Sociology 101 Chapter 5: Social Structure

What are two factors explored in the chapter that have had a dramatic impact on social hierarchies the United States?

(changes to:)migration and economy

__________ often includes the establishment of __________ that is designed to enforce formalized norms.

Institutionalization; an organization

Which of the following statements is true about social structure? a) Social structures are powerful influences on individuals, but people often respond in different ways to those influences. b) Social structures have no influence on determined individuals with free will. c) Social structures are so powerful that the individuals within them never have choices. d) Social structures change but the social hierarchies within social structures never change.

a

Sharmila says that our society is nothing more than a collection of individuals making choices based on their individual socialization. Why would a sociologist disagree? a) A sociologist would point to the way that social structures influence us. b) Most sociologists would claim that society is a collection of social institutions, not a collection of individuals. c) A sociologist would suggest that society is composed of groups of people making collective decisions. d) A sociologist would claim that individuals do not make choices based on socialization; instead, individuals make choices based on seeking rewards and avoiding punishments.

a (Social structure is a term that is fundamental to the entire way sociologists understand social life.)

Which of the following statements about social roles is correct? a) Roles are an important part of society, but they are not a part of social structures. b) People routinely shift from one role to another throughout the course of a day. c) "Driver" is an occupation, not a social role. d) Roles are unique in that they cannot be ranked based on status.

b

Which of the following illustrates how social structure impacts our actions? a) Individuals are free to ignore rules and norms related to driving because social structure does not impact our actions or choices, only our beliefs. b) Rules and norms related to driving a car influence both our individual actions behind the wheel, and the nature and outcomes of social interactions between other individual drivers and people using crosswalks. c) When there are police officers nearby, contrary people are more likely to ignore the speed limit and disobey traffic laws. d) It is illegal to run red lights, drive over the legal speed limit, and throw trash out of our windows when we are driving, but people do it anyway.

b (Social structure refers to the way that rules and norms of everyday life become patterns that shape and govern social interactions.)

Why might a sociologist compare social structure to a multi-floor building? a) A building is composed of many small, individual parts. b) A building has walls that enclose rooms, similar to the way that social structure encloses individuals in a social network. c) While the occupants of the building will change over time, and the exterior or interior may be renovated, the building itself (unless demolished) will persist or endure over time. d) A building has a history that begins with its construction and ends with its demolition, just like society.

c (Social structure is like a building that exists over a long period of time, though the occupants may come and go.)

Which statement correctly infers the result of a loss of social structure? a) Wealth would be more equally distributed if we eliminated social structure. b) Prejudice and discrimination would end if we eliminated social structure. c) Social order would be lost if we eliminated social structure. d) The family becomes key in regulating everyday activities.

c (Social structure is the foundation of social life that makes social order possible.)

In 1787 a group of leaders from the American colonies completed drafting a new constitution. After it was ratified two years later, entire institutions were built that sought to uphold and maintain the principles of the document. Ratifying the U.S. Constitution is an example of a __________.

critical juncture

A(n) __________ refers to the formal rules about the type of coursework and structure of learning students in an educational system will receive.

curriculum

Which of the following best describes what a social structure is? a) Social structures are the physical buildings people live and work in each day. b) Social structures are tools social scientists use to measure change in the social world. c) Social structures characteristically work by creating an imbalance in society. d) Social structures give social life a regularity and endure over time.

d

Which of the following is the best definition of the term "social hierarchy"? a) a relationship between individuals in which all individuals share a similar status b) a system of barter and exchange among people of a similar status c) a relationship between groups whose members share identical roles d) a relationship between groups in which one group has higher status than another

d

Which of the following most closely describes what sociologists mean by the term "life course"? a) the structure of coursework and content of a sequence of courses making up a program of study in a school or school system b) the process by which the historical legacies of the past impact organizations in the present, making some choices or outcomes appear more logical than others c) the geographic locations where individuals discover they are able to accomplish life goals d) the key transitions or turning points people make as they age, and the broad social patterns those transitions represent

d

Which of the following statements best describes the difference between social norms and formal rules? a) Formal rules are directives that can be violated, whereas norms cannot be easily violated. b) Norms are often written down and provide explicit guidance for behavior, whereas formal rules are unwritten rules that guide behavior. c) Norms are only applicable in the private sphere, whereas formal rules are only applicable in the public sphere. d) Norms are unwritten rules that guide behavior, whereas formal rules are often written down and provide more explicit guidance for behavior.

d

What can be inferred from the statement "an individual's position in the social structure determines his or her perceptions, attitudes, and behavior"? a) Social structure has no impact on the interactions people have, it only impacts their perceptions, attitudes, and other mental processes. b) People with different life experiences are still part of a common social structure, so even people with different life experiences will act the same when placed in the same social context. c) Social structure affects our interactions with people outside of our family, but because our family members always share our position in the social structure, it has no impact on our interactions with our family. d) People with different life experiences will have different perceptions, attitudes, and behavior, and will therefore differ in how they interact with other people.

d (An individual's position in the social structure determines their perceptions, attitudes, and behavior, which in turn influences how they interact with other people.)

A historian tells her audience that a long time ago people only occasionally joined into strategic unions when a person from one tribe or group made a commitment to raise children with a person from another tribe. This practice became relatively common over time, and it eventually became formalized into what is now called marriage. What process is the historian describing?

institutionalization

An example of __________ is when the social norms relating to crime and punishment became __________, which in turn triggered the emergence of professions focused on interpreting and enforcing the law.

institutionalization; formalized

Which of the following refers to a long-lasting social custom or tradition, often centered in important organizations?

institutions

Which of the following terms describes an organization created to advocate for a group or corporation?

interest group

Which of the following statements is true about socialization?

it continues at every stage of the life course

If individuals completely lacked free will, societies would __________.

never change

Which of the following refers to two of the key components of social structure outlined in the chapter?

norms and institutions

What is the term used to describe the way in which events of the past have a lasting impact on people and organizations in the present by continuing to make certain courses of action appear more logical than others?

path dependency

Which of the following terms refers to the ability to influence the behavior of others?

power

Much like the rules of football guide the players on a team, the rules associated with a __________ strongly influence how a person will behave in a given organization.

role

Mei wants to learn about the different components of social structure. She observes how laws passed by the government influence wealthy and poor people differently. Which component of the social structure is reflected in the part of the study that focuses on wealthy and poor people?

social hierarchies (Social class divisions exemplify social hierarchies.)

Which of the following terms refers to some kind of collective action directed toward bringing about social change?

social movement

What is the process by which people learn the standards and expectations of their culture?

socialization

When children role play and pretend to be adults, they are engaging in an important form of __________.

socialization

Sociologists refer to the range of government and legal branches, including agencies and offices of the government, lawmaking bodies, the legal system, the military, and even the constitution, as __________.

the state