Flashcards on Sociology Final

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All except one of the following are included in culture. Which one should not be included?

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reproduction

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___________ is/are essential in developing culture.

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Language

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Symbolic interaction theory addresses:

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the subjective meaning of human acts and the processes through which people come to develop and communicate shared meanings.

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Herbert Spencer believed that societies evolved from lower to higher forms because as generations pass, the most capable and intelligent members of society prosper while the less capable die out. What term did Spencer use to describe this process?

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the survival of the fittest

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A teenager's parents divorce and as a result neither parent has much time to spend with her. She has the freedom to do whatever she wants, whenever she wants, with little regulations. Unable to cope with the many changes, she takes her own life. This is _______ suicide.

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anomic.

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Karl Marx maintained that ____________ was the driving force that let to social change.

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class conflict

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Leon is visiting Napel and is feeling disoriented and unable to depend on his taken-for-granted assumptions about life. This sense of disorientation is an example of ______________.

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culture shock

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What sociological concept explains why natives in remote South American jungles can be found using metal cooking pots and Americans can be found eating Chinese food in Chicago?

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cultural diffusion

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Consequences of social structures that are neither intended nor recognized are referred to by sociologists as:

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latent functions or dysfunctions

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Americans cherish the ideal that anyone can rise from the bottom of society to its very top. What value identified by Robin Williams is illustrated by this belief?

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individualism

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Norms with moral or religious significance that are thought to be important to society are known as:

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mores

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The focus of sociology is on:

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the systematic study of human groups

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Which term describes a group that has a distinctive way of looking at life, but at the same time their values and norms reflect the dominant culture of their society?

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subculture

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What is the term used to describe feelings of disorientation and confusion when encountering values, behaviors, and expectations totally different from those to which one is accustomed?

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culture shock

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What is another name for the research method that is referred to as "participant observation" ?

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fieldwork

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Macrosociology is NOT associated with which of the following?

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symbolic interaction theory

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Which of the following refers to the use of one's own culture as a yard stick to evaluate another culture?

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Ethnocentrism.

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Recently, Marie went on a tour of the Arab countries. At the end of the tour, she wanted to offer a gift to her Arab tour guide. Marie offered the gift with her left hand as her right hand was full at the time. She did not understand why the guide appeared to be offended with her. This is an example of _____________.

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necessity to learn the gestures of a culture

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Which of the following is an example of a hypothesis?

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You can catch more files with honey than you can with vinegar.

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Ethnocentrism:

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is a natural and in some ways desirable product of growing up in a culture.

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The founder of sociology was:

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Auguste Comte

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The ability to see the intimate realitites of our own lives in the context of common social structures is what C. Wright Mills refers to as:

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the sociological imagination

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What sociological concept is illustrated by the adoption of Western dress and culture in Japan, the presence of McDonald's restaurants in Moscow and Hong Kong, and Chinese restaurants in Chicago and Manhattan?

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cultural leveling

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What is the American core value that pervades U.S. life and is underscored by the American revolution?

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freedom

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What form of the nonmaterial culture is illustrated by shaking one's head left and right to mean "no" and up and down to mean "yes"?

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gestures

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_________ are considered useful shorthand ways to convey messages without using words.

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Gestures

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In the month of December, many Jewish families celebrate Chanukah, the "festival of light," during which special foods are served and families engage in ritual activity unique to their religious faith. In this context, members of the Jewish faith represent a ________.

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subculture

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When American servicemen occupied Japan following World War II, the Japanese watched the Americans playing baseball, appreciated the sport, and adopted it themselves. Today, baseball is one of the most popular sports in Japan. This adoption of baseball by the Japanese is an example of ________.

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cultural diffusion

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The principle "survival of the fittest" is attributed to

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Herber Spencer

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What is a system of symbols that can be strung together in an infinite number of ways for the purpose of communicating abstract thought?

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language

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In a four-square block section of midtown Manhattan, it is possible to purchase a bagel with cream cheese, eat stir-fried vegetables prepared in a wok, or dine on raw fish in a sushi bar. What does this range of culinary possibilities illustrate?

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cultural diffusion

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According to C.. Wright Mills, the difficulties that John and Mary experience in their marriage represent a personal trouble. The fact that nearly 1 marriage out of every 2 marriages ends in divorce, however, is:

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a public issue

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Who was the first African American to earn a doctoral degree from Harvard University?

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W. E. B. DuBois

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When sociologists use the phrase the culture within us, what do they mean?

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Shared and learned ways of believing and doing become taken-for-granted assumptions.

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Jane Addams is remembered for

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founding Hull House

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Which of the following are a society's rules of behavior?

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Norms.

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In American society, the commandment "Thou shalt not murder" belongs to which category?

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mores.

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Who was the 20th century sociologist who dismissed the organic analogy of society but maintained the essence of functionalism using the terms functions and dysfunctions to describe the consequences of people's actions?

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Robert Merton

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What social scientist proposed that societies evolve from a lower, barbaric form to a higher, civilized form in a process he called social Darwinism?

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Herbert Spencer

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What term describes a society which is made up of many different religious, racial and ethnic groups?

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a pluralistic society

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Which term is used to describe a group's way of thinking, gestures, language, values and social norms?

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nonmaterial culture

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Based on Emile Durkheim's research on suicide, which of the following individuals would be the greatest suicide risk?

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Herbert, a single Protestant man living in the city

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Sanctions refer to:

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rewards for conformity and punishments for nonconformity.

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Language, beliefs, values, behaviors, and material objects make up a _____________.

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culture

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Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between norms and laws?

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Not all norms are supported by law and not all laws are supported by norms.

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The argument that all other institutional arrangements in society arise out of economic relationships is known as

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economic determinism.

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When gathering data, the cause is known as the _________ and the effect is known as the ___________.

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independent variable; dependent variable

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Research undertaken on running a brothel, rioters, and the homeless is most likely to use which research strategy?

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participant observation

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According to ______________, class conflict is the key to human history.

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Karl Marx

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Merton used the term, __________, to refer to the intended consequences of people's actions

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manifest functions

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Which of the following is NOT one of the three steps in Cooley's "looking glass self" theory:

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we can see ourselves exactly as others see us

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What term describes people who share a culture and territory?

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society

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The position that an individual occupies is called his or her:

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status

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Being a mother is no guarantee that a woman will fulfill the duties and obligations associated with motherhood. This illustrates that:

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people occupy statuses, but play roles

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What is the process of learning new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors called?

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resocialization

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What is the stage in the life course where individuals begin to reorient their thinking from the time since birth to the time left to live?

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the later middle years

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Efforts to manage the impressions that others receive of us are called:

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impression management

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According to George Herbert Mead, how does a child learn to take the role of others?

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through play and social interaction

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Which of the following is least representative of activity that would take place in a biotech society?

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the mass production of industrial goods and conspicuous consumption

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The family, religion, school & peers, mass media, neighborhood, and workplace are:

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agents of socialization

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Which is NOT true about anticipatory socialization?

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usually possible to fully prepare in advance for new roles.

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To show ourselves as adept role players and to gain recognition from others, we often use _________ or two or more people working together to make certain a performance goes off as planned.

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teamwork

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Hilda is studying at the library. She has placed her coat on the chair next to her and has spread books in front of the other chairs. Hilda is trying to extend her___________ so others do not invade it.

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personal space

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Joshua would like to sleep but he knows that he should get up and go to class. He gets up, starts to get ready, decides today's lecture is not really that important, and crawls back into bed. He has followed his:

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I.

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As children, boys usually receive trucks, sporting equipment, and action toys. Girls receive stuffed animals and gifts that are more passive. Overall, what do sociologists call this sex-based criteria for the gifts children receive?

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gender socialization

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Those expectations that define appropriate or inappropriate behavior for the occupant of a status are:

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roles.

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What conclusion did Harry and Margaret Harlow reach following their research efforts with monkeys?

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Infant-mother bonding is the result of intimate physical contact.

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Mead's term for role players with whom we have close personal relationships is:

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significant others.

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The image we have of ourselves based upon how we imagine others to view us is called:

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looking glass self.

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The idea of everyone having the same basic rights because they are born in a country is termed ___________ citizenship.

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universal

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Schools are principally responsible for what type of socialization that is needed for future roles?

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anticipatory socialization

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Role learning that programs individuals for roles they are likely to assume in the future is known as:

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anticipatory socialization

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Large numbers of people who have similar amounts of income and education and who work at jobs that are roughly comparable in prestige are members of a social ________.

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class

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According to Mead, role taking begins when:

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we learn the rights and duties associated with being a child in our family.

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Statuses that we inherit at birth or receive that are related to the life course are termed _______ statuses.

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ascribed

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What term can be substituted for the term "operational" in Piaget's four-stage model, from the sensorimotor stage to the formal operational stage?

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reasoning skills

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A status that is optional, one that we can reach(or fail to reach) on the basis of our own efforts is called:

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an achieved status

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Devlin's parents are important influences on Devlin's life. Mead would use the term ___________ to refer to Devlin's parents.

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significant others

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Which of the following media least qualifies as being a form of mass media?

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academic journals

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What was the first nation to enter the fourth social revolution?

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United States

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In Mead's theory, the "I" is

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the spontaneous, creative part of the shelf.

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What event ushered in the biotech society?

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Crick and Watson identified the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953.

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Professionals such as medical doctors and lawyers make it a point to have their offices appear neat and well organized. They are showing a concern for their:

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front stage.

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What are the behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a position a person occupies in life?

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roles

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Although Meagan is working in Pittsburgh, which is a dedicated Steeler football city, she always paints her fingernails deep purple and always wears a pin representing the Minnesota Vikings . What term describes what Meagan's deep purple fingernails and pin represent?

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It is Meagan's personal identity kit.

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Madeleine's position as president of the local university overshadows her work as a wife, mother, and volunteer for the Salvation Army. In view of this, university president is Madeleine's ________.

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master status

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What is an ascribed status?

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A status that is inherited or involuntarily applied to an individual.

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The Amish provide a good example of ___________ community.

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Gemeinschaft

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What term describes a position in life that one does not choose, but is awarded at birth or is related to the life course?

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ascribed status

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The level of sociological analysis that places emphasis on social interaction is:

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microsociology.

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Lateesha's father has her work part-time in the family store. "It will help you when you take over the business," he tells her. This is an example of:

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anticipatory socialization

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Family, religion, education, economics and politics are examples of

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social institutions

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Facilites in which all aspects of life are strictly controlled for the purpose of radical resocializations are called:

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total institutions

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Jimmy has just joined a fraternity. As part of his initiation, he has been forced to strip naked and roll in a tub of mud. After the "mud bath" the fraternity brothers greeted Jimmy as a full brother and equal. What is another name for this rite of passage that Jimmy has just experienced?

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a degradation ceremony

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The significance of the first social revolution, the domestication of plants and animals, is that these changes set the stage for__________.

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greater social inequality

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When did the first social revolution occur?

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approximately 10,000 years ago

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According to Charles Horton Cooley, how do we develop our self concept?

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Our self concept develops from interaction with others

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Dramaturgy, an approach developed by symbolic interactionists, can best be described

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An approach to analyzing social life in terms of the stage

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Which sociologist developed the concept of looking-glass self?

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Charles Horton Cooley

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The ultimate back stage for most people is:

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home

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A complex organization with a hierarchy of authority and structure, rules and procedures is called

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a bureaucracy

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Groups in which the relationship is primarily impersonal and instrumental are known as

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secondary groups

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Emile Durkheim stated several reasons why deviance was actually functional for society. Which of the following was not one of them

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One deviant act leads to another which increases social solidarity.

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Al Capone, "Lucky" Luciano, John Gotti, and other heads of organized crime fall under which mode of adaptation?

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innovator

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Norm violations that exceed the tolerance level of the community and result in negative sanctions are:

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deviance.

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Which theory assumes that the higher rate of crime among the lower class is because of economic competition and inequality in society?

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conflict theory

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Which scientist would address the cause of deviance as being based on genetic predisposition and causes within the individual?

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a sociobiologist

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Structural-functional theory takes the position that:

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law benefits society by helping to maintain order.

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As a group becomes larger

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the intensity decreases and the stability increases

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Based on their relationship to sociological theory, which of the following theories of deviance least belongs with the other three?

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The Theory of Differential Association

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Max Weber included all of the following as characteristics of bureaucracy EXCEPT:

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career advancement based on personality and individualism

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Just going through the motions would be an illustration of which form of Merton's Strain Theory?

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ritualism.

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A complex organization characterized by explicit rules and hierarchial authority structure designed to maximize efficiency is known as a(n):

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bureaucracy.

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As group size increases it is less and less likely individuals will come forward to complete group tasks needing done unless specifically assigned to do so. What term describes this phenomenon of group dynamics?

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diffusion of responsibility

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_________ theory is based on the idea that most people want to attain cultural goals, but not everyone has the legitimate ways of achieving them.

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Merton's Strain

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The significance of names or reputations given to people when they engage in certain types of behavior is the focus of __________ theory.

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labeling

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Crimes committed by respectable people of high social status in the course of their occupations are known as:

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white-collar crimes

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Conflict theorists point out that the class differentials in crime rates develop partly because:

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law enforcement discriminates more heavilhy against the poor

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Which sociologist described primary groups as "the springs of life"?

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Charles Horton Cooley

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In bureaucracies, what term refers to rules and procedures that defy all logic?

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red tape

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________ are the category most likely to be able to successfully clain the sick role.

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People in positions of power.

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The crime with the highest recidivism rate is ________ and the crime with the lowest recidivism rate is ________.

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stealing cars; murder

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Since Frank graduated from high school he has held only seasonal and part-time jobs. Because he has few marketable skills he is the first to be laid off when he finds what may be a more permanent position. In view of this, how would a conflict theorist categorize Frank?

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Frank is a member of the marginal working class

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_________ groups are large, anonymous, formal, and impersonal.

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Secondary

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Alan, a 14-year-old boy, finds himself in a situation where he can steal a digital watch from a store. he decided against the theft because he fears what others will think of him if they knew. In theis situation, Alan conforms to society's values because of:

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informal social controls

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Which sociological perspective is most aligned with the relativity of deviance?

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symbolic interactionist

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Who is the psychiatrist who denounced the medicalization of deviance and proclaimed "mental illnesses are neither mental nor illnesses....they are problem behaviors"?

answer

Thomas Szasz

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Aggregates and groups:

answer

differ in that people in groups feel a sense of idenity with one another while people in aggregates do not.

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As a part of his court martial, Captain Savage was publicly stripped of his rank insignia, the buttons of his uniform were ripped off, and he was banished from the cavalry. What did this ritual following a court martial represent?

answer

a degradation ceremony

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Which of the following is NOT an example of a complex organization?

answer

the population of China

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Based on Merton's strain theory, drug addicts, alcoholics, the homeless, and others who have dropped out of the pursuit of success are engaged in which mode of adaptation?

answer

retreatism

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Who was the sociologist responsible for explaining the groupthink phenomenon?

answer

Irving Janis

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Individuals who share similar characteristics but do not interact would be an example of a(n)

answer

category.

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The army, the post office, colleges and General Motors:

answer

are bureacracies

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On the first Friday of every month Joseph stalks elderly women as they find a bank to cash their social security checks. After they leave the bank he snatches their purses, taking the cash. When asked by a fellow thug if he ever had second thoughts about stealing from the elderly, Joseph responded, "Never...these old biddies have money to burn...they'll never miss it. Besides, all they need to do is call the social security office and tell them what happened and they'll send them another check." Albeit the error of Joseph's reasoning, what technique of neutralization is Joseph utilizing to maintain a positive self-image?

answer

denial of injury

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This theory posits that internal and external constraints keep people from being deviant:

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control theory

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According to strain theory, the solution to deviance is to:

answer

make it easier to reach societal goals through acceptable means.

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Which leadership style will most likely result in a high degree of internal solidarity among employees?

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authoritarian

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Who was the "stigma master" who applied a typology of characteristics that discredit people from full social acceptance?

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Erving Goffman

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The BEST example of a primary group is:

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a family

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The links we have among other people, even friends of friends are called ________.

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social networks

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Frankie and Johnny enjoy hiding in the park and attacking gays who may be walking home from a local bar that caters to the gay community. They feel this is appropriate behavior because the Bible condemns homosexuality and gays should be punished. In view of this, which technique of neutralization are Frankie and Johnny employing to maintain a positive self-image?

answer

denial of victim

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What are the unwritten, taken-for-granted "rules" that underlie our everyday lives, such as not yelling "fire" in a crowded classroom or movie theater?

answer

background assumptions

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According to Structural Stain Theories, deviance occurs when:

answer

people cannot reach the acceptable goals of society through acceptable means.

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What is the classification of homicide that involves the killing of several victims in three or more separate events?

answer

serial murder

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When Corrinda's friends wouldn't talk to her because she tattled to the teacher about them, they were using________.

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a negative sanction

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What sociological term best describes lovers, cult members, and members of a combat infantry platoon?

answer

a primary group

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There are 35 cars backed up at the intersection because of an accident. Which sociological term best describes these 35 drivers?

answer

an aggregate

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Who was the sociologist who developed the Theory of Differential Association?

answer

Edwin Sutherland

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Young people are more likely to be deviant than older people because:

answer

they do not have as much to lose by being deviant, like a career or credit rating.

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Which of the following theories sees inequality as unnecessary but likely to remain because the powerful control the resources necessary to eliminate social inequality?

answer

confict

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Since 1940, the gap between the rich and the poor has

answer

remained about the same.

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What would Marx call the shared identity members of the working class have for doing "real work" in relation to their position in the means of production?

answer

class consciousness

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Compartive studies of the occupational prestige scale show that:

answer

there is a great deal of similarity in the rankings of occupations across nations and across time.

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Workers in the maquiladoras along the United States and Mexican border make $10 a day which is only a fraction of what American workers were paid to do the same work. Why is it unlikely, however, that the Mexican workers will go on strike to demand better wages?

answer

Workers in other nations are eager to do the work for only a dollar or two a day.

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What is it called when the same numbers of people move up and down the social class ladder, such that, on balance, the social class system shows little change?

answer

exchange mobility

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Weber's three dimensions of social stratification included all but which of the following:

answer

education.

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What technique does Christian Solidarity International (CSI) utilize in response to slavery in areas of northern Africa including the Sudan?

answer

CSI utilizes Arab "retrievers" who go to Sudan to either abduct or buy slaves.

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A small group of people for whom poverty persists year after year and across generations is referred to as:

answer

the underclass

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The ability to control someone's behavior even against his or her will is:

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power.

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Social ___________ is a system in which groups of people are divided into layers according to their relative power, property, and prestige.

answer

stratification

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How many classes exist in Erik Wright's modified Marxian model of social class?

answer

four

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The theoretical position that holds that inequality is both necessary and justifiable comes from:

answer

structural functional theory

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On the average, how long does an American family remain in poverty?

answer

a year or less

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The "culture of poverty" theory refers to a culture that:

answer

perpetuates poverty from one generation to the next

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Most poor families are in poverty

answer

for one year or less.

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Jocko is a drug dealer who makes well over a million dollars a year. He lives in a magnificent home and has a "squad" of other dealers and gang members who support and protect him. In view of this, which of the following is the best description of Jocko based on middle-class standards?

answer

Jocko is status inconsistent because his prestige score as a drug dealer is not consistent with his rank in property and power

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Bruce owns about 3,000 acres of prime farmland, is one of the wealthiest men in the county, and enjoys a great deal of prestige in his community. In view of this, how would sociologists describe Bruce as it pertains to social class?

answer

Bruce is status consistent because of his high ranking in the two dimensions.

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Which measure of social class ranks people on income, education, occupation, or some combination?

answer

socioeconomic status

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Based on the author's account of the relationship between physical health and social class, which of the following statements would be most accurate?

answer

There is an inverse relationship between social class and physical health.

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Which set of characteristics is most applicable in describing the poor?

answer

rural location, white, high school drop-out, mother head of household

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What is the trend in U.S. society whereby poor families have become increasingly headed by women?

answer

the feminization of poverty

question

Sally is employed as a computer programmer for the Ellis Corporation. She has a savings account of $15,000 and owns a few shares of Ellis stock. She thinks of herself as an investor rather than as a worker. How would Marx assess Sally's reasoning?

answer

Sally is experiencing false consciousness

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Two of the strongest factors in poverity is race/ethnicity and education. The other major predictor of families living in poverity is__________.

answer

the sex of the head of the household

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________ mobility refers to the upward or downward movement in social class by family members from one generation to the next.

answer

Intergenerational.

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Who does the author cite as being "the wealthiest person in the world"?

answer

Bill Gates (Microsoft Corporation

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During the Great Depression thousands of people changed social class unexpectedly and usually in a downward spiral. What type of mobility did this event illustrate?

answer

structural mobility

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The former Soviet Union and the nations of the former Communist Bloc comprise:

answer

the developing nations

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In democracies, what are the two methods used by the ruling elite to control information?

answer

technology and the selective release of information

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According to Weber, social class is actually made up of three components:_____________.

answer

property, power, and prestige

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In distribution of scarce resources, caste systems rely on ________ statuses and class systems rely on _______ statuses.

answer

ascribed; achieved

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_______ stress that features of a society can explain poverty in a society.

answer

Sociologists

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What are the two most striking characteristics of the British class system?

answer

language and education

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Which theoretical perspective states that inequality is necessary to the stability of society?

answer

structural functional

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The belief that the lack of economic development in Least Industrialized Nations is caused by the Industrailized Nations dominating the world economy is referred to as:

answer

dependency theory

question

Which is true about inequality in the distribution of household income in the U.S.?

answer

It has increased slightly in the last 35 years

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What is the underlying basis of India's caste system?

answer

religion

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In the United States, slavery was replaced by

answer

a racial caste system

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What was the primary purpose behind colonialism as it was practiced during the 18th and 19th centuries by the nations of Europe?

answer

to establish economic colonies and exploit the people and resources

question

Wealth includes:

answer

all of the above

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Which economist proposed that the Least Industrialized Nations were held back from developing a more productive economy by a culture of poverty?

answer

John Kenneth Galbraith

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A basic difference between class and caste stratification is that

answer

social mobility is possible in class system but not in caste system

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The dimension of social class having to do with social honor expressed as life-style is called:

answer

status.

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In the three-world model, what quality distinguishes a First World nation?

answer

a capitalist economy

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Which of the following theories sees inequality as unnecessary but likely to remain because the powerful control the resources necessary to eliminate social inequality?

answer

confict

question

According to the functionalist theory as proposed by Davis and Moore, which of the following factors is a reason social stratification is universal?

answer

All societies have positions of differing importance that must be filled.

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Who was the sociologist who proposed every society is stratified by power to ensure that society's work gets done, which he documented in his book The Ruling Class?

answer

Gaetano Mosca

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Which of the following events is responsible for creating extensive economic ties among the world's nations?

answer

the globalization of capitalism

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Kevin's father is an executive in a business firm. Kevin recently flunked out of the prestigious college that his parents had sent him to and has taken a job at the local cable company installing cable lines. This is an example of __________ mobility.

answer

downward

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What term would Karl Marx use to describe the DuPonts, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and other major industrialists in American history?

answer

bourgeoisie

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Structural Functionalism explains racial and ethnic inequality as contributing to stability and harmony of society because:

answer

it provides a socially accepted way for people to release their frustrations, hostility and aggression over their lack of achieving their goals.

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___________ is an attitude or prejudging, usually in a negative way.

answer

Prejudice

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An irrational negative attitude held about a category of people is known as:

answer

prejudice.

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The life expectancy of men born in the year 2010 is approximately ________ and the life expectancy of women born that year is approximately ________.

answer

76; 81

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Which European nation provides the best example of multiculturalism?

answer

Switzerland

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Social Security arose out of the conflict over

answer

the Townsend Plan

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Alyssa has worked for 10 years in a major publishing company. She has not been promised to any executive position even though she has directed several successful projects for the firm. Her lack of promotion illustrates___________.

answer

the glass ceiling

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The fact that 80 percent of engineering degrees are awarded to men while nearly 90 percent of library science degrees are awarded to women illustrates what concept?

answer

gender tracking

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The rapid explosion of the number of old people in the US has been referred to as the

answer

graying of America.

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Conflict theory sees retirement for the elderly as

answer

an economic issue of competition between the younger generation and the older generation.

question

In addition to testosterone levels, what other variable did the Vietnam veterans study examine as the possible cause of aggressive male behavior?

answer

social class

question

Sex refers to ___________ characteristics, while gender refers to ________________ characteristics.

answer

biological; social

question

The increasing proportion of older people in the United States has been referred to as the _____________

answer

graying of America

question

Which nation is the least race-conscious and permits a wide range of latitude in classifying a person "white" or "black" with seven terms to describe race?

answer

Brazil

question

Informal discrimination that serves as an invisible barrier to women's promotions in traditional male careers is known as:

answer

the glass ceiling

question

Who was the sociologist who defined minority groups as people who are singled out for unequal treatment and who regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination?

answer

Louis Wirth

question

Which theory of aging suggests people adjust to old age by maintaining ties with their past?

answer

continuity theory

question

Which of the following helps explain the differences in life expectancy between men and women?

answer

men's risker lifestyle.

question

Who are the American volunteers concerned with illegal immigration who patrol the Mexican-United States border in Arizona?

answer

the Minutemen

question

This term refers to the normative dispositions and behaviors that cultures assign to each sex:

answer

gender.

question

What was the result of the remarks made by the President of Harvard University suggesting women had inborn characteristics making them less competitive than men in fields such as engineering?

answer

The President resigned his position after being chastised by his faculty and staff.

question

George is a clerk in a hardware store. When an African American comes into the store, George provides closer monitoring because he believes that African Americans will steal his merchandise. What term most applies to the unequal treatment that George applies to African Americans who are actually customers?

answer

discrimination

question

In their analysis of aging, symbolic interactionists focus on:

answer

the changing meaning of being old.

question

Etnocentrism enhances the potential for

answer

prejudice attitudes and discrimination

question

Conflict theorists argue that some form of conflict seems inevitable between the elderly and the young because

answer

the number of people who collect Social Security is growing

question

The concept of sex is used to refer to which of the following?

answer

male/female

question

What do sociologists call a tendency for people to interpret labels in a particular way while the same labels lead them to be blind to the messages they actually convey?

answer

selective perception

question

What is the number of workers required to support one dependent member of society called?

answer

dependency ratio

question

When sociologists examine racial categories they focus on

answer

differences in physical traits that have been given social importance or social recognition.

question

The phrase "split labor market" refers to a situation in which:

answer

there is one labor market for white males and one for women and other minorites.

question

What was the major difference between the half-million Cubans who fled Castro's rise to power in 1959 and the 100,000 "boat people" who fled Cuba in 1980?

answer

The 1980 group was less educated and lower class.

question

Which of the following provides health care for the elderly?

answer

medicare

question

What percent of those over 65 live below the poverty line?

answer

10%

question

What were the goals of the second wave of the women's movement that began in the 1960s?

answer

The goals are broad ranging from raising women's pay to changing policies on violence against women.

question

Disengagement theory and activity theory

answer

both focus on how retirees adjust to their retiremant

question

What is the method of intergroup relations that allows the minority group to adopt the dominant group's patterns in their own way and at their own speed?

answer

permissible assimilation

question

Disengagement theory is based on the ________ perspective.

answer

functionalist

question

In India, what is the practice of suttee?

answer

The burning of the living widow during cremation with her dead husband.

question

In today's age what is the primary reason kidnapped Vietnamese women are brought to China?

answer

They are sold as brides due to a shortage of women created by the "one couple, one child" policy.

question

Although the media refers to Tiger Woods as an African American, as a boy he used the term "Cablinasian." What racial and national identities are included in being a "Cablinasian"?

answer

Thai, Chinese, Native American, African American, Caucasian

question

During the 1960s Rena took a bus tour of the Southern states. Whenever the passsengers stopped for meals or to stay overnight in a hotel, the white passengers ate at separate restaurants and slept at separate hotels than the African American passengers. This practice is an example of ____________.

answer

segregation

question

Juan, a Hispanic, and Harold, a white male, have each applied for a home mortgage at the local bank. Juan's loan was turned down while Harold's loan was given to him. In comparing their credit history, both men had good credit, and their debts and income were comparable. This is an example of __________ against Juan.

answer

institutional discrimination

question

From which nation do the greatest number of Latinos in the United States trace their heritage?

answer

Mexico

question

Which ethnic group is most likely to live in poverty?

answer

Native American

question

What is the current life span, based on the age reached by a French woman who died in 1997?

answer

122

question

What term did the Serbs use when they massacred the Muslims in Bosnia simply because of their religious affiliation?

answer

ethnic cleansing

question

Sexism refers to:

answer

the belief that men and women have biologically different capacities and that they form a legitimate basis for unequal treatment.

question

A dominant group refers to a group in a society that_________.

answer

have the greatest power, more privileges, and highest social status

question

How do symbolic interactionists believe that the social value of the elderly in America changed when the economy shifted from being based on agriculture to industry?

answer

It decreased

question

The process by which a minority group is absorbed into the mainstream culture is known as:

answer

assimilation.

question

Mills used the term ___________ to refer to those who rule in the U.S.

answer

power elite

question

Maximillian is disenchanted with the American political system. He feels the "one man one vote" philosophy is a facade and that his vote means virtually nothing and will just bring "more of the same." Based on this information, diagnose Maximillian's condition.

answer

Maximillian is suffering from voter apathy

question

What term did sociologist William Domhoff use to refer to the power elite?

answer

the ruling class

question

In which society did power shift from the heads of families and clans to a ruling elite which resulted in greater inequality?

answer

the agricultural society

question

Postindustrial society is characterized by the growth of:

answer

service industries.

question

At the last shareholder meeting of the Arrowhead Corporation the stockholders of the corporation refused to rubberstamp the CEO's recommendations. How is this refusal characterized in the world of business?

answer

The stockholders are staging a stockholders' revolt

question

Decision making power based on an individual's perceived extraordinary personal characteristics is:

answer

charismatic authority

question

In the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections more men voted Republican while more women voted Democrat. What is the term used to describe this trend?

answer

the political gender gap

question

What term describes people who think alike on a particular issue and who can be mobilized for political action?

answer

special-interest group

question

Carol tells her mother that it is her sister's turn to mow the lawn because she mowed it last week. This is an example of which type of authority?

answer

rational-legal

question

What is the routinization of charisma?

answer

the transition of authority from a charismatic leader to either traditional or rational-legal authority

question

American government is based on ______ authority.

answer

rational-legal

question

What event ushered in the biotech society?

answer

The deciphering of the human genome system

question

When did the first noticeable conditions of social inequality occur in human societies?

answer

When surplus was generated

question

Which of the following types of government does Hitler's Nazi Germany and Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq best illustrate?

answer

totalitarianism

question

Max Weber referred to legitimate power as__________

answer

authority

question

______ is one type of coercion used by the state.

answer

Taxation

question

Decision making power based on the sanctity of time-honored routines is:

answer

traditional authority

question

One of the essential characteristics of socialism is

answer

central planning

question

In which society did trading centers first develop that turned into cities?

answer

the agricultural society

question

What are the three characteristics of socialism?

answer

central economic planning, public ownership of the means of production, no profit

question

What is an economic system called that is designed to eliminate competition by selling goods at predetermined prices regardless of the demand for the product, or the cost to make it?

answer

socialism

question

Charles says to his son: "We agreed to take turns mowing the lawn, and this week it is your turn." Charles is using:

answer

rational-legal authority

question

What was necessary for conspicuous consumption to become a fundamental part of society's orientation to life?

answer

Surpluses had to grow to greater amounts and availability

question

In the United States what is the diffusion among many different organizations including conservatives and liberals and special interest groups that prohibits any one group from gaining total control?

answer

pluralism

question

Who was the sociologist who analyzed the use of power by the state and suggested that "violence is theultimate foundation of any political order" ?

answer

Peter Berger

question

The current form of capitalism in the U.S. is ___________ capitalism

answer

welfare (or state)

question

During the Vietnam War and currently in the Middle East, members of the weaker political movement enlist young men and women to strap explosives to their bodies and detonate them in the presence of police officers, in mosques, at funerals, and anywhere the act shocks people worldwide and captures headlines. What is such a tactic called?

answer

suicide terrorism

question

John F. Kennedy had a combination of ideal types of leadership. Although he was the President of the United States, he also inspired people to get involved with their country's programs through his inspirational speeches. President Kennedy is an example of combining which two sources of authority?

answer

charismatic and rational-legal

question

In what form of government would someone find an "electronic town meeting" taking place?

answer

representative democracy

question

A government in which power is held by a small group or clique of individuals us a(n)

answer

oligarchy

question

What is a form of capitalism that exists in a society when market forces are able to operate without government interference?

answer

laissez-faire capitalism

question

Which of the following U.S. citizens would be most likely to vote in a presidential election?

answer

George, age 54, investment banker

question

Mother Teresa had decision making power based on:

answer

charismatic authority.

question

How would sociologists describe an economy that generates very little surplus food and material property?

answer

It is a subsistence economy.

question

What is the key factor on which representative democracy is based?

answer

citizenship

question

What is the relationship between the level of industrialization and the level of traditional authority?

answer

As the level of industrialization increases, the level of traditional authority decreases.

question

Which of the following is the best description of an economy?

answer

It is a system of producing and distributing goods and services.

question

Captialism is an economic system that is focused on:

answer

competiton.

question

What is another term that would describe bureaucratic authority?

answer

rational-legal authority

question

Approximately what is the percentage and number of mixed marriages in the United States based on differences in race?

answer

7 percent or over 4 million couples

question

Jane is getting married in the spring and is worried that her chances of getting divorced are extremely likely given the high divorce rate in the U.S. On the other hand, what reason can Jane use to discount the statistics related to divorce?

answer

Overall statistics on divorce have nothing to do with any one individual marriage.

question

The use of educational credentials to measure an individual's worth is called:

answer

credentialism.

question

Approximately what percentage of students with disabilities attend school in regular classrooms?

answer

50%

question

What were the two major goals for instituting public education in America during the 1800s?

answer

It was to produce more educated workers and "Americanize" immigrants.

question

Why do functionalists argue that the incest taboo is a norm necessary for proper family development?

answer

It facilitates the socialization of children and it avoids role confusion.

question

Who was the sociologist who addressed the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy?

answer

Robert Merton

question

What is the basis for the distinct framework for Asian family life that includes humanism, collectivity, self-discipline, and respect for elders?

answer

Confucian values

question

What was the first nation to legalize same-sex marriages?

answer

Denmark

question

In the Least Industrialized Nations, who is most likely to participate in a formal education program beyond the first couple of grades?

answer

Primarily the wealthy because of the relative high cost of education in these nations.

question

Sociologists define religion as:

answer

a system of beliefs and practices related to sacred things that unites people in a moral community.

question

Which statement is most accurate on how parents of different social classes rear their children?

answer

Middle class parents think of their children as in need of significant nurturing.

question

The crescent moon and stars are to Muslims as ________ is to the Jews.

answer

the Star of David

question

Christians who have undergone a life-transforming religious experience so radical they feel they have become new people are said to have experienced which of the following events?

answer

They are born again

question

Most families in which both parents work rely on ____________ for childcare

answer

daycare

question

Of the following concepts, which of the following is the best example of exogamy?

answer

The incest taboo prohibits close relatives from marrying one another.

question

In Moronica the government subsidizes the one major religion. To be elected to political office, the constitution of Moronica requires the candidate to be a member of the Church of Moronica. Based on this, which type of religious group applies best to describe the Church of Moronica?

answer

It is an ecclesia

question

Yoko attends grade school in Japan. What would be the central theme of all of her classes?

answer

solidarity with the group and team effort

question

What is the process of determining which people will enter what occupations through tracking and placing select students in "ability groups" and "advanced" classes?

answer

gatekeeping

question

Which of the following trends is less likely to occur in respect to marriage?

answer

Births to single women are likely to decrease

question

What term did sociologist Randall Collins apply to industrialized nations due to their tendency to use diplomas and degrees as sorting devices?

answer

credential societies

question

What is the primary purpose sociologists study religion?

answer

To study the role religion plays in people's lives

question

In Japan, why are children from the richer families more likely to be admitted to college even though competition is rigid and there are a limited number of openings each year?

answer

Parents spend more for tutors to prepare their children for the college entrance exam.

question

In the United States today, one-third of all entering college freshmen have an overall high school grade point average of A- or higher, twice what it was in 1970. What is the reason for this increase in students with high grades?

answer

Teachers have inflated grades

question

What do the Crusades to control the Holy Land, the burning of witches at the stake, and sacrifice of virgins by the Aztecs illustrate about religion?

answer

They are all examples of how religion can be dysfunctional

question

Frank, Jim, Martha, and Louise occupy the same apartment, share routine chores such as cooking, cleaning and laundry, and each contributes a share of their earnings to pay utilities and food costs.Which term most applies to the relationship between Frank, Jim, Martha, and Louise?

answer

Frank, Jim, Martha, and Louise are a household

question

Marianne and her children live in a neighborhood where all the families share their resources when someone needs help. The neighbors also consider themselves to be an extended family. What term do sociologists use to describe these survival mechanisms?

answer

fictive kin

question

Which sociological perspective stresses the teachings of religion help people adjust to life's problems and provide guidelines for daily life?

answer

the functionalist perspective

question

John and Diane proudly consider themselves as DINKS. Put another way, what is the distinguishing feature of being a DINK?

answer

They are married, both are working, and they have no kids by choice.

question

What is the primary reason many employers rely on diplomas and degrees as sorting devices to choose employees?

answer

Employers do not know potential employees, and diplomas and degrees serve as sorting devices.

question

What term describes a family in which grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren live under one roof?

answer

the extended family

question

Which of the following serves as the best example of a ritual?

answer

praying before meals

question

In India, about 95 percent of the marriages are arranged by the parents; in the United States, most marriages are based on individual choice. Which statement best explains these differences in marriage practices?

answer

A society's marriage practices match societal values and patterns of stratification

question

For both single mothers and married couples, what is the most common source of childcare for mothers who work outside the home?

answer

organized childcare facilities

question

Studies show that young adults are leaving the parental home:

answer

and then about one half return

question

Who were the three sociologists known for advocating social placement as a part of the educational system as being functional for society?

answer

Talcott Parsons, Kingsley Davis, Wilbert Moore

question

Which of the following statements is least accurate regarding family and marriage?

answer

Characteristics of marriage are the same in industrial and traditional societies

question

In home schooling, who serves as the primary teacher of the child?

answer

the mother of the child being home schooled

question

Which sociological perspective takes the position that we create our own worlds, including marriage? This implies that to have a good marriage, it is essential for people to perceive that a good marriage is possible and worth working toward achieving.

answer

symbolic interactionist

question

What did Murray Strauss conclude based on his research on battering in marital relationships?

answer

Husbands and wives are about equally likely to attack one another.

question

What is the name of a society in which a man has more than one wife?

answer

polygynous

question

Renee has difficulty in reading and writing. However, despite her problem with reading and writing, she has been passed into the next grade every year. This is an example of ________.

answer

social promotion

question

Which of the following serves as the best example of how religion promotes social change?

answer

the Civil Rights Movement

question

What was the basis of antimiscegenation laws?

answer

interracial marriage

question

Who published the influential book, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life in 1912 that identified the elements common to all religions?

answer

Emile Durkheim

question

What is the process of passing a nation's core values from one generation to the next, such as respect for private property, individuality, and competition through the school system?

answer

cultural transmission

question

What is the primary source of strain in the typical one-parent family?

answer

poverty

question

The role of the school in teaching obedience and conformity is called:

answer

the hidden curriculum

question

Which sociological perspective emphasizes housework as "women's work" and mowing the lawn as "men's work" in a traditional orientation toward household chores?

answer

the symbolic interactionist perspective

question

Regina lives in a society in which children are related to their father's relatives, but not their mother's relatives. What type of descent system does this illustrate?

answer

patrilineal

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