Deck 4: Culture and Social Structure

Question 1

A norm is defined as

A) An intention behind an action
B) A cultural phenomenon.
C) A social expectation in society or a group.
D) A frequent event.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Shared expectations about social behavior in society or in groups are called:

A) Coercion
B) Cohesion
C) Social norms
D) Social statuses

Answer 2

C

Question 3

One's ethnicity is an example of:

A) A complete status
B) An achieved status
C) An ascribed status
D) A status of opportunity

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A master status is a status that:

A) people are born into
B) reflects one's ethnic heritage
C) has the most influence over someone's life
D) determines one's gender

Question 5

Ethnocentrism occurs when

A) An individual believes that everyone should be treated equally based on laws or norms.
B) An individual recognizes that cultures are different but does not view this as a deficiency.
C) An individual attempts to understand a culture according to what the behavior means to that culture being observed.
D) An individual consciously or unconsciously views their own culture as normal, natural, or superior to others.

Question 6

An economic structure relates to what element(s) in society?

A) Production
B) Wealth
C) Income
D) All of the above.

Question 7

False consciousness describes an arrangement whereby

A) religious beliefs lead people to accept non-normative events and social arrangements.
B) A subordinate group in society accepts a belief or value that works against that group's interests.
C) People consciously or unconsciously view their own culture as normal and natural, judging others in comparison to their own.
D) Issues that ordinarily divide people along similar lines change when those lines become blurred.

Question 8

Issues that divide people along similar lines are referred to as

A) Fractional issues
B) Overlapping cleavages
C) Social channeling
D) None of the above.

Question 9

A status is a

A) Social position
B) A role that an individual plays
C) A ranking in terms of social importance
D) All of the above.

Question 10

Each person in society occupies a number of roles and statuses.

Question 11

A linguistic-relativity theorist would argue that language forces people to create different categories in their own thinking.

Question 12

Each person in society occupies only one social status.

Question 13

In modern society very little economic inequality is inherited via ascribed status.

Question 14

The stratification system reflects a structured system of social inequality.

Question 15

Social structure is made up of a division of labor and systems of stratification and can vary from one society to another.

Question 16

A counterculture arises when a subculture adopts values and beliefs that are predominantly in opposition to those of larger society.

Question 17

People in society occupy statuses and play roles.

Question 18

An example of achieved status would be an incarcerated individual.

Question 19

An example of ascribed status would be a college graduate.

Question 20

Most groups want to assimilate and benefit from assimilation in American society.

Question 21

A social status is a set of expectations for behavior.

Question 22

Society is made up of various statuses. What is the difference between ascribed status, achieved status, and master status? Provide examples of each.

Question 23

What is a counterculture and how do they emerge? What are some examples of countercultures?

Question 24

What are the functions of subcultures and how do they differ from larger society? How do subcultures effect social change?

Question 25

What is an agent of socialization? How do they impact our actions and understandings? What are some examples of agents of socialization in the community?

Question 26

Explain the significance of symbols in society, and how symbols are linked to language, culture, and actions.

Question 27

What is a division of labor? How might a division of labor change based on the type of society (e.g. more developed or less developed) it is located within?

Question 28

What is the self-fulfillment norm and how do those who subscribe to it view work?

Question 29

If culture and social structure exist because they are basically functional as functionalist theorists would argue, then why is there variation in the social structure and culture among different societies?

Question 30

What is a social institution, what roles do they play, and why are they important in society? Give examples of at least three institutions in society and describe why each one is important.

Question 31

What are some major gender stereotypes that are present in American culture? Are gender stereotypes an inherent part of culture, or can they be changed? If so, how?

Question 32

How do sociologists define multiculturalism? Of what benefit is
a) diversity in society and
b) diversity programs in society according to the authors?

Question 33

What is a total institution? Discuss how total institutions use the process of socialization to ensure conformity.

Question 34

What is an agent of socialization? How do they impact our actions and understandings? Other than your parents, provide an example of an agent of socialization in your life and how they have shaped your understandings.

Question 35

What are social norms? Identify three types of social norms as noted in your textbook, defining and contrasting each one. Provide at least two examples of social norms in modern society.

Question 36

Identify at least three key tasks that every society must accomplish, meaning that every culture must carry knowledge about them and provide a means for accomplishing these tasks.

Question 37

Why according to conflict theorists do media focus heavily on entertainment rather than information, giving people what they want but also providing very little real information? Explain this from the perspective of a conflict theorist.

Question 38

What is false consciousness and how is it promoted in society? Provide the definition and at least one example of false consciousness in American society.

Question 39

According to conflict theorists, what is the most important contributions to society by subcultures? Begin your response by defining subculture.

Question 40

What is a cultural lag and how do we address them in society? Provide two examples of cultural lags in society.

Question 41

What is cultural diffusion? In addition to defining the term, name an example of a positive and a negative effect from cultural diffusion.