultural diffusion. b. homogenization. d. postmodernism. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 485 MSC: Remembering
76. In what sense is it now possible for a country to be “occupied” by an invisible invader that arrives through airwaves and wireless networks? a. Spy satellites and other communications technology are increasingly advanced. b. The U.S. government can eavesdrop on almost any form of modern communication. c. Global positioning systems have allowed detailed mapping of previously inaccessible places. d. It is almost impossible to block foreign countries’ satellite broadcasts and Internet transmissions. ANS: D DIF: Difficult OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 486 MSC: Remembering
77. What is the process called by which societies lose their uniqueness and begin to resemble one another? a. cultural lag c. cultural leveling b. research mobilization d. cultural imperialism ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 486 MSC: Remembering
78. Bhutan’s attempt to achieve Gross National Happiness, rather than a higher gross national product, reflects its attempt to:
a. b. c. d.
adopt what it believes the “West” does correctly, while rejecting consumerism. provide more material goods for all of its citizens. increase foreign investment. lure more tourists to the scenic mountain nation.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Pages 484–485 MSC: Understanding
79. In what way has Bhutan resisted the forces of globalization? a. Shopping is only allowed between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. b. The country has no electricity. c. Internet merchants are banned. d. In the capital city, there are no chain stores. ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Pages 484–485 MSC: Remembering
80. If you go to Indonesia on vacation and have a conversation with your cab driver about your favorite television program, this is possible because of: a. cultural diffusion. c. cultural lag. b. technological determinism. d. contagion theory. ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 482 MSC: Applying
81. Increasingly over the second half of the twentieth century, people in every nation came to watch more of the same movies. What would your text call this phenomenon? a. a fad c. primitivism b. an incipient social movement d. cultural leveling ANS: D DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 486 MSC: Applying
82. What is the uneven distribution of technology called between different parts of a society or of the world? a. the digital divide c. postmodern technology b. technological determinism d. technological qualification ANS: A DIF: Easy OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 486 MSC: Remembering
83. The decline of traditional communities, the increase in individual autonomy, and a strong belief in the power of science and technology to improve the world are typical of: a. the less-developed world. c. postmodernity. b. modernity. d. traditional societies. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 486 MSC: Understanding
84. Focusing on ideas and cultural debates rather than on material things and questioning the achievements of science and technology are both characteristic features of: a. modernity. c. postmodernity. b. social change. d. reactionary social movements. ANS: C DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Pages 487–488 MSC: Understanding
85. The Information Revolution is transforming Western society from: a. traditional to modern. c. modern to postmodern. b. traditional to postmodern. d. postmodern to modern. ANS: C DIF: Easy OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 488 MSC: Remembering
86. The political theorist Benjamin Barber argues that exported American movies are not just mindless entertainment because they “sell” what might be considered “American values and ideals” to the world. What term or concept could describe these exports? a. postmodernity c. technological determinism b. cultural lag d. cultural imperialism ANS: D DIF: Easy OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 486 MSC: Applying
87. Many have noticed that the U.S. economy seems increasingly focused on producing and managing information, rather than on making things. What term or concept could describe this shift? a. postmodernism c. emergent social movements b. technological determinism d. mass behavior ANS: A DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 487 MSC: Applying
88. If you saw an advertisement that used the phrase “better living through chemistry,” you would expect it to be associated with: a. postmodernity. c. a social movement. b. modernity. d. a crowd. ANS: B DIF: Moderate OBJ: Technology and Social Change
REF: Page 487 MSC: Applying
TRUE/FALSE 1. Social change happens only at times of great upheaval, like the French Revolution or the Civil War. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 469
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
REF: Page 472
OBJ: Collective Behavior
2. Fads often result in lasting social change. ANS: F DIF: Easy MSC: Remembering
3. Not all social movements challenge the norms or values of the dominant culture. ANS: T DIF: Easy MSC: Understanding
REF: Page 474
OBJ: Collective Behavior
4. All successful social movements are eventually incorporated into institutions. ANS: T
DIF: Easy
REF: Page 477
OBJ: Collective Behavior
MSC: Understanding SHORT ANSWER 1. Smallpox was eradicated as of 1979. Does smallpox still exist? ANS: Yes, in laboratories in Russia and the United States. The seed virus for the vaccine is in a lab in the Netherlands. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 468 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
2. What is the definition of social change? ANS: the transformation of a culture over time DIF: Easy REF: Page 469 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
3. List the three ways social change occurs. ANS: a major physical event, demographic factors, discoveries/innovations DIF: Easy REF: Page 469 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
4. Which theory suggests that when people come together in crowds, they get irrationally swept up in crowd behavior? ANS: contagion theory DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 470
OBJ: Collective Behavior
5. What three forms does collective behavior generally take? ANS: crowd behavior, mass behavior, and social movements DIF: Easy REF: Page 470 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Collective Behavior
6. If a person needs a blood transfusion but has never given blood, what is he or she called? ANS: free rider DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
7. The continuing need for blood in blood banks is an example of what kind of social dilemma? ANS: public goods dilemma DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 473
OBJ: Collective Behavior
8. What are the two classes of social dilemmas? ANS: tragedy of the commons and public goods dilemmas DIF: Easy REF: Page 473 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Collective Behavior
9. Which theory explains why an oppressed group joins a social movement for greater equality of a society’s resources? ANS: relative deprivation theory DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 475
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
10. Occupy Wall Street is an example of what newer form of activism? ANS: hashtag activism DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 477
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
11. List Mauss’s four stages of a social movement. ANS: incipient, coalescence, bureaucratization, and decline DIF: Moderate REF: Page 479 MSC: Remembering
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
12. The slow food movement is an example of what kind of social movement? ANS: regressive DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 481
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
13. “Western” beauty standards have been increasingly influencing and ultimately changing many cultures that once had a different perception of beauty. What is this an example of? ANS:
cultural imperialism DIF: Easy MSC: Applying
REF: Page 486
OBJ: Technology and Social Change
ESSAY 1. People tend to act differently in groups than they do alone. Describe the two sociological theories presented in Chapter 16 that explain why individual behavior might change in a crowd. ANS: Chapter 16 describes both contagion theory and emergent norm theory. Contagion theory suggests that when individuals come together, a single and unified crowd or mob mentality results, and individuality and rational thought disappear as the external stimulus of the crowd takes over. Chapter 16 argues that while this theory may seem useful when looking at phenomena like soccer “hooligans,” it does not fully explain the wide range of collective behavior beyond the “mindless mob.” Emergent norm theory argues that collective behavior is not as uniform as contagion theory suggests and that a number of factors motivate individuals to participate in crowd-based activity. The underlying assumption of this theory is that a group is guided by norms, and as a result the behavior and actions of those in a crowd are negotiated and structured to fit within the collective action that is occurring. So, while it may appear that a crowd is one large indistinguishable mass, the individuals who make up a crowd can have varying understandings of what their roles are within the crowd, as well as the meaning of their actions. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 470 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Collective Behavior
2. How are the features of mass behavior (fads, fashions, and social dilemmas) different and how are they similar? ANS: All answers should point out that fads and fashions are much more widely recognized by the general public but that fads, fashions, and social dilemmas involve large groups of people engaging in similar behavior without having to be in the same geographic location. Fads and fashions are much more likely to involve activities or behaviors that lead to a unified group identity, so they tend to involve behaviors that relate to appearance, language, or social activities. Social dilemmas do not normally result in a group identity and involve behaviors that, while rational for individuals, lead to collective disasters. The best answers might give examples of fads, fashions, and social dilemmas, and/or mention that social dilemmas include both the tragedy of the commons and social goods dilemmas. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 472–473 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Collective Behavior
3. What are the two different classes of social dilemmas? Name them and describe how each works. ANS: There are two classes of social dilemmas—tragedies of the commons and public goods dilemmas—that essentially operate in inverse ways.
The tragedy of the commons was most famously described by Garret Hardin. The term comes from “commons,” which in the past served as commonly held pasture shared by a whole community and upon which anyone could graze their livestock. Because access to the commons was free and without restriction, individuals had the incentive to put as many head of livestock on the commons as possible, thereby increasing their personal gain. But as each individual made the same decision, based on self-interest, the commons inevitably became overgrazed. When a common resource is used beyond its carrying capacity, it eventually collapses. It can be said that in a tragedy of the commons the benefit is to the individual, but the cost is shared by all. Hardin states that social dilemmas are a “class of human problems which can be classified as having ‘no technical solution.’” In order to deal with these problems, people have to change their behaviors. Solutions must come from members of society. A public goods dilemma is one in which individuals must pay a cost to contribute to a collective resource from which they may or may not benefit. Blood donors are the example of a public goods dilemma used in the text. People who take advantage of a public good but who have not contributed to its creation are called free riders. They make no personal investment and instead rely on others to do the hard work of providing a public good. It can be said that in a public goods dilemma the cost is to the individual, but the benefit is shared by all. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 473–474 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Collective Behavior
4. Why do people join social movements? Compare competing theories and discuss the assumptions behind them. ANS: Mass society theory argues that people join social movements because they are attracted not by the movement’s ideals but by the refuge that the movement offers “from the anxieties, barrenness, and meaninglessness of an individual existence.” In other words, individuals join social movements to satisfy a psychological need for belonging. Relative deprivation theory argues that people join social movements as a rational response to inequality and oppression and that social movements provide opportunities for the oppressed to “redistribute political and economic power democratically and fairly.” The best answers will also point out that mass society theory is, by and large, suspicious of social movements and the changes they may bring, while relative deprivation theory views social movements in a much more positive light. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 475 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
5. Describe the stages of a social movement, paying particular attention to how a social movement ends. ANS: Chapter 16 cites Armand Mauss, who argues that social movements go through four distinct stages. In the incipient stage, the public takes notice of something and defines it as a problem. In the second stage, individuals begin to coalesce or organize around that issue. In the third stage, the movement becomes “bureaucratized,” or incorporated into older social institutions. In the fourth stage, the movement declines, either by becoming so successful that it is incorporated into the dominant culture or by fading away. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 479 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
6. Marshall McLuhan believed that, in the future, the world would be less fragmented into different societies and become more of a “global village.” What did he mean by a global village, and why did he think it would form? ANS: The term “global village” describes a world in which everyone is united by a shared culture, which McLuhan believed would be created through new communications technology, especially television. In the early 1960s, television was spreading rapidly. McLuhan imagined that new technology could re-create a sense of intimate community by linking people in disparate locations through broadcasts watched around the world. Just as tribe members had once gathered together to share stories around the light of a campfire, people could now sit in the glow of their television screens, making television into a kind of “virtual campfire” and those watching it together members of a virtual community, or a global village. DIF: Moderate REF: Pages 484–485 OBJ: Technology and Social Change MSC: Understanding 7. Explain the difference between social movements organized around regressive and progressive social change. Give an example of each. ANS: Social movements that are organized around regressive, or reactionary, change explicitly resist certain social changes, working to make sure that things stay the same or even move backward to an earlier form of social order. The text’s example of a regressive movement is Matt Hale’s World Church of the Creator, a white supremacist group in Illinois whose members want to stop the ethnic and religious integration of America and live in a homogeneous, all-white society. The chapter also mentions the voluntary simplicity movement and the slow food movement as examples. Progressive, or forward-thinking, social change motivates many social movements. The textbook’s examples of progressive movements largely involve change driven by technology; the main example is the “rural rebound,” resulting from technology, which allows workers to telecommute from anywhere in the world. Thus, high-powered stockbrokers need not live in Manhattan and work in a “pit” on Wall Street; they can move to Eagle County, Colorado, or Walworth County, Wisconsin, and enjoy cheaper real estate, less crime, and more natural beauty while still being able to do their jobs. DIF: Moderate MSC: Applying
REF: Page 481
OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change
8. What is cultural imperialism? Give a real life example of how it occurs. ANS: The term “cultural imperialism” refers to the process by which a country can be “conquered” by ideas rather than by force. Cultural imperialism is made much easier by features of the global village that allow the media to cross national borders and cultural boundaries. It is almost impossible to block or prevent the reception of satellite and Internet communications by audiences anywhere in the world. This sets up a new kind of tension in the struggle for power and influence; it is now possible for a country to be “occupied” (a term usually describing a military presence) by an invisible invader that arrives through airwaves and wireless networks. Examples should fit the definition and play on not just the transfusion of culture but that it “takes over” another culture. DIF: Moderate REF: Page 486 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Technology and Social Change
9. Chapter 16 argues that society is transforming itself from modern to postmodern. Compare the features of modernity with postmodernity. ANS: Modernity refers to the forms of social organization characteristic of industrialized societies, which include the decline of traditional community, an increase in individual autonomy and diversity of beliefs, and an orientation toward the future that includes a strong belief in the ability of science and technology to improve our quality of life. Modernity began with the Industrial Revolution, which led to a decline in rates of infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy, and the cure or suppression of a number of diseases that used to kill many people annually. With these benefits have come increases in income inequality, violent crime, and child poverty. Postmodernity refers to the forms of social organization characteristic of postindustrialized societies, which focus on ideas and information and question the achievements of science and technology. Postmodern critics argue that modern social institutions have failed to solve important social problems and have created new problems. DIF: Difficult REF: Page 486 MSC: Understanding
OBJ: Technology and Social Change
10. Is the Occupy Wall Street movement a regressive or progressive social movement? Why? ANS: Answers should discuss the goals of the movement and define regressive and progressive social movements. Allow students to choose which Occupy Wall Street goals on which to focus. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 476–477 |Page 481 OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change MSC: Analyzing 11. Compare and contrast the way Marshall McLuhan (“the global village”) thought about social change with the ideas of Garret Hardin (“the tragedy of the commons”). ANS: Though any level of detail about these two thinkers is good, there are two key places where their thinking is clearly in contrast. The first, and somewhat more obvious, is that Hardin investigates negative examples of social change, like the collapse of the fishing industry due to overfishing, while McLuhan predicts positive social change, such as through the development of a global village, as we are united through media technologies. The second, somewhat less obvious, point of contrast involves the role of technology in social change. Hardin specifically says that there are no technical solutions to the social dilemmas he studies, while McLuhan explicitly counts on technology to bring about positive social change. There are few points of obvious similarity other than that both McLuhan and Hardin are concerned with the future and with social change. The best answers might point out that both figures are interested in the ways social groups extending beyond national borders will evolve in the future. DIF: Difficult MSC: Analyzing
REF: Page 473 |Page 484
OBJ: What Is Social Change?
12. In late 2010, Mohamed Bouazizi, a young Tunisian street vendor, set himself on fire and died in an act of defiance and desperation after local authorities confiscated his stall and publicly humiliated him. At the time, Bouazizi’s situation struck a chord with other young Tunisians suffering from autocratic rule, a poor economic situation, and a lack of opportunity. In early 2011, Bouazizi’s plight received wider attention when a video of him went viral on Facebook, YouTube, and other social networking sites. Soon, millions of people around the world began to notice and get involved. This spawned a social movement for democracy in Tunisia, Egypt, and eventually the Arab world, ending with the ousting of several dictatorships. How do Mauss’s social movement stages help us understand the development of this social movement? ANS: Responses should include that the four social movement stages—incipient, coalescence, bureaucratization, and decline—are in evidence in this example. A postmodern twist is the incredible power of the Internet and social networking sites to mobilize massive groups of people across the globe in a very short period of time. DIF: Difficult REF: Pages 477–478 OBJ: Promoting and Resisting Change MSC: Applying