Question 1

What modern American ceremony would come closest in intent to a Native American potlatch?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What modern American ceremony would come closest...

Question 2

Social capital refers to an individual's knowledge of the "right" behavior used in the realm of the upper class.

Accepted Answer

Social capital refers to the networks, relationships, and norms that facilitate collective action and cooperation within a society, not just knowledge of upper-class behavior.

Question 3

When a Rolls-Royce, a Cartier diamond, and an Andy Warhol painting are bought and displayed as markers of social class, they are ________.

Accepted Answer

These items are considered status symbols because they are used to signify the wealth, prestige, or high social status of the owner.

Question 4

Harry was the lead singer in a band that hit it big. For his birthday, Harry had two hundred friends flown by chartered jets to a private island in the South Pacific. They ate the most expensive food, and every morning the bungalows were burned to the ground and rebuilt for the next night. Harry's party is a good example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Harry's extravagant party, characterized by hiring chartered jets, eating expensive food, and the daily rebuilding of bungalows, exemplifies conspicuous consumption, which refers to spending on goods and services mainly to display wealth and social status rather than for practical reasons.

Question 5

Lower-class men are more likely than middle-class men to have a general sense of empowerment.

Accepted Answer

Middle-class men are generally more likely to have a general sense of empowerment due to greater access to resources, education, and opportunities compared to lower-class men.

Question 6

List the six social classes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List the six social classes....

Question 7

Of the three groups of attitudes toward luxury, the largest group is "luxury is indulgence"; this view is held by those who demonstrate a family history of public service and philanthropy, and tangible markers of these contributions often enable donors to achieve a kind of immortality.

Accepted Answer

The first line of the given text states that "the largest group is 'luxury is indulgence'".

Question 8

According to Pierre Bourdieu, people's taste regarding entertainment and the arts serves as a status-making force or ________ that causes consumption preferences to cluster together.

Accepted Answer

Habitus is a concept introduced by Pierre Bourdieu that refers to the deeply ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions that we possess due to our life experiences. Bourdieu argued that our tastes in entertainment and the arts are part of our habitus, serving as a mechanism that differentiates social groups and serves as a marker of social status.

Question 9

Vance comes from the lower-upper class as does Jeff. They are both madly in love with Julia, who is beautiful enough to do part-time modeling. According to the principle of ________, Julia could be attracted to both men.

Accepted Answer

The principle of homogamy suggests that people are attracted to others who are similar to them in terms of social background, interests, values, and socioeconomic status. Since Vance and Jeff both come from the lower-upper class, Julia could be attracted to both if she shares a similar social background or values.

Question 10

The American rich often indulge in luxury goods while pinching pennies on everyday items.

Accepted Answer

Many wealthy Americans practice what is known as "value spending," where they are willing to spend on high-quality or luxury items that represent a good value or investment but are also known to be frugal with everyday purchases, seeking discounts and deals. This behavior reflects a complex understanding of money management that emphasizes spending on what is valued while saving on less important items.

Question 11

The lower classes use more restrictive codes than do the upper classes. How does this knowledge change the way insurance might be sold to a working-class man compared to an upper-class man?

Accepted Answer

The use of more restrictive codes by lower classes suggests they may respond better to messages that emphasize immediate, tangible benefits (like immediate satisfaction for their family's care), whereas upper classes, who may use less restrictive codes, might be more receptive to messages about long-term consequences and benefits.

Question 12

John Jones purchases products to show visible evidence of his ability to afford luxury goods, John is practicing ________.

Accepted Answer

Conspicuous consumption refers to the act of buying and using products to publicly display wealth and status.

Question 13

Evan was an aggressive, rich, and determined businessman originally from a working class family. He had become wealthier than he had ever imagined by buying and selling other businesses. Evan seemingly could do anything until he tried a hostile takeover of an established bank owned by several prestigious families. When his bid failed, Evan said "I always knew there was an elite, but up to now I thought I was part of it." What type of capital was Evan lacking?

Accepted Answer

Evan lacked cultural capital, which refers to the non-financial social assets that promote social mobility beyond economic means. Examples include education, intellect, style of speech, dress, or physical appearance. Despite his economic success, Evan's inability to successfully integrate or be accepted into the established elite circles, often defined by such cultural markers, indicates a lack of cultural capital.

Question 14

The prestige of occupations varies dramatically from one culture to the next.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The prestige of occupations varies dramatically from...

Question 15

Trisha grew up in a drug-ridden inner city neighborhood. Through sheer determination and intelligence, Trisha is now a medical doctor teaching on the staff of a large university hospital. Trisha is proud of what she has accomplished, but sometimes she feels stressed and uncertain of who she really is. The concept of ________ assesses the impact of such inconsistencies.

Accepted Answer

Status crystallization refers to the clarity and consistency of an individual's status across different dimensions of their life, such as their career, social background, and current social status. Trisha's feelings of stress and uncertainty about her identity due to the inconsistencies between her past environment and her current status as a medical doctor teaching at a university hospital are related to the concept of status crystallization.

Question 16

Of the countries listed below, which is thought to be a highly brand-conscious society?

Accepted Answer

Japan is known for its high level of brand consciousness among consumers, who often place a great emphasis on the quality, prestige, and status associated with various brands.

Question 17

Jason is a marketing researcher working for a client who believes that social class will be an important segmenting device. Jason decides to find social class categories by simply asking respondents to pick their own category. Which of the following best supports Jason's approach?

Accepted Answer

B is correct because it suggests that American consumers can accurately self-identify their social class, particularly if they belong to the lower-middle or middle class, which supports Jason's approach of asking respondents to pick their own category.

Question 18

A member of ________ has recently gained personal wealth and may experience status anxiety. Such individuals may try to display symbols of their success to make up for an internal lack of assurance about the "correct" way to behave.

Accepted Answer

The term "nouveau riche" refers to individuals who have recently acquired wealth and are not part of established wealth circles. These individuals may experience status anxiety as they navigate their new social standing, often trying to display symbols of success to compensate for uncertainties about social norms and behaviors associated with their new status.

Question 19

When people are differentiated in terms of their aesthetic and intellectual preferences, a ________ is being applied.

Accepted Answer

Taste culture refers to the differentiation of people based on their aesthetic and intellectual preferences. It encompasses the styles, activities, and interests that individuals or groups find appealing or tasteful.

Question 20

If a member of the upper class wore shredded Levi's jeans to a formal party, the person would be exhibiting a sophisticated form of conspicuous consumption known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Parody display refers to a form of conspicuous consumption where individuals deliberately choose items that are not typical for their social or economic status, often to make a statement or to differentiate themselves from the traditional norms of their group. In this case, wearing shredded Levi's jeans to a formal party by an upper-class member is an example of parody display, as it goes against the expected formal attire, showcasing a sophisticated form of self-expression and social commentary.

Quiz 12: Income and Social Class