Sociology Midterm

Relgion, according to Emile Durkheim, is based on a distinction between the ______ and the ______. A. people, natural world B. society, natural world C. good, bad D. sacred, profane E. pure, nasty

D

Since religions are a major source of norms and values, sociologists understand them to be... A. Among the most important institutions in society B. A significant source of social solidarity C. A frequent source of conflict D. All of the above E. None of the above

D

Social Stratification A. is built into the social system B. is based on class, status, and power C. is influenced by factors such as one's gender, age, religious affiliation, and level of education D. all of the above E. none of the above

D

Social contexts/entities in which significant processes of socialization occur are: A. context operations B. concrete operations C. sensorimotors D. socialization agents E. agencies of child development

D

Social problems that perpetuate global inequality include: A. Healthcare B. poverty C. famine D. all of the above E. none of the above

D

Sociology is the scientific study of A. human social life B. groups C. societies D. all of the above E. none of the above

D

The process of renovating deteriorating neighborhoods by encouraging the renewal of old buildings and the construction of new buildings is called _____ A. Beautification B. Subjugation C. Transubstantation D. Gentrification E. Specification

D

Which of the following is the name of a specific subculture? A. Hip-Hop B. Vegans C. The Amish D. All of the above E. None of the above - subculture refers only to ethnic or language groups

D

A sociologist looking at education from a STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALIST perspective may be interested in ______ A. Social control B. Socialization C. Social placement D. B and C only E. All of the above

E

According to Gans, economic functions of poverty include ___ A. Economic banishment of the poor B. Providing a reserve army of labor C. Supplying illegal goods D. Job creation E. All of the above

E

All of the social position a person occupies at any given time is called one's A. social positions B. brackets C. occupation D. social set E. status set

E

Deviance A. is not the same as crime B. can change from time to time C. can be different in different cultures D. is illustrated by an absence of conformity E. all of the above

E

Erving Goffman referred to those occasions where people can relax and prepare themselves for more formal interactions as: A. social roles B. master statuses C. social positions D. frontstage self E. backstage self

E

The concept of culture as used by sociologists includes: A. marriage, customs, and family life B. art, literature, fashion, and technology C. material goods made in factories D. B and C only E. A, B, and C

E

Which theory of crime contends that any sign of social disorder is a community encourages more serious crime to flourish? A. "differential association" B. "structural strain" C. "labeling" D. "broken legs" E. "broken windows"

E

According to the sociological perspective, people's behaviors: A. is influenced by their social context B. is entirely determined by the social context C. has nothing to do with their social context D. is mostly a result of their genetic makeup E. is mostly a results of chance

A

As seen in the video, WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE, during 2005 and 2006, Camden, NJ was: A. the murder capital of the US B. the suicide capital of the US C. the political corruption capital of the US D. both A and B E. neither A nor B

A

Global inequality is A. growing B. decreasing C. staying the same D. varying from year to year, with no distinct trend E. unmeasurable

A

Studying day-to-day interactions is important because A. they make up the bulk of our social activities B. they give structure to what we do C. they shed light on larger institutions and systems D. all of the above E. none of the above

A

The movement of the population into towns and cities and away from "the land" is called _____ A. Urbanization B. Modernization C. Specification D. Gentrification E. Transubstantiation

A

______ is the formal instruction under the direction of specially trained teachers. A. Schooling B. Education C. Learning D. All of the above E. None of the above

A

_______ is the practice of dividing students into groups that receive different instruction on the basis of assumed similarities in their ability or attainment. A. Tracking B. Dividing C. Assimilating D. The hidden curriculum E. Credentialism

A

Latent functions of education include ______ A. childcare B. bringing people of marriageable age together. C. Reduction of competition in the workplace D. All of the above E. None of the above

D

A cultural system of commonly shared beliefs and rituals that provides a sense of ultimate meaning and purpose by creating an idea of reality that is scared, all-encompassing, and supernatural would be termed ____ by sociologists. A. sociology B. religion C. Theism D. philosophy E. Realism

B

A social position that has priority over all others and determines a person's overall position in society is known as: A. social role B. master status C. assigned role D. ascribed status E. achieved status

B

According to Erving Goffman, our interactions with others involve many strategies and actions that are designed to A. make others think we are someone other than who we really are B. present a favorable impression of ourselves C. help us learn the culture of our society D. let us avoid telling the truth

B

In his essay, "Uses for the Underclass in America", Gans describes how: A. many people prefer to live in poverty, despite its hardships and social disapproval B. the non-poor benefit in many ways from the existence of poverty and poor people C. 20 percent of the poor make no effort to improve their situation, despite the helping efforts of governments, churches, and communities D. many famous and successful people have come from poor families E. None of the above

B

The process by which individual learn the values, beliefs, and norms of society is known is: A. evolution B. socialization C. sensitization D. natural selection E. social interaction

B

Which of the following is true of all systems of social stratification? A. If a person no longer identifies with the other members of his/her category, he/she is no longer classified at that level B. A person's life changes are significantly influenced by his/her position C. Ranks lead to fluctuate rapidly and significantly over time D. All of the above E. None of the above

B

Which of the following questions about religion is sociological? A. Is it true or false? B. What are its principal beliefs? C. Is it good or bad? D. Should I believe in it? E. None of the above are sociological questions.

B

A person in a particular position is expected to engage in certain socially defined behaviors. This is his/her A. socialization B. agency C. role D. peer group E. mature adulthood

C

Urbanization was developed at ____between the 1920s and the 1970s. A. University of Pennsylvania B. University of Illinois - Chicago C. University of Chicago D. University of Pittsburgh E. University of California at Los Angeles

C

Which is is called when we "see the strange in the familiar" is order to understand the social world in a broader context? A. romanticism B. multiple personality disorder C. developing the sociological imagination/perspective D. globalization E. none of the above

C

Compare and contrast class system and caste system.

Class systems involve a large group of people who occupy similar economic positions in a wider society and have similar life choices. They are fluid, have upward mobility where positions are most of the time achieved. It involves a combination of ascribed status and individual choices and is economically based. Caste systems involve social statuses being given for life with no option for social mobility, unlike class systems. They are maintained through endogamy.

A sociological analysis of education could include A. school as a socializing agent B. the relationship between education and social inequality C. the social functions that schools provide D. all of the above E. none of the above

D

A sociological defintion of religion can include elements of... A. culture B. behavior C. a sense of the purpose and meaning of life D. all of the above E. none of the above

D

A status that is received at birth is called: A. assigned role B. birth right C. master status D. ascribed status E. achieved status

D

According to Gans, normative functions of poverty include ___ A. Moral legitimization of the mainstream culture B. Norm reinforcement C. Supplying "popular culture villains" D. All of the above E. None of the above

D

According to George Herbert Mead, individuals develop a sense of self by: A. going through distinct stages of sensorimotor development B. going to school C. internalizing media images D. taking the role of the other E. none of the above

D

All cultures possess A. some form of family system B. language C. prohibitions against incest D. all of the above E. none of the above

D

Features that are found in virtually all societies are called: A. socialization agents B. universal behaviors C. politics as usual D. cultural universals E. subcultures

D

Briefly describe Goffman's frontstage/backstage metaphor and how it relates to social interactions in terms of our class exercise with Chuck as a contestant.

Frontstage self is when an interaction is more formal, trying to make an impression on a person or audience. Backstage self is less formal than frontstage self. It is more relaxed and is used as preparation for the presentation of one's frontstagen self. In our class exercise with Chuck as a contestant, we see the different faces that Goffman refers to. Depending on the person and the formality of the situation determined the way Chuck prepared for each encounter. When talking with a friend, he was more in his backstage self, less formal. He started to become more formal with his mother, and then finally the most formal in the interview. His language and actions demonstrated this.

According to Stephanie Coontz, why is marrying for love radical?

Marrying is a radical idea. In the beginning of the idea of marrying in cultures, it was seen more as a business contract. Women were viewed as property and through marriage, fathers would literally give daughters away in exchange for something else from the husband. To base marriage on the concept of love was hard to force because love has different meanings, so it made love an unreliable thing to base a marriage on. It was only until recently that this Western way of thinking of marriage for love as come to be more of a norm.

Identify and describe a theme discussed during this semester and how it is depicted in "Hidden American Children of the Mountains".

One theme that was discussed during this semester is drug and alcohol abuse. This is when people succumb theirselves to substance abuse, leading to turmoil in life due to the substances taking priority over everything else, like education, family, and health. In "Hidden American Children of the Mountains", this can be clearly seen. Looking at Ericka, her mother has addicted to prescription drugs. She had had multiple DUI's and in and out of rehab, meaning she was not around Erica as she grew up.