Sociology Mid-Term Exam Study Guide
Match the behaviors to the social rules (Worth 4 Points). (1.) being conversationally uncooperative (2.) demonstrating that a lapse is minor (3.) creating a physical boundary (4.) holding a gaze (A) personal space (B) international vandalism (C) eye contact (D) personal cries
1. = B 2. = D 3. = A 4. = C
Which of the following is the best example of deviant behavior as it's defined in the chapter? - A teenager spends all afternoon texting her friends. - A college student organizes a political rally on his campus. - A middle-aged man wears jeans to a black-tie wedding. - A twenty-five-year-old woman wears a black miniskirt and heavy makeup to a nightclub.
A middle-aged man wears jeans to a black-tie wedding.
Which of the following statements about individualism best exemplifies the relationship between norms and values? - Beliefs in individualism in the early United States were developed out of the need for the relatively few English immigrants to learn to survive in an unfamiliar environment. - Individualism in the United States is valued because of its link to innovation in American culture, which is also highly prized. - Americans often believe strongly in individualism, which is exemplified by a mainstream belief that it is normal and healthy for people aged eighteen or older to move out of their parents' house. - The norm of individualism in the United States has led us to place more value in people who disagree with mainstream ideas than in those who agree with them.
Americans often believe strongly in individualism, which is exemplified by a mainstream belief that it is normal and healthy for people aged eighteen or older to move out of their parents' house.
How has the theory that elevated crime rates are caused by poor economic conditions been challenged in the context of declining crime rates in the twenty-first century? - Crime rates continued to decline even after the economic recession that began in 2008. - Economic conditions have experienced an uninterrupted decline since the mid-1990s. - The main drop in crime rates has happened in the areas of corporate and white-collar crime, which is generally perpetrated by people without economic hardships. - Illegal drugs are one of the main causes of crime, and they are far harder to obtain during periods of economic recession.
Crime rates continued to decline even after the economic recession that began in 2008.
Laud Humphreys's 1970 study on the secret lives of gay men was unethical for which of the following reasons? - He reported his subjects to the police. - He wrote down license plate numbers of the subjects he studied. - He asked personal questions of those wishing to remain anonymous. - He revealed the findings of his study to his subjects' families.
He wrote down license plate numbers of the subjects he studied.
The high rate of gun-related violence in the United States is pervasive across all subcultures and minority populations. Many states have "open carry" laws that permit the individual to carry a weapon in public. Such approaches may not suffice, however, especially when we consider that in some countries, such as Switzerland, guns are easy to obtain but the rate of violent crime is significantly lower. What do sociologists see as the likely explanation for the high rate of gun violence in America? - A spirit of independence among whites, African Americans, and Hispanics has fostered a kind of reverence for guns. - It is the combination of ready availability, the "frontier tradition," and subcultures of manliness and ritual violence in inner-city populations. - "Stand your ground" laws have provided white and minority populations with a kind of "frontier" mentality that makes gun violence both desirable and easy. - The culture of manliness in the American population, the persistent imagery of gun use portrayed in the media, and the absence of gun control laws make gun use simple for everyone.
It is the combination of ready availability, the "frontier tradition," and subcultures of manliness and ritual violence in inner-city populations.
Which of the following statements might be derived from the linguistic relativity hypothesis? - The larger the variety of experiences available to people in a culture, the more likely they are to develop larger and more complex vocabularies. - Learning a different language can be a very good way of understanding the culture and experiences of the group by which that language was developed. - People who have small vocabularies are unable to manage complex thoughts. - Forms of language developed by groups different from one's own are inapplicable to one's own experience.
Learning a different language can be a very good way of understanding the culture and experiences of the group by which that language was developed.
A sociological study of American politics today, looking at the interaction between the Republican and Democratic Parties as a contest of power, might develop a __________ understanding, and if this same analysis considered the ways in which the two parties supported or thwarted women's reproductive rights, this study might provide a __________ understanding. - Marxist; postmodern - postmodern; feminist - Marxist; ideological - Marxist; feminist
Marxist; feminist
__________ consists of the physical objects that a society creates that influence the ways in which people live. - Infrastructure - Artistic propaganda - Scientific technology - Material goods
Material goods
Many bars use electronic pour spouts on their liquor bottles that only allow a certain measurement of liquor to be poured at one time. By controlling the bartender's actions through automation, these pour spouts maintain the uniformity of drinks served and the efficiency of bartenders. Which concept does this best illustrate? - oligarchy - formal relations - McDonaldization - bureaucracy
McDonaldization (I'm Loving It)
What is the main difference between pastoral societies and agrarian societies? -Agrarian societies predated pastoral societies by at least several thousand years. - Pastoral societies relied mainly on domesticated animals, while agrarian societies relied on agriculture. - Agrarian societies were marked by much more divisive inequalities than pastoral societies. - Pastoral societies only existed in Africa and the Middle East, while agrarian societies were spread across the entire globe.
Pastoral societies relied mainly on domesticated animals, while agrarian societies relied on agriculture.
Despite the fact that for many Americans, e-books are an increasingly popular way to enjoy fact and fiction in the form of the printed word, it was not always this way. Sociology often draws on the "sociological imagination," a term coined by C. Wright Mills in the 1950s to explore the nature of change in society. In the mid-1400s, the printing press had a powerful effect on society and initiated major social changes. How might we use our sociological imagination to begin a study of that change? - We would first carefully consult original sources from that time. - We would first try to step away from familiar routines of daily life. - We would first compare the different reactions to books then and now. - We would first review the work of the sociologists at that time.
We would first try to step away from familiar routines of daily life.
Which of the following statements best summarizes the general sociological approach to the nature/nurture debate as described in this chapter? - Genetics and biology are essentially irrelevant compared to the determining force of social forces. - Sociological understandings of human behavior can allow us to rise above what could otherwise be biological destiny. - Social forces can be understood as macrocosms of biological forces and interactions. - While genetics and biology play a role in human behavior, they manifest in an astounding variety of ways, based on complex interactions with the social environment.
While genetics and biology play a role in human behavior, they manifest in an astounding variety of ways, based on complex interactions with the social environment.
Company-sponsored community service days, company softball teams, and casual Fridays can promote... - an iron law of oligarchy. - a vertical power structure. - a modern bureaucracy. - a corporate culture.
a corporate culture.
A primary group is characterized by... - a lack of pressure to conform. - weak emotional ties. - the need to play a particular role. - a feeling of unity.
a feeling of unity
Some people feel that the discovery in 2013 that the National Security Agency was collecting and monitoring large amounts of data from private citizens has resulted in... - a pulling together by the citizenry to get through a tough time. - a feeling that the program intrudes too deeply into private life. - an excessive increase in the role of government. - a feeling that government needs to do more to protect the country.
a feeling that the program intrudes too deeply into private life.
What is colonialism? - a process whereby Western nations established their rule in parts of the world away from their home territories - the era during which groups of adventurers began perfecting sailing technologies that allowed them to discover increasingly distant parts of the world - a process in which people from populated areas move to uninhabited parts of the world to set up their own societies - the establishment of new forms of punishment enabled by travel technology, in which penal work colonies were established in remote areas
a process whereby Western nations established their rule in parts of the world away from their home territories
What is it that allows people to creatively interpret and react to their environment, thus enabling them to make subtle changes to social structures or resist the encompassing effect of social structures? - agency - nonverbal communication - back region - symbolic interactionism
agency
Suppose that for several years, your workplace has had a written policy that forbids the use of a computer workstation for all activities that are not work related, such as buying things on Amazon or making airline reservations for your vacation. A new chief executive officer (CEO) has implemented a major policy change that eases these restrictions a bit, which now makes it acceptable to use an interoffice chat feature for any reason, even to ask other colleagues to go to lunch together. This change may lead to... - the erosion of good working relationships. - formal relationships between employees. - an iron law of oligarchy. - an increase in informal networks.
an increase in informal networks.
Sociologist Arlie Hochschild (1983) found that many workers in modern industrial countries... - work where they live or have workshops in their homes. - are not much different from workers in more traditional societies. - do not distinguish between where they work and where they live. - are required to display socially acceptable emotions at work.
are required to display socially acceptable emotions at work.
Before riding up the elevator to her job interview, Marisol stops in the restrooms in the lobby to check her appearance and straighten her clothing. In this situation, the restroom functions as a(n) __________ for her performance at the interview. - audience segregation - back region - front region - staging ground
back region
Avoiding eye contact with fellow passengers on a crowded subway is an example of... - an encounter. - impression management. - unfocused interaction. - civil inattention.
civil inattention
In modern societies, the transition from teenager to young adult is most easily recognized by... - common benchmarks of adulthood. - a willingness to work in a paying job. - a demonstrated willingness to give up games and toys. - the age of the individual.
common benchmarks of adulthood.
The overall rate of violent crime is __________ property crime. - the same as - much higher than - a bit lower than - considerably lower than
considerably lower than
In an effort to understand the problem of sexual assault on college campuses, a sociologist might gather data and then... - develop an already accepted biological model that sociologists can understand. - construct an abstract interpretation, or theory, to explain the situation. - describe the problem using one of the major sociological frameworks, such as postmodernism. - compare and contrast the collected data with that of others.
construct an abstract interpretation, or theory, to explain the situation.
Which of the following might be considered a cultural universal? - using smartphones and the Internet - having conflicts with ones' in-laws - teaching children how to be self-sufficient - decorating one's body
decorating one's body
In many cultures, a rite of passage designed to mark a transition from childhood to adolescence or adulthood exists as a formalized event or series of events. Such rituals are designed to... - designate the transition into adulthood. - ensure that children and adults are clearly identified according to socially defined roles. - reduce the anxiety that adults often feel about assuming new social roles. - instill a strong sense of gender into young adults.
designate the transition into adulthood.
When Edgar was twelve, his family moved to a new neighborhood, where he made new friends on his block. Edgar's new friends liked to meet up after school and go to an abandoned building in the neighborhood, where they broke bottles, made holes in the walls, and drew graffiti. Over time, Edgar became recognized among his friends as a talented graffiti artist and expanded his efforts to new areas, despite getting caught by the police twice. Sociologists might attribute Edgar's deviance to... - differential association. - juvenile delinquency. - social sanctions. - primary deviation.
differential association.
W. E. B. DuBois, argued that American society only lets African Americans see themselves through the eyes of others. He called this concept... - alternative social facts. - postmodernism. - hidden reality. - double consciousness.
double consciousness.
In a television cartoon for school-age children that features a caped superhero, we might expect that the advertising shown during the commercial breaks would include... - make-up for tween-age girls, video games, and toy robots. - outdoor construction toys, toy robots, and kitchen toys and accessories. - video games, kitchen toys and accessories, and fast racing cars. - fast racing cars, video games, and outdoor construction toys.
fast racing cars, video games, and outdoor construction toys.
Childhood has been an important part of human society in all cultures... - for well over a thousand years. - for about a hundred years. - since human societies first existed. - for the past fifty years.
for about a hundred years.
When Coy Mathis, a transgender girl, was six years old, she was not allowed to use the girls' bathroom in her school. Instead, she was allowed to use the gender-neutral restroom in the teacher's lounge. In 2013, Coy's parents successfully sued the school district to allow Coy to use the main girls' bathroom in the school. They argued that their daughter was entitled to the same rights as other girls and that making her use a special bathroom could make her subject to teasing and bullying. This example illustrates the idea that... - gender is socially constructed and is part of a complex process of socialization. - gender is determined by biology, not processes of socialization. - gender socialization is just a phase of childhood. - male and female categories are natural and biological.
gender is socially constructed and is part of a complex process of socialization.
A recent study found that when teenage drivers are in a vehicle with their peers, they are more likely to drive too fast and to take more risks. Subsequent studies replicated these findings, suggesting that part of the reason is the impact of peers on the adolescent brain's sensitivity to rewards. A sociologist might also conclude that this is a case of... - transformational leadership. - primary groups and a sense of unity. - backseat drivers giving orders. - groupthink.
groupthink
According to Weber, a bureaucracy is a(n) __________ structure governed by __________ rules. - governmental; tyrannical - ideal type; arbitrary - horizontal; ideal type - hierarchical; written
hierarchical; written
Sociology challenges us to question the things we often feel are given, inevitable, or natural, and to consider that these things are subject to... - genetic and biological forces. - evolutionary forces. - industrial and mechanical forces. - historical and social forces.
historical and social forces.
According to George Herbert Mead, children develop a sense of self by... - imitating the actions of other people. - going through the concrete operational stage. - obeying their parents and other authority figures. - learning how to read and write.
imitating the actions of other people.
After school, Sandra often has to go help her grandparents with chores and grocery shopping. On these days, Sandra always brings a change of clothes to avoid appearing at her grandparents' house in the punk-rock outfits she likes to wear to school. This is an example of... - social posturing. - impression management. - civil inattention. - audience segregation.
impression management.
Through the research developed with the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), Paul Ekman and his colleagues found that, as opposed to bodily postures and gestures, facial expression of emotion and how others interpret it is __________ in human beings. - exclusive - conditioned - variable - innate
innate
Fixed patterns of behavior that have genetic origins and appear in all normal animals in a given species are... - norms. - instincts. - indoctrinated. - sociobiological.
instincts.
What term was coined by Weber's student Robert Michels to describe the tendency in organizations toward the centralization of power, which can be detrimental to democratic processes? - McDonaldization - vertical command structure - iron law of oligarchy - formal organization
iron law of oligarchy
Reports and accounts of what are termed "feral children" have existed for hundreds of years. A child is discovered living with animals, in the wild or, in some cases, deliberately hidden away, isolated from all contact with other human beings. These children, when reintegrated with the larger society, experience difficulty. What is missing from their experience that is an essential contributor to their socialization? - the ability to walk upright (bipedalism) - language - adequate nutrition - motor sensory development
language
A study of university admissions that compares the impact of gender and social class on probability of admission before and after World War II is an example of... - macrosociology. - functionalism. - microsociology. - Marxism.
macrosociology
Suppose you recently attended a dinner party. The invitation was extended to you by a close friend who had also been invited and who was trying to help you land a job in your chosen field of criminal justice. As it turned out, your friend was unable to attend and you knew nobody there, even though the guests were all employed in police departments in the area and therefore would might have aided your job search. During the dinner, you had no meaningful conversations with anyone, so you conclude that your social capital has... - not changed at all. - decreased a lot. - decreased, but not by much. - increased, but not by much.
not changed at all.
The Tea Party, a recent political movement that has drawn a lot of attention due to the sometimes strong antigovernment sentiments it holds, is a good example of a __________ subculture. - deviant - political - criminal - legal
political
In the conflict approach to sociology, Marxist sociologists place more emphasis on __________ than many non-Marxist sociologists. - power - consensus - order - biology
power
Cultural relativism is the... - relationship between the ideas and practices of two similar societies. - idea that one's own culture is superior to all others. - adoption of aspects of one society's culture by another society. - practice of judging a society by its own standards.
practice of judging a society by its own standards.
Alicia went on a weekend retreat with her coworkers where they played games, did trust exercises, and spent time sharing personal stories about themselves with the others. After the retreat, Alicia started spending a lot more time outside of work with these coworkers, effectively transforming her work group into a... - secondary group. - primary group. - family. - social aggregate.
primary group.
According to labeling theory, an individual who accepts the label of deviant and acts accordingly is performing... - criminal mentality. - impression management. - primary deviation. - secondary deviation.
secondary deviation.
The problems of online communication are sometimes illustrated with examples of "autocorrect," a feature built into many smartphones and other devices that attempts to parse misspellings and replace them with the correct words. Other types of online communication problems exist as well. Consider this example text message exchange between a father and his daughter. Daughter: "I got an A on the chem exam!" Father: "WTF, well done." Daughter: "Dad, what do you think WTF means?" Father: "Well, that's fantastic." This exchange demonstrates the importance of... - saving face. - shared understanding. - public embarrassment. - impression management.
shared understanding
Labeling theory asserts that deviance is a matter of... - social context. - inequality. - unequal power. - learned behavior.
social context
In Japan, teen suicide rates spike each year on September 1, the nation's first day of school. Some sociologists have argued that the combination of peer pressure (bullying) and the intense academic pressure of going back to school contribute to the increased suicide rates among depressed teens in that country. These findings would suggest that... - bullying is a phenomenon that occurs primarily in the United States; it does not affect teens in other countries. - sociological analysis is an inadequate tool for helping us describe "personal" troubles. - Japanese teenagers are more emotional and inner-focused than their American counterparts and therefore more subject to suicide. - sociology can help us understand how the patterns of large numbers of individuals reflect "public issues."
sociology can help us understand how the patterns of large numbers of individuals reflect "public issues."
The country with the highest rate of incarceration around the world is... - the United States. - China. - Russia. - Mexico.
the United States
Culture can be defined as... - scientific understandings and the technological advancements that come from them, by which society is built. - artistic forms of expression that help cultivate the intellect of members of a society. - values, norms, and material objects characteristic of a particular group. - expectations about modes of behavior appropriate to participating in a particular community or society.
values, norms, and material objects characteristic of a particular group.
According to researchers Tony Brown and Chase Lesane-Brown, race socialization... - contributes to growing hostility between races in our society. - will become increasingly important for future cohorts of young people. - only applies to ethnic minority parents and their children. - is no longer an important part of the socialization process in our society.
will become increasingly important for future cohorts of young people.
