SOCIOLOGY FINAL QUESTIONS

Interpretive sociology is sociology that...

focuses on the meaning people attach to behavior

Which theory developed by the psychologist John B. Watson, claims that most human behavior is not instinctive but learned within a social environment?

Behaviorism

Which of the following statements comes closest to describing Erik H. Erikson's view of socialization?

Personality develops over the entire life course in patterned ways

A criticism of the symbolic-interaction approach is that it..

ignores how structural factors such as class affect a person's experiences

What approach is based on the philosophical doctrine of Materialism?

Social Conflict

In Freud's model of personality, what ego represents the presence of culture within the individual?

Superego

Which of the following theoretical approaches paints society in broad strokes at a macro-level?

structural functional and social conflict

What is the term for a basic image of society that guides thinking and research?

Theoretical approach

Looking at childhood in a global perspective, we find that...

rich societies extend childhood much longer than poor societies do

Gerhad Lenski focused on which of the following factors as having great power to shape a society?

Technology

The term "sociology" was coined in 1838 by

August Comte

Compared to an industrial society, a postindustrial society was based on

an information based economy

What would a sociologist be most likely to say about why an individual chooses a particular person to marry?

Society guides human behavior more than we realize.

The text states that cultural change is set in motion in three general ways...

invention, discovery, and diffusion

Jean Piaget called the level of development at which individuals first use language and other cultural symbols the...

preoperational stage

The theoretical approach in sociology that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability is the...

structural functional approach

Which of the following statements is an accurate criticism of the structural functional approach?

it ignores inequality that can generate tension and conflict

What discipline is defined as "the systematic study of human society?

Sociology

Cultural patterns that are widespread among a society's population are referred to as

popular culture

Which early sociologist claimed that his goal was not to simply understand society but to change it?

Karl Marx

As part of human culture, religion would be an example of

Non-material culture

Unrecognized and unintended consequences of the social structure are called

Latent Functions

Which theoretical approach highlights the fact that it is not so much what people do that matters as much a the meaning they attach to their behavior?

Symbolic Interaction Approach

High-income nations tend to have cultural values that emphasize...

Self-expression

Cultural transmission refers to the process of...

passing cultural patterns from one generation to another

Thomas Hobbe's idea that society reflects a selfish human nature illustrates the thinking common to Comte's...

Metaphysical state of societal development

Critics of the Saphir-Whorf thesis point out that

language does not determine reality

Which of the following can correctly be called the "framework for building theory that sees society as an area of inequality that generates conflict and change?

Social Conflict Approach

Which of the following concepts refers to the lifelong social experience by which human beings develop their potential and learn culture?

Socialization

What distinguishes between right and wrong?

Mores

What distinguishes between polite and rude?

Folkways

Sam had unpleasant and even frightening experiences when he was encountering a strange way of life while visiting another country over spring break. His experiences can be called...

culture shock

What is a way of understanding the world based on science?

Positivism

Which of the following concepts refers to the beliefs, values, behavior, and material objects that together constitute a people's way of life?

Culture

When people model themsevlves after the members of their peer groups they would like to join, they are engaging in...

Anticipatory socialization

What typically has the greatest influence on the socialization process, especially in the early years of life?

Family

Which of the following concepts defines who and what we are in relation to others?

Status

Which of the following concepts refers to a social position that is received at birth or involuntarily take on later in life?

Ascribed Status

Which of the following concepts refers to a status that has very great importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life?

Master Status

Being an honors student is a good example of...

Achieved Status

Sociologists use what concept to refer to the behavior people expect of someone who holds a particular status?

Role

A role set refers to a number of roles...

attached to a single status

Joan is an excellent artist and she enjoys her work, but feel she cannot devote enough time to her family. She is experiencing...

Role Conflict

Assume a plant supervisor wishes to be a good friend and hang out with the workers, but the supervisor must keep a personal distance to remain objective in order to assess the worker's performance. This example involves...

Role Strain

What do sociologists call two or more people who identify with and interact with one another?

Social Group

What is the most important primary group?

Family

What leadership refers to group leadership that emphasizes collective well-being?

Expressive Leadership

Adrian is a leader who tends to downplay her position and power, allowing the group to function more or less on it's own. Which type of leader is she?

Laissez-Faire

The process of groupthink involves several dimensions. Which of the following statements does NOT correctly describe groupthink?

groups larger than three members rarely are able to reach consensus.

Jake is a member of the Bulldogs soccer team. The team's rival is the Tigers. Members of the Bulldogs put down the Tigers all the time. To Jake, the Tigers represent...

An Out-group

Which statement correctly reflects Simmel's understanding of a dyad?

Dyads are less stable than groups with more members

From the point of view of parents, what type of formal organization is a school's Parent-Teacher Association? (PTA)?

A normative organization

To Weber, the rise of bureaucratic organization is an expression of...

Rationality

The emergency room clerk who keeps a bleeding patient waiting while filming out extensive paperwork is a classic example of

Bureaucratic Ritualism

Which of the following is NOT a way in which today's business organizations in the US differ from those a century ago?

Today's organizations have a steeper pyramid shape

The development of breasts in females and deeper voices in males are examples of...

Secondary Sex characteristics

Which of the following concepts refers to humans who have some combination of female and male genitalia?

Intersexual people

In terms of his sexuality, Mark has always felt that he is "trapped in the wrong body." The feeling suggest that Mark is in which of the following categories of people?

Transsexual

Sociologists point to several functions of the incest taboo. Which of the following is NOT one of those functions?

The incest taboo limits a family's contact with larger society

Sexual attractions to people of both sexes is called...

Bisexuality

Historically, once a society develops effective birth control technology,

social norms regarding sexuality become more permissive

THe changing importance of virginity over the last century in our society is a topic correctly linked with

the Symbolic Interaction approach

Queer Theory is growing body of knowledge asserting that...

there is bias against homosexuality in the US

Which of the following statements is a criticism of the social-conflict approach's view of sexuality?

Sexuality is not a power issue for everyone

Which of the following sociological terms refers to the recognized violation of cultural norms?

Deviance

Every society regulates the thoughts and behaviors of individuals. This process of regulation is called...

Social Control

The value of psychological theories of deviance is limited because...

Most people who commit crimes have normal personalities

Emilie Durkheim's basic insight if that deviance is...

a normal element of social organization

The basic idea behind labeling theory is...

deviance arises not so much from what people do as how others respond to what they do

When friends began to criticize Juan as a "boozer", pushing him out of their social circle, he became bitter and began to drink even more. Juan ended joining a new group of friends, all whom were heavy drinkers. According to Edwin Lemert, this situation i

The onset of secondary deviance

Based on scapegoat theory, you would conclude that prejudice is cause by...

Frustration among people who are themselves disadvantaged

Gender refers too...

the personal traits and social positions that members of a society attach to being male and female

Talcott Parsons described gender in terms of

Complementarity

Looking back over US history, we see a general trend by which women...

have gained both power and economic opportunities

What does modernization theory focus on?

the production of wealth

What does dependency theory focus on?

the distribution of wealth

Because of social stratification in the US...

some people have more privileges and opportunities than others do

The concept of "absolute poverty" refers to...

a lack of resources that is life threatening

Which theoretical approach is linked to dependency theory?

Social Conflict Approach

Dependency theory claims that poor nations...

were underdeveloped by the colonial practices of rich nations

In general, societies that have a caste system have an economy based on...

Agriculture

A college professor who has advanced degrees, moderate salary, and little power can be described as having

Low Status consistency

Which type of feminism accepts the basic organization of US society, but seeks to expand the rights and opportunities of women?

Liberal Feminism

In the US, most people...

identify with one or more ethnic category

The "beauty myth" refers to the idea that...

women learn to measure their personal importance in terms of physical appearance

Which of the following concepts refers to an invisible, yet real, barrier that prevents many women from rising beyond middle-management positions?

Glass Ceiling

Which of the following concepts refers to social organization in which males dominate females?

Patriarchy

The Davis Moore Thesis states that...

Society must attach enough rewards to important jobs to attract the talent needed to perform these jobs well.

While being in the upper-upper class is usually the result of________, being in the lower-upper class is more often a matter of_____.

Birth; Achievement

In theory, which of the following involves the greatest amount of social mobility?

Meritocracy

WHich of the following situations is NOT an example of institutional discrimination?

A mother wants her child to stay away from schoolmates of a different race

Modernization theory claims that..

the main causes of poverty include traditional culture and lack of advanced technology

Compared to poverty in the US, poverty in low-income nations is...

more widespread and severe

Which factor accounts for the largest share of difference in the earnings of working men and women in the US?

difference in the type of work men and women do

Read the following four statements. Which statement is NOT correct?

A family's social standing typically changes a great deal from generation to generation

Critic claim that modernization theory...

ignores how rich nations can block the economic development of poor nations

In the US schools, courses in sociology typically enroll....

more women then men

Race refers to _______ considered important by a society; and ethnicity refers to ______.

Biological traits; cultural traits

If you wanted to recruit people to join a feminist organization, you would expect to have the most positive response from...

African Americans

Which of the following statements about gender and housework is CORRECT?

Among employed people, married or not, with or without children, women do most of the housework

The concept "race" refers to...

a socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important

In general, the people in the ______ tend to be less tolerant of controversial behavior such as homosexuality.

Working Class

Read the following statements about minorities. Which of the following is NOT correct?

All people in a minority category as socially disadvantaged

Read the following statements about minorities. Which is NOT correct?

Arab" and "Muslim" mean the same thing

Most low-income nations are found in..

Asia and Africa

While prejudice is a matter of ______. Discrimination is a matter of _______.

Attitudes; Action

In the US, the costs of sexism for men include...

engaging in many high-risks behaviors

Which type of feminism seeks to end patriarchy by eliminating the idea of gender itself?

Radical feminism

Polygamy

Marriage that unites a person with 2 or more partners

Monogamy

Marriage that unites 2 partners

Nuclear Family

a family composed of one or two parents and their children

Extended Family

a family composed of parents, children and their kin

How families in US have changed

divorce rates gone up, homosexuals can get married in some states

Structural Functional Approach to the Family

identifies major family functions like socialization of young, regulation of sex activity, social placement, providing material and emotional support

Social Exchange approach to the family

highlight the variety of family as experienced by various family members

Reasons for Rising Divorce Rates

Family Violence

Sacred

set apart as extraordinary, inspiring awe and reverence

Profane

included as an ordinary element of everyday life

Structural Functional approach to Religion

Religion gives life meaning and purpose

Symbolic Interaction approach to Religion

People often turn to sacred symbols for comfort when facing danger and uncertainty

Social Conflict approach to Religion

Religion turns problems of this world to a "better world to come

Church

a religious organization that is well integrated into the larger society

Sect

a religious organization that starts apart from the larger society

Cult

a religious organization that is largely outside a society's cultural traditions

Secularization

historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and sacred

Religious Fundamentalism

a conservative religious doctrine that opposes intellectualism and worldly accommodation in favor of restoring traditional, other worldly religion

Latent and Manifest functions of school

child care, job opportunities, networking

Smoking

greatest preventable cause of death in the US