Deck 1: Taking a New Look at a Familiar World

Question 1

Because we tend to attribute people's achievements and failures to individualistic explanations,we often overlook which of the following?

A)broader social trends
B)psychological characteristics
C)innate strength factors
D)physical disorders

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Émile Durkheim suggested that some religious traditions are more likely than others to decrease the likelihood of suicide among followers.These religions include those that emphasize

A)atonement through animal sacrifice.
B)individual responsibility.
C)salvation through community.
D)individual salvation.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Altruistic suicides occur when ties to one's community are

A)too strong.
B)nonexistent.
C)haphazard.
D)not codified.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following statements about suicide rates for young African American men (ages 15-24)is true?

A)They decreased between 1960 and 1990.
B)They remained unchanged between 1960 and 1990.
C)They increased between 1960 and 1990.
D)None of the above

Question 5

The research technique that uses historical documents and existing statistics over time,or across societies,is referred to as the ____________ method.

A)regressive
B)statistical
C)comparative
D)analytical

Question 6

Which U.S.state listed below has the lowest suicide rate?

A)Alaska
B)Montana
C)New York
D)Nevada

Question 7

Émile Durkheim proposed that _____ can be a protective factor,and therefore,immunize one to suicide.

A)poverty
B)health
C)religiosity
D)wealth

Question 8

Which famous sociologist coined the term "sociological imagination"?

A)C.Wright Mills
B)Émile Durkheim
C)B.F.Skinner
D)Jane Goodall

Question 9

Suicides that occur because there is a lack of close connection between individuals and their community,families,or groups are called _____ suicides.

A)altruistic
B)anomic
C)egoistic
D)individualistic

Question 10

The European problem "suicide by economic crisis" is an example of Durkheim's_____ suicide type.

A)egoistic
B)fatalistic
C)anomic
D)altruistic

Question 11

According to research described in the text,what is the most important factor in determining whether and when a romantic relationship will end?

A)Availability of favorable alternatives
B)Satisfaction with the relationship
C)Length of time in the relationship
D)Compatibility between the partners

Question 12

Attempts to explain human behavior by focusing exclusively on an individual's personality,psychology,or physical characteristics are called _____explanations.

A)individualistic
B)physical
C)sociological
D)genetic

Question 13

Durkheim found that suicide rates tended to be higher among which group?

A)people without children
B)married people with children
C)gay and lesbian Catholics with children
D)married people

Question 14

Today,the highest suicide rates in the United States are found in ______ states.

A)politically ambiguous
B)ethnically diverse
C)sparsely populated
D)highly religious

Question 15

Which of the following statements would be an individualistic explanation for the high unemployment rates of recent college graduates?

A)The majority of today's college graduates don't put the necessary time and effort into finding full-time jobs.
B)The economic recession made it more difficult for today's college graduates to secure full-time jobs.
C)The decline in agricultural production has resulted in a high unemployment rate for recent college graduates.
D)The high unemployment rate is inaccurate because it doesn't account for marginally attached unemployed graduates.

Question 16

In American society,the high value placed on _________ makes it difficult for us to see social influences on our behavior.

A)pragmatism
B)religion
C)individualism
D)community

Question 17

Young people in the United States define their identities primarily through

A)cultural taboos
B)individual achievement
C)family relationships
D)physical health

Question 18

According to the "sociological imagination," social problems can best be solved by
A)changing the characteristics of individuals.

A)providing treatment to people with problems.
C)changing social institutions and roles.
D)using our imaginations to think outside the box.

Question 19

Which statement best illustrates the fundamental theme of sociology?

A)Social institutions,not individuals,are solely responsible for deviant behavior.
B)Individual behavior is motivated by subconscious thoughts.
C)In order to understand our experiences,we must focus on personal traits.
D)Everyday social life is the product of a complex interplay between social forces and personal characteristics.

Question 20

According to Émile Durkheim,this type of suicide occurs when lives are suddenly disrupted by major social events or changes,such as widespread economic crises,wars,and famine.

A)egoistic suicide
B)anomic suicide
C)fatalistic suicide
D)altruistic suicide

Question 21

Sociologists use the term _____ to refer to human interactions that take place at the individual-to-individual level.

A)mesolevel
B)microlevel
C)macrolevel
D)metalevel

Question 22

A young woman who believes she is overweight begins to starve herself with the hope of becoming more attractive.A sociologist would explain the woman's behavior in terms of

A)a personality defect or mental problem
B)her lack of will power or self-esteem
C)society's valuation of thinness in women
D)society's valuation of abnormal behavior

Question 23

Which of the following statements about sleep schedules is true?

A)They are historically and socially variable.
B)They are biologically preordained.
C)They are determined by infradian rhythms.
D)They are unaffected by technology.

Question 24

Which of the following would be a sociological explanation for why Americans may not be getting enough sleep and are often tired?

A)consumption of genetically modified food products
B)depression
C)changes in work schedules
D)obesity

Question 25

In Japan,the leading cause of death among young people is

A)suicide.
B)accidental drowning.
C)polio.
D)environmental toxins.

Question 26

In 1989,four young Korean sisters attempted to kill themselves by ingesting rat poison.The three surviving sisters told authorities they attempted to take their own lives because they

A)were depressed about the lack of opportunity for girls in Korean society.
B)had suffered physical abuse at the hands of their father.
C)felt alienated from their church congregation.
D)wanted to ensure the success of their brother.

Question 27

Sociologists focus exclusively on structures and processes that reside within the individual.

Question 28

Research shows that black teenagers who commit suicide are more likely to come from _____________ socioeconomic backgrounds.

A)diverse
B)intolerant
C)lower
D)higher

Question 29

Which of the following is an example of how individual actions are constrained by external circumstances?

A)Marco's inability to get a date because of his shyness
B)Freda's success at school because of her intelligence
C)David's decision to abstain from eating pork for religious reasons
D)Elaine's inability to find a job because of her lack of motivation

Question 30

The installation of blue lights above train platforms indicates a suicide subculture among youth in which country?

A)Japan
B)Ireland
C)Canada
D)Greece

Question 31

Jason was a black high school student from a middle-class family.He was class president,played competitive chess,and had hoped to earn a merit scholarship to one of the nation's top universities.During his senior year,he committed suicide.The sociological imagination helps us understand that Jason may not have committed suicide if he

A)had stayed away from gangs.
B)did not have so many emotional problems.
C)had felt less social pressure to achieve success.
D)had felt less social pressure to respect and obey authority.

Question 32

Sociologists use the term _____ to refer to the social forces and social structures that are above the level of individuals.

A)mesolevel
B)microlevel
C)macrolevel
D)metalevel

Question 33

The author uses the metaphor of architecture to describe the nature of society.

Question 34

When soldiers return from combat service,they often find it difficult to readjust to life in civilian society.They have had experiences that are difficult to explain to others,and they have lost the structure of military life.They are at increased risk of ________ suicide.

A)anomic
B)egoistic
C)altruistic
D)depressive

Question 35

According to some social thinkers,which of the following has contributed to the disappearance of the border between "home" and "work"?

A)women's participation in the paid-labor market
B)men taking unpaid leave from the workplace in order to care for young children
C)telecommuting
D)changes in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' occupational categories

Question 36

Firearms account for _____________of suicides in rural U.S.counties.

A)under 20%
B)about 35%
C)exactly 55%
D)roughly 70%

Question 37

Durkheim concluded that different suicide rates are related to variations in social

A)class.
B)status.
C)ties.
D)skills.

Question 38

Traffic accidents have increased in a metropolitan area.Which of the following could be a sociological explanation for the increase?

A)Changes in work schedules have disrupted sleep schedules,leading to an increase in the number of people driving while they're drowsy.
B)People are busy daydreaming and so not paying attention to the road.
C)The safety features on automobiles often malfunction.
D)Technology does not play a role in our everyday lives.

Question 39

What would be a sociological explanation for differences in standardized test scores among schools?

A)differences in students' IQ
B)varying rates of mental disorders among students
C)lack of effort among some students
D)disparities in school resources

Question 40

The ability to see the impact of societal forces on our private lives is referred to as the sociological imagination.

Question 41

Of U.S.states and territories,Alaska,New Mexico,Montana,Idaho,and Wyoming have the lowest suicide rates.

Question 42

On average,individuals who have a college degree earn more than those without a degree.

Question 43

Sociology emphasizes that individual lives are shaped by social processes.Discuss how individual actions can be constrained by external circumstances,supporting your answer with information about gender,race,religion,and economic and political trends.

Question 44

The term macrolevel refers to social forces and social structures that are above the level of individuals.

Question 45

Discuss how political events in distant countries can affect people's everyday lives.Cite three examples.

Question 46

Prior to 1950,African American men had the highest suicide rate of all ethnoracial groups.

Question 47

C.Wright Mills argued that no matter how personal we think our experiences are,many are products of society-wide forces.

Question 48

When pressure to succeed begins earlier and earlier,the costs of not succeeding rise.

Question 49

The sociological imagination allows us to see the intersection between personal experiences and historical events.

Question 50

Japan has one of the lowest suicide rates in the world.

Question 51

The majority of suicides in rural U.S.counties are committed with firearms.

Question 52

Compare and contrast how biologists,psychologists,and sociologists study people.Identify the unique characteristics of sociology as a discipline.

Question 53

People often view divorce as an individual problem.Using your sociological imagination,describe several social factors that would influence an individual's likelihood of getting divorced.

Question 54

In the United States,the structure of modern communities decreases the likelihood of suicide.

Question 55

The further away another country is,the less likely it will affect our individual lives.

Question 56

The term microlevel refers to social forces and social structures that are above the level of individuals.

Question 57

According to one report,roughly one-fourth (25%)of all suicides in Japan are attributable to financial difficulties.

Question 58

One result of advances in communications technologies is that people now have clearer understandings of the difference between "home life" and "work life."

Question 59

High population density may reduce suicide rates.

Question 60

Durkheim found that Catholics had a higher suicide rate than Protestants.

Question 61

Provide a critique of the sociological perspective on human behavior.Do you think that social processes and social forces should be central aspects of an explanation of human behavior? Why or why not?

Question 62

Describe three common individual explanations for suicide and three sociological explanations.

Question 63

Discuss the social forces that played a role in your decision to attend college.Did social forces also play a part in your choice of schools? If so,discuss these as well.Remember to consider these from a sociological,rather than an individualistic perspective.

Question 64

Drawing on information in the textbook,identify three factors that could contribute to an increase or decrease in a society or community's suicide rate.

Question 65

Describe one technological change that has occurred within your lifetime and how it has affected your life.

Question 66

What effect does the American belief in individualism have on the way Americans typically explain social problems? What solutions to problems are suggested by individualism? How does this compare to with the solutions suggested by the sociological imagination?

Question 67

Why is Durkheim's explanation of suicide significant to sociology? Describe his major findings and important conclusions.

Question 68

Explain how online activity (e.g. ,participation in social networking sites)may change the relationship between poverty and suicide.What are the reasons for this change?