Deck 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Question 1

Ascribed status is involuntary and achieved status is voluntary.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Although social structure acts as a major control mechanism to preserve order, it has little to do with what we actually do, feel, or think.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The broadest framework that determines what kind of people we will become is social status.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Mechanical solidarity and Gemeinschaft both describe the most intimate societies that are personal and have close kinship connections.

Question 5

In studied nonobservance, the individual in a compromised position is able to successfully rationalize the reason for his or her awkward behavior.

Question 6

As our military faces the threat of attacks from unidentifiable individuals in civilian areas throughout the world, understanding body language can be utilized as a tool to help them detect threats.

Question 7

Because of their close-knit structure and separation from modernization, the Old Order Amish have been able to resist all change that has challenged the core values of their community.

Question 8

Conflict theorists and functionalists would most likely focus on such things as social class and group relationships and would use the macrosociological approach.

Question 9

All master statuses are achieved statuses.

Question 10

Status inconsistency is always detrimental to society and creates interpersonal conflicts that must be resolved.

Question 11

Some people have a contradiction or a mismatch between their statuses.

Question 12

The difference between role and status is that we occupy a status and play a role.

Question 13

To belong to a group is to yield to others the right to make certain decisions about our behavior.

Question 14

Of all the social institutions, the mass media is one of the oldest.

Question 15

When Professor Jones is before his class lecturing, he has assumed the front stage, based on the terminology used in dramaturgy.

Question 16

Roles are like fences - they allow a certain amount of freedom but that freedom does not go very far.

Question 17

Stereotypes deeply influence how we react to one another.

Question 18

The more industrialized a society becomes, the less formal its social institutions tend to be.

Question 19

The amount of personal space people require is a cultural universal that is consistent from one culture to the next.

Question 20

The sociological significance of social structure is that it guides our behavior.

Question 21

Which of the following represents an achieved status?

A)being a high school drop-out
B)acting like your mother when she was your age
C)having a prescribed sex (male or female)
D)knowing your particular ethnic descent

Question 22

Jane is a 49-year-old woman of Irish-German descent. What do these characteristics have in common?

A)These are examples of her ascribed statuses.
B)These are examples of her achieved statuses.
C)These, particularly her Irish-German descent, are part of her master status.
D)These characteristics are examples of status inconsistency.

Question 23

Which of the following perspectives is most appropriate for a research sociologist to use?

A)microsociology
B)macrosociology
C)neither macro nor microsociology
D)both macro and microsociology, depending upon the situation

Question 24

The definition of the situation is based on an objective interpretation of things as they exist in any social interaction.

Question 25

Which statement regarding status is most accurate?

A)All master statuses are achieved.
B)Ascribed statuses are voluntary and achieved statuses are involuntary.
C)Status provides the guidelines for how we are to act and feel.
D)Status symbols are always positive, serving as positive reinforcements for following norms.

Question 26

In Amsterdam, a 21-year-old prostitute is scantily clothed, exhibiting her attributes in a storefront, smiling at potential patrons as they walk by. Based on this mental image, which statement best describes what is in progress?

A)This is an example of social interaction.
B)A misdemeanor is being committed.
C)The prostitute is guilty of indecent exposure.
D)This a classic example of macrosociology.

Question 27

A position in society that cuts across other statuses a person holds, such as being a high-ranking Army officer, a college president, or a handicapped Olympian, would be considered that person's ________.

A)ascribed status
B)social status
C)master status
D)status set

Question 28

Signs that identify a position in society that someone occupies are referred to as ________.

A)achieved master status
B)ascribed master status
C)inherited status
D)status symbols

Question 29

John and Doug are both full professors in a state university, holding doctorate degrees from Ivy League schools. Both make about the same salary and enjoy a similar sense of prestige in the community and on campus. Based only on this information, what do John and Doug have in common?

A)They share the same social location in all respects.
B)They have identical social roles.
C)They are members of the same social class.
D)They share a great deal of social solidarity.

Question 30

Which of the following topics would most likely be approached based on a macrosociological analysis?

A)a study of the social norms used by street corner men
B)a study of the face-to-face interaction of members of a research group
C)a study of the impact of terrorism on the travel plans of business people
D)a study of the ways in which children in a play group develop language skills

Question 31

Dr. Zalewski expects her students to be on time for class, holds them for the entire class period, and has firm deadlines set for reports and other assignments. Sociologically, which statement best describes Dr. Zalewski's approach to teaching?

A)Dr. Zalewski is engaged in the macrosociological approach.
B)Dr. Zalewski is advocating social inequality by maintaining different standards than other faculty.
C)Dr. Zalewski has set up a system of academic social stratification.
D)Dr. Zalewski has created a strong sense of social structure in her classroom.

Question 32

A focus on the broad features of society to analyze such things as social class and how groups relate to one another is called ________.

A)macrosociology
B)microsociology
C)meta analysis
D)qualitative analysis

Question 33

Andrea is an aspiring associate editor for a major publisher. She is single but feels married to her work. Last year she received a $20,000 bonus for the excellent work she did in promoting new textbooks published by her employer. Based on this information, Andrea's ascribed status is ________ and her achieved status is ________.

A)female; married
B)bonus recipient; associate editor
C)married; bonus recipient
D)female; associate editor

Question 34

What two sociological perspectives are most linked to macrosociology?

A)symbolic interactionism and functionalism
B)functionalism and the conflict perspective
C)the conflict perspective and symbolic interactionism
D)symbolic interactionism and feminism

Question 35

Which sociological perspective is most closely linked to microsociology?

A)the conflict perspective
B)structural functionalism
C)symbolic interactionism
D)the feminist perspective

Question 36

The typical patterns of a group, such as its usual relationships between men and women or students and teachers, are referred to as ________.

A)social solidarity
B)social imperative
C)social institutions
D)social structure

Question 37

The difference between status and role is that ________.

A)status identification is strictly enforced, but roles are not
B)we occupy a status that is a social position, but we play a role that is a social expectation
C)status is voluntary, but role is obligatory
D)status determines social position, while role is not significant

Question 38

What are the three primary variables in determining one's social class?

A)race, sex, residence
B)income, education, occupational prestige
C)race, sex, income
D)income, education, sex

Question 39

Which of the following is an example of social structure?

A)a student reading a sociology textbook
B)a social worker watching a panel discussion on television
C)a homeless man sleeping on a sidewalk heating grate
D)a driver signaling a right turn with his directional signals

Question 40

Bumper stickers such as "Proud Parent of an Honor Student" and "Warning: This Driver Convicted of DUI" are best described as being ________.

A)status symbols
B)master statuses
C)negative sanctions
D)positive sanctions

Question 41

The social institution that is most recognized for allocating power, determining authority, and preventing chaos is ________.

A)the military
B)politics
C)law
D)education

Question 42

Basic needs that a society must meet in order to survive, which include replacement of members, preserving order, and socializing new members, are referred to as ________.

A)functional requisites
B)cultural goals
C)societal mandates
D)symbolic needs

Question 43

Leo, Ryan, and Matthew regularly interact with one another and share similar values, norms, and expectations. In view of this, which concept most applies to their relationship?

A)They are an aggregate.
B)They are a category.
C)They are a group.
D)They are a social institution.

Question 44

In what three states do 75 percent of the Old Order Amish live?

A)Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
B)Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia
C)Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin
D)Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia

Question 45

Expectations that guide our behavior are called ________.

A)values
B)norms
C)statuses
D)roles

Question 46

According to Durkheim, when a society increases in size, its division of labor becomes more specialized. People begin to depend upon one another and become interdependent. This form of social cohesion was a concept that he termed ________.

A)Gemeinschaft
B)organic solidarity
C)mechanical solidarity
D)Gesellschaft

Question 47

What term does Durkheim use to describe the degree to which members of a society are united by shared values and other social bonds?

A)social stratification
B)social class
C)social imperative
D)social integration

Question 48

Believing that all football players are academically challenged, that all African Americans are great athletes, and that all women can cook well are examples of ________.

A)culture shock
B)the relativist fallacy
C)stereotyping
D)cultural relativism

Question 49

As societies grow larger, they divide work among members based on some standardized characteristic such as age or sex. This is referred to as ________.

A)social solidarity
B)social imperative
C)division of labor
D)class structure

Question 50

Which of the following statements best describes how stereotypes affect our interaction with others when we first meet?

A)Stereotypes are usually based on objective facts and hold true.
B)Stereotypes are rarely important in social interaction.
C)Stereotypes provide accurate information about what the person is like.
D)Stereotypes are the assumptions we make that can become self-fulfilling prophecies.

Question 51

Based on Durkheim's classification of society, the Old Order Amish would fall into which category?

A)mechanical solidarity
B)organic solidarity
C)Gemeinschaft
D)Gesellschaft

Question 52

The organized, usual, or standard ways by which society meets its basic needs are referred to as ________.

A)social institutions
B)social imperatives
C)social aggregates
D)social solidarity

Question 53

The notion that the mass media represents the varied interests of many groups would reflect a position consistent with ________ theory.

A)exchange
B)conflict
C)functionalist
D)symbolic interactionist

Question 54

Ferdinand Tönnies' term for the type of society he referred to as the "intimate community" was ________. The term he used to describe the type of society characterized by "impersonal association" was ________.

A)mechanical society; organic society
B)Gesellschaft; Gemeinschaft
C)organic society; mechanical society
D)Gemeinschaft; Gesellschaft

Question 55

Mechanical solidarity is to Gemeinschaft as ________ solidarity is to Gesellschaft.

A)organic
B)tribal
C)folk
D)natural

Question 56

Which of the following groups is LEAST qualified as a social institution?

A)a neighborhood street gang
B)a family
C)a religious group
D)a military unit

Question 57

The anthropologist recognized for his work on personal space was ________.

A)Talcott Parsons
B)Edward Hall
C)William I. Thomas
D)Robert K. Merton

Question 58

Hilda is studying at the library. She has placed her coat on the chair next to her and has spread books in front of the other chairs. Hilda is trying to extend her ________ so others do not invade it.

A)intimate space
B)personal space
C)social space
D)public space

Question 59

Expectations that define appropriate or inappropriate behavior for the occupant of a status are called ________.

A)folkways
B)roles
C)mores
D)simple norms

Question 60

Theorists who would argue that the mass media represents the interests of society's political and economic elites would be most aligned with the ________ perspective.

A)functionalist
B)symbolic interactionist
C)structuralist
D)conflict

Question 61

Jackie enjoys having her boyfriend Seth hold her close when they are watching television. She appreciates it when Professor Jones maintains a distance of at least two feet from her while he assists her with her tutoring. In view of this, which statement applies to the relationships that Jackie shares with Seth and with her professor?

A)Seth is enjoying intimate distance and the professor is at public distance.
B)Seth is enjoying social distance and the professor is at public distance.
C)Seth is enjoying intimate distance and the professor is at personal distance.
D)Seth is enjoying social distance and the professor is at personal distance.

Question 62

Why do we lose rights to make certain decisions about our own behavior when we join a group?

Question 63

In ethnomethodology, the ideas we take for granted that underlie our behavior and that we violate at our risk are called ________.

A)background assumptions
B)social facts
C)social traits
D)symbols

Question 64

How do social institutions affect the people of a society?

Question 65

Based on dramaturgy, what is the definition of social setting?

A)the sign-vehicle where action unfolds
B)the players involved in the production
C)the audience viewing what transpires
D)the scenery that is a part of the social environment

Question 66

When would a sociologist use the microsociological approach?

Question 67

Officer Friel has just pulled over a motorist exceeding the speed limit by 40 miles per hour. When he approached the vehicle, he recognizes the driver as his best friend's daughter. Officer Friel is aware that the young lady has had some money problems and the last thing she can afford is a $200 speeding ticket that will also raise her insurance rates. At this point, which of the following terms best describes the position facing Officer Friel?

A)Officer Friel is experiencing role strain.
B)Officer Friel is experiencing role conflict.
C)Officer Friel is now engaged in role reversal.
D)Officer Friel is faced with status inconsistency.

Question 68

An approach to social interaction in which social life is analyzed in terms of the stage is called ________.

A)ethnomethodology
B)functional analysis
C)dramaturgy
D)phenomenological analysis

Question 69

What are the elements that cluster together to determine social class?

Question 70

Anthony, a retired Army officer, is a professor of sociology at a small state university. During the Vietnam War, he was awarded the Medal of Honor and he usually wears a small ribbon on the lapel of his suit coat denoting this. He also wears his West Point ring from the class of 1965. Using the terminology of dramaturgy, the lapel pin and class ring would be classified as ________.

A)stages
B)background assumptions
C)role performances
D)props

Question 71

A face-saving technique in which all parties involved in an embarrassing situation ignore it and continue their conversation or interaction as though the embarrassing situation never happened is referred to as ________.

A)redefining the situation
B)teamwork
C)studied nonobservance
D)impression management

Question 72

What is the sociological significance of social structure?

Question 73

Facial expressions, posture, and gestures are all examples of ________.

A)body language
B)personal images
C)interpretations
D)role performance

Question 74

How are norms and status inconsistency related?

Question 75

If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences. This classic statement is known as the ________.

A)Peter principle
B)Thomas theorem
C)Ouchi principle
D)Garfinkel theorem

Question 76

What do status and role have in common? How are they different?

Question 77

What is the sociological significance of roles?

Question 78

The presentation of self in everyday life, also called dramaturgy, was developed by ________.

A)Talcott Parsons
B)Edwin Sutherland
C)Erving Goffman
D)Travis Hirschi

Question 79

To show ourselves as expert role players and to gain positive recognition from others, we often have additional people work with us to ensure that our role communicates to others the ideas that we want them to form about us. This is referred to as ________.

A)face-saving
B)teamwork
C)cooperation
D)social manipulation

Question 80

When we communicate information about ourselves, we use the social setting, our appearance, and our manners to make impressions on others. Erving Goffman referred to these methods as ________.

A)sign-vehicles
B)status symbols
C)sanctions
D)role cues