Deck 6: Social Role Theory

Question 1

Which term refers to a set of behaviors that has a socially agreed upon function and an accepted code of norms?

A) agency
B) family system
C) role
D) culture

Answer 1

C

Question 2

George Herbert Mead saw role taking as an essential aspect of the ___________ through which the self-concept is formulated as the person identifies with and internalizes the goals and values of societ?

A) collective unconscious
B) reinforcement schedule
C) socialization process
D) adaptive self-organization

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The ideas of age norms and age constraints suggest that society has _______________?

A) age-graded expectations for the timing of entry into or exit from key roles
B) rules about licenses for specific professional roles
C) alternative pathways through the educational process depending on one's family background
D) social and economic pressures that prevent certain groups from attaining high positions

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following ideas is a key feature of social role theory?

A) social roles highlight the link between individual identity and the society
B) as people enter new roles, they modify their behavior to meet the expectations of these roles
C) social roles exist independently of the person, but are enacted in ways that reflect a person's investment and commitment to them
D) all of the above

Question 5

According to social role theory, ___________ is defined as a sense of difficulty meeting perceived role expectations or balancing role demand?

A) role enactment
B) role strain
C) reciprocal roles
D) role convergence

Question 6

Cognitive complexity, social perspective taking, and interpersonal problem-solving ability can be expected to increase with the number and _________ of social role?

A) similarity
B) diversity
C) age constraints
D) confusion

Question 7

What is a likely consequence of involvement in a highly intense and time-demanding role?

A) anxiety about failing to meet role expectations
B) fewer socialization pressures
C) lack of desire to live in Indiana
D) a willingness to negotiate role demands

Question 8

When a role is not highly structured, satisfaction in the role depends largely on agreement about role expectations among those in ____________ role?

A) reciprocal
B) age consecutive
C) parental
D) sibling

Question 9

Which term refers to the shared beliefs and expectations that members of a community have about role-related behaviors?

A) a sense of purpose
B) agency
C) norms
D) spillover

Question 10

Winston is a full time college student who also has a 30-hour-a-week job and has volunteered to help tutor students at a nearby middle school. As the semester is coming to a close and exams are approaching, Winston is finding it difficult to meet his various obligations in a timely way. He is experiencing __________?

A) role overload
B) role confusion
C) role enactment
D) role norms

Question 11

Which term refers to what the culture considers typical and admirable for girls and boys, men and women?

A) gender contentedness
B) gender role standards
C) gender convergence
D) gender alliance

Question 12

Children who perceive high degrees of gender typicality are also likely to experience which of the following?

A) gender bias
B) social isolation
C) high self-esteem
D) role conflict

Question 13

Which of the following best describes how gender role standards have changed in the U.S. over the past 40 years?

A) gender roles have become more rigid
B) there is increasing preference for the male over the female gender role
C) gender role standards have changed little over the past 40 years
D) gender role standards have become more flexible and less differentiated

Question 14

How does gender role socialization influence career choice?

A) it influences a person's values and goals, which in turn shape and influence a person's perceptions of his or her ability
B) it influences career preferences
C) it influences a person's right to work
D) both A and B

Question 15

In an international study of IBM workers in 48 countries, which characteristics of a job influenced work?family conflict?

A) job responsibility
B) job workload
C) job travel
D) all of the above

Question 16

In the study of Bosnian refugees, which concept from social role theory accounted for parental distress?

A) inability to enact their traditional norms for the parental role in the new culture
B) lack of employment opportunities for adolescent children
C) language barriers
D) food shortages

Question 17

Which of the following is considered a strength of social role theory?

A) it explains the mechanisms through which individuals internalize the norms for role enactment
B) it helps explain how identity becomes focused in adulthood through role gain, role loss, and the integration of multiple roles
C) it explains the historical factors that account for changes in role norms
D) it incorporates the biological factors that contribute to optimal role-fit

Question 18

Discuss the influence of multiple roles on development. Explain how development is fostered through the acquisition and management of multiple roles, including the balancing of role demands and the resolution of role conflicts.

Question 19

Explain the idea of gender schemes and how these gender schemes influence a person's worldview, including values, life goals, and sense of self. In your answer, consider the idea of gender typicality. How is it formed? What is the relationship of gender typicality to life satisfaction?

Question 20

Balancing work and family roles is a major theme in modern life. How does social role theory help to understand this issue? How might research on this topic contribute to shaping organizational policies or employment practices?

Question 21

What do you consider to be two major strengths and two major weaknesses of social role theory? Defend your answer.