Sociology Midterm
Values differ from norms in that values:
do not state explicitly how people should behave.
One of the criticisms of symbolic interactionist theory is that it
doesn't address the linkages between culture and subcultures.
According to conflict theorists, social order in society is maintained by
domination by the powerful.
Sociologists use the term __________ to refer to the practice of judging all other cultures by one's own culture, assuming that one's own way of life is superior to all others.
ethnocentrism
Olivia, a sociologist, is conducting a study to determine the effectiveness of a new drug for migraine. She gives one group of subjects the drug and another group of subjects a pill that resembles the drug. In this context, the group that receives the drug is the __________.
experimental group
When sociologists discuss how social inequities identified by sociological research contribute to the radicalization of terrorists, they are best described as using sociological research to
explain why people behave irrationally.
In the game stage of socialization, children begin to learn
how to take on multiple roles at the same time.
Goffman's theory of dramaturgy views human experience as if it were a performance. Specifically, Goffman argues that
how we present ourselves varies according to the stage we are in and the role we are performing.
According to Marx, the major focus for capitalists is on
increasing profits as much as possible.
Sociologist Emile Durkheim used the degree of social integration in society to determine its influence on the rate of suicide. In this example, the degree of social integration is the __________ variable.
independent
Anne is a college student, a full-time employee, and a mother of two young children. Anne may experience role conflict because
it is likely to be impossible for her to fully satisfy the expectations associated with all of those roles.
Kira believes that her teacher doesn't like her as much as the other children in class. Kira now thinks that she is bad at schoolwork, and that she is unlikeable. This illustrates Kira's
looking-glass self
Mead's term for the passive, conforming self that reacts to others is the
me
Jeffrey Dahmer was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was also a cannibal. In this situation, the act of murder can be described as violation of __________, while cannibalism can be described as violation of __________.
mores; taboos
To understand the process coroners use to determine whether or not a death is a suicide, a sociologist works for six months in the coroner's office and spends as much time as possible observing coroners at work. This is an example of __________.
participant observation
A researcher who lives among the homeless in an effort to understand their norms is carrying out
participant observation.
According to Durkheim, during an economic crisis
people will blame marginalized groups, like immigrants, for taking their jobs.
French philosopher Auguste Comte's belief that the world can best be understood through scientific inquiry became known as __________.
positivism
Marx's perspective of society argued that
profit is produced through the exploitation of the working class.
Researchers in one study systematically analyzed the content of the notes of suicide victims to determine recurring themes, such as feelings of despair or failure. Through the study of the words used in the notes, the researchers hoped to determine if any common underlying meanings were present across the notes that would help them understand why people kill themselves. This is an example of __________.
qualitative research
"The talk" refers to the conversation that Black parents, particularly the parents of sons, have with their children about how to interact with authority figures, particularly the police. Parents remind children to be respectful and courteous, to always keep their hands in view, and to avoid showing anger, frustration, or even impatience, even in circumstances of apparent unfairness. "The talk" is an example of
racial socialization.
Samantha is a college student who attends morning classes at the university and works part-time at a local bookstore from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Next Monday, Samantha has an exam at 5:00 p.m., when she is supposed to be working. These incompatible demands of her statuses as a student and an employee best illustrate __________.
role conflict
When __________ occurs, we may feel pulled in different directions. We may prioritize our roles and first complete the one we consider to be most important. Or we may compartmentalize our lives and "insulate" our various roles.
role conflict
Sociological imagination refers to the ability to
see the societal patterns that influence the individual as well as groups of individuals.
Regardless of where it is found in the world, culture is
shared by those who are a part of it.
Some symbolic interaction theorists believe that there is very little shared reality beyond that which is socially created. They refer to this as the __________, which is the process by which our perception of reality is largely shaped by the subjective meaning that we give to an experience.
social construction of reality
In her work, sociologist Harriet Martineau strongly advocates __________.
social equality and reform
The #MeToo movement has led to loss of jobs, loss of reputation, and sometimes criminal charges against individuals who have been credibly accused of sexual harassment. A sociologist would most likely understand this as
social forces impacting private lives.
Durkheim conceptualized social facts as
social patterns that are external to individuals.
Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term __________ to refer to the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.
sociological imagination
A __________ is a socially defined position in a group or society characterized by certain expectations, rights, and duties; it exists independently of the specific people occupying it.
status
Teacher, student, professional athlete, rock musician, and homeless person are socially defined positions characterized by certain expectations. These positions are examples of __________.
statuses
The "thumbs-up" gesture signifies approval in some cultures, but this gesture is considered obscene in other cultures. The variation in the interpretation of the "thumbs-up" gesture across cultures illustrates that __________.
symbols may have different meanings among different groups of people
Harriet Martineau emphasized the importance of
systematic data collection and objective data analysis.
The strongest mores are referred to as __________. They are so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable.
taboos
Sociologist George Herbert Mead divided the self into the "I" and the "me." A difference between these two elements of the self is that the "me" is:
the organized set of attitudes of others that an individual assumes.
Durkheim believed that the causes of suicide were found in
the social environment.
Social structure consists of all of these, except __________.
values
Symbolic interactionists argue that our perceptions of reality are determined by our definition of the situation. This means that, to a large extent,
we basically see what we want to see.
During early childhood, the most important agent of socialization is usually
A parent
Who among the following is considered the founder of sociology?
Auguste Comte
Lanora notes that rates of domestic violence are higher during televised hockey games. Because the two are correlated, Lanora can safely conclude that the violence in the hockey games causes domestic violence.
False
Macrosociology examines the patterns of individuals' social interaction in specific settings.
False
Most contemporary sociologists agree that nature, not culture and social learning, accounts for virtually all the behavior patterns of humans.
False
People act out a status but occupy a role.
False
Research suggests that even children who are socially isolated and deprived of normal nurturing will develop normally as long as they are physically healthy.
False
Resocialization requires only that the individual wants to change.
False
Socialization is a uniform process across all cultures and subcultures.
False
Sociologist Emile Durkheim emphasized that individual acts of suicide provide better explanations of suicide than do suicide rates.
False
Sociologists are not interested in historical research.
False
The need for impression management is least intense for individuals with devalued statuses.
False
Those who do not share the language of a group can still participate fully in its culture since most of what constitutes culture is independent of language.
False
_____ diminishes teens' and young adults' ability to develop decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Helicopter parenting
Which of the following statements about social structure is false?
It is not essential for individual well-being
Which of the following is a criticism of functionalism and its approach to culture?
It overlooks diversity and social change.
Which of the following is most likely a weakness of survey research?
It tends to force respondents into categories in which they may or may not belong.
__________ are strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that, if violated, may result in serious consequences within a particular culture.
Mores
Which of the following is true about the family as an agent of socialization?
Not all families socialize children in the same way or into the same expectations.
Which one of the following represents the best example of material culture?
Physical objects people have invented, such as a diamond ring
__________ is the term used to refer to the sum total of perceptions and feelings that an individual has of being a distinct and unique person (a sense of who and what one is).
Self
Which of the following is an effective way of minimizing role conflict and role strain?
Setting priorities
Which of the following statuses demonstrate that it is difficult to draw a firm line between ascribed and achieved statuses?
Social class and gender
Which of the following is not one of the arguments of conflict theory?
Social order is maintained by consensus and interdependence.
Which statement about sociology as a science is true?
Sociological research relies on empirical observation.
The "I" is the __________ element of the self and represents the spontaneous and unique traits of each person.
Subjective
The census is a type of __________.
Survey
Today, care is taken to protect the subjects of sociological research. Which of these statements about ethics in sociology is false?
The U.S. government refuses to address the importance of the rights of research participants.
A researcher is interested in uncovering the social factors that might motivate suicide bombers. Because this research would include a small number of cases and the research question would be tested through interpretative descriptions, which of the following research models would be the most appropriate?
The qualitative research model
According to a symbolic interactionist approach to socialization, we cannot form a sense of self or personal identity without intense social contact with others.
True
Claudio wants to learn more about the process of online radicalization and joins several groups. As he interacts more with group members, he becomes trusted and is able to ask questions about their experiences. Claudio is engaging in participant observation.
True
Content analysis is the systematic examination of cultural artifacts or various forms of communication to extract thematic data and draw conclusions about social life.
True
Culture includes ways of thinking as well as patterns of behavior.
True
Durkheim saw society as an organism, something comprising different parts that work together to create a unique whole.
True
From a sociological perspective, nature sets the stage for an individual's abilities, but socialization is necessary in order to fully develop them.
True
Functionalism points out that similar beliefs bind people together and create stability.
True
One advantage of self-administered surveys is that they can easily be given to large numbers of people.
True
One of our most important human attributes is the ability to use language to share our experiences, feelings, and knowledge with others.
True
Sociological research is generally only useful in academic settings.
True
The sociological imagination helps an individual place personal troubles, such as losing his or her job or feeling like committing suicide, into a larger social context, where the individual can distinguish whether and how personal troubles may be related to public issues.
True
When coaches hide doubts about their team's ability to win, they are engaged in impression management.
True
In _____, parents focus on their own needs, spend little time interacting with the children, and know little about their interests or whereabouts.
Uninvolved
__________ are collective ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture.
Values
A __________ is any concept with measurable traits or characteristics that can change or vary from one person, time, situation, or society to another. It is the observable and/or measurable counterpart of a concept.
Variable
Which of the following early sociologists believed that the study of society should involve social activism?
W. E. B. DuBois
Internalization is the process of self-evaluation and informed decision making.
False
Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of material culture.
False
Socialization is the most crucial during __________ because it is essential for the individual's survival and for human development.
Childhood
Identify an example of material culture.
Clothing
Simone, a researcher, wants to determine the prevalence of sexism in elementary school textbooks. She studies five textbooks each of public schools and private schools and looks for regular patterns, such as the frequency of the masculine pronoun "he" in examples and the use of stereotypical scenarios. In this context, Simone is using __________ for her study.
Content Analysis
Which of the following practices illustrates a cultural universal?
Dancing on special occasions
Ron, a sociologist, conducted a study on the relationship between crime and social changes. The results of the study showed that rapid societal changes lead to increased crime rates because social facts, or the patterned ways of thinking and acting that govern the behavior of individuals in a society, are destroyed because of social changes. This observation most likely resonates with the beliefs of sociologist __________.
Emile Durkheim
According to Weber, sociological research should be used to promote political beliefs.
False
As sociologists use the term, culture refers to beliefs so fundamental to humans that they are essentially innate.
False
Ascribed statuses are the result of personal effort and choice.
False
Because most are inherent, status sets stay largely consistent throughout life.
False
By the time children are 12 months old, most are biologically ready to pay close attention to social expectations.
False
In a survey, only closed-ended questions can be included.
False
As agents of socialization, sports
are where many ideas about gender differences are formed and reinforced.
Jorge is a male born to Mexican American parents; he was assigned these positions at birth. He is an adult and—if he lives long enough—will someday become an "older adult." All of these are considered __________.
ascribed statuses
Role _____ occurs when it becomes impossible to meet the expectations associated with all of the roles in one's role set.
conflict