Sociology Midterm 1-9

Structural functionalist theory is concerned with the ways in which structures contribute to the stability of society. What is a structure?

a social institution that is stable over time and helps meet the needs of society

Which of the following provides an arena for playing out culture wars?

media

Which of the following is a form of stratification in which all positions are awarded on the basis of accomplishment and skill?

meritocracy

A young girl from a poor family is sent to live with wealthy distant relatives. Her relatives expect her to take care of the household, cooking and cleaning instead of going to school. They do not pay her and threaten her when she attempts to return home. Her situation is an example of

modern slavery.

Role conflict occurs when an individual has

multiple roles that are in conflict with each other.

A woman is hired at a restaurant. She is given strict instructions on her first day to always wear black pants with a white shirt, to never carry a notepad, and to always address customers as "Sir" or "Madam." All of these things are elements of the waitress's

personal front.

What would a sociologist call the belief that members of one racial group are genetically predisposed to be more intelligent than members of another racial group?

prejudice

The criteria used by a social class system to stratify its members include

property, power, and prestige.

Critical race theory explores the relationship among race and what two other concepts?

racism and power

What is it called when members of the dominant group—whites, in the case of race—believe they are discriminated against because of their race?

reverse racism

A married man in the United States with several mistresses is violating a ________, but he is violating a ________ if he is married to more than one woman at the same time.

set of mores; law

According to Émile Durkheim, what was the basis for the bonds created through mechanical solidarity in traditional societies?

shared traditions and similar experiences

What is the justification for harsh sentencing guidelines like California's controversial "three strikes" law?

deterrence of future crimes

According to Marx, the primary tool for the oppression of the lower social classes in modern society is

industrial capitalism.

________ is an action or behavior that results in the unequal treatment of an individual because of their membership in a racial or ethnic group.

Discrimination

A crowd, aggregate, and category are all different ways of referring to a group, according to sociologists.

False

Formal subjects like math and reading are part of schools' hidden curriculum.

False

In the United States, hard work and dedication lift the majority of people out of poverty.

False

No harm can come to participants as a result of completing a questionnaire.

False

The sociological imagination conceived by C. Wright Mills incorporates the ideas of biography and autobiography

False

The wealth gap involves the unequal distribution of prestige or social honor that some individuals receive for being members of particular groups.

False

________ is the sociological term for signs people make with their bodies.

Gestures

African American and Hispanic communities are much more likely to be located near toxic waste dumps than white communities. What does this tell you about race in America?

Race can have an effect on health.

In the 1900s, there was a strong prejudice against Irish immigrants and their descendants. What does this tell you about the history of the Irish in the United States?

The Irish were once considered to be a separate race.

What might a conflict theorist conclude about deviance if an upper-middle-class white college student is sentenced to rehab for the same drug crime that a lower-class black man is sentenced to jail for committing?

The rules are applied unequally, and those with power or influence are punished much less harshly than others.

Which of the following is a quality of charismatic leaders?

They possess extraordinary personal qualities.

Deviance can be considered relative because whether or not a behavior is considered deviant depends upon the historical, cultural, and situational context in which it occurs.

True

Sociologists claim that culture is the lens through which we perceive and evaluate what is going on in the world around us.

True

The process of socialization tends to emphasize heteronormativity.

True

Transgender and noncisgender can be used interchangeably.

True

What does it mean when an interviewer asks a respondent for their life history?

a chronological account of the respondent's life

Which of the following authority figures still derives legitimacy from traditional sources?

a parent

What is the Uniform Crime Report (UCR)?

an official measure of crime in the United States

An example of a secondary sex characteristic is

body hair.

What has most of the sociological literature on deviance traditionally focused on?

crime

When cultures that were once distinct become increasingly similar, they are experiencing the phenomenon of

cultural leveling.

According to Émile Durkheim, what is the basis for the bonds created through organic solidarity in industrialized societies?

difference, interdependence, and individual rights

Sociologists call the awareness of our own and others' class statuses

everyday class consciousness.

Textbooks often still contain sexist language and gender stereotypes. In the social structure of the school itself, women tend to be concentrated at the lower levels, as teachers and aides, while men tend to occupy upper-management and administrative positions. Which concept do these patterns MOST reinforce?

gender role socialization

The sense of solidarity or team spirit that an individual feels toward their group is called

group cohesion.

A same-sex couple holding hands or kissing in public may receive disapproving looks or even abusive comments from other people. This is an example of

homophobia.

Individual members of a large group often neglect their responsibilities when a task needs to be completed because it is impossible for any one person to receive credit or blame. This phenomenon is called

social loafing.

Men usually make more money than women because

socially constructed categories of employment lead to larger numbers of men than women in many lucrative jobs.

In all probability, the sociology professor who is giving this test would be totally unable to grade a test given in the chemistry department. What aspect of bureaucracy does this illustrate?

specialization

According to Sigmund Freud's theoretical perspective, the parts of the mind are

the id, ego, and superego.

Some theorists have suggested that all individuals act like mirrors to each other. What do sociologists call this concept?

the looking-glass self

The scientific method involves

the procedure for acquiring and collecting scientific data.

Respondents are often more comfortable addressing sensitive subjects on surveys than in other research contexts because

they can answer in private and are usually assured anonymity.

Young army recruits arriving at boot camp are about to enter a(n)

total institution.

What are researchers doing when they use a social networking site like Facebook to obtain data?

using existing sources