Question 1

A __________ is a set of organized beliefs and rules that establishes how a society will attempt to meet its basic social needs.

Accepted Answer

A social institution is a set of organized beliefs and rules that establish how a society will attempt to meet its basic social needs, such as education, health care, government, and religion. While a group or social organization may also have organized beliefs and rules, they may not necessarily be focused on meeting basic social needs in the same comprehensive manner. A working group typically refers to a group assigned to a specific task or project within an organization, rather than a broader social unit.

Question 2

Sociologists Emile Durkheim and Ferdinand Tonnies developed __________ to explain the processes of stability and change in the social structure of societies. These classification schemes contain two or more mutually exclusive categories that are used to compare different kinds of behavior or types of societies.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim and Tonnies developed typologies to categorize different types of behavior or societies based on mutually exclusive categories. The other answer choices do not accurately describe these classification schemes.

Question 3

__________ include our family, close friends, and school- or work-related peer groups.

Accepted Answer

Primary groups are characterized by intimate, face-to-face interaction, emotional attachments, and a sense of belonging. These include our family, close friends, and school- or work-related peer groups.

Question 4

Many of us build __________ that involve our personal friends in primary groups and our acquaintances in secondary groups. This series of relationships links an individual to others.

Accepted Answer

Social networks involve building relationships with personal friends in primary groups and acquaintances in secondary groups. These relationships link individuals to others in various ways, such as through shared interests, activities, or goals. Cultural bonds refer to shared cultural traditions, beliefs, and values. Cohesive structures refer to the ways in which groups are organized and structured to work together towards a common goal. Cliques refer to small, exclusive groups within a larger social network.

Question 5

All of the following are examples of __________: the family, religion, education, the economy, the government (politics), mass media, sports, science and medicine, and the military.

Accepted Answer

These are all examples of social institutions, which are formal structures that exist within society and serve a specific purpose or function. Social institutions help to shape the behavior and interactions of individuals within society.

Question 6

Married women may experience more __________ than married men because of work overload, marital inequality with their spouse, exclusive parenting responsibilities, unclear expectations, and lack of emotional support.

Accepted Answer

Role strain refers to the stress and tension experienced by people who occupy particular social roles that conflict with each other or have high demands. In this case, married women may experience role strain due to their various responsibilities and the lack of support from their spouse, leading to negative consequences on their physical and mental health. Choices A, B, and D are not relevant to the given scenario.

Question 7

Sociologist Helen Ebaugh concluded that role exit occurs in four stages. __________ is the first stage, in which people experience frustration or burnout when they reflect on their existing roles.

Accepted Answer

The first stage of role exit according to Helen Ebaugh is doubt, in which individuals reflect on their existing roles and experience frustration or burnout. Option A refers to the second stage, where individuals look for alternatives, while option B refers to the third stage, which involves creating a new identity. Option C refers to the final stage, where individuals reach a turning point and fully enact their role exit.

Question 8

To sociologists, a(n) __________ group consists of two or more people who interact frequently and share a common identity and a feeling of interdependence.

Accepted Answer

A social group is defined as two or more people who interact frequently, share a common identity, and have a sense of interdependence.

Question 9

Becky and Eric are best friends and are taking the same sociology course. They have formed a study group to prepare for the tests. As the course progresses, Becky tends to earn much higher test grades and discovers that Eric has found out that she scores higher on the tests. Becky wants to continue to do well in the class, but she doesn't want to make Eric look or feel bad. It is likely that Becky is experiencing __________.

Accepted Answer

Becky is experiencing role strain, which occurs when an individual has difficulty meeting the expectations of their role. In this case, Becky wants to continue doing well in the class but also wants to maintain her friendship with Eric by not making him feel bad. This causes tension and strain in her role as a student and friend.

Question 10

To sociologists, a(n) __________ is a larger, more specialized group in which members engage in more impersonal, goal-oriented relationships for a limited period of time.

Accepted Answer

A secondary group is a larger, more specialized group in which members engage in more impersonal, goal-oriented relationships for a limited period of time. The other choices are not specific to this definition.

Question 11

From the __________ perspective, U. S. government policies in urban areas have benefited some people but exacerbated the problems of others. Urban renewal and transportation projects have caused the destruction of low-cost housing and put large numbers of people "on the street."

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective sees society as composed of different groups competing for scarce resources and power. It suggests that government policies in urban areas benefit some groups while harming others, leading to social inequality and conflict. The destruction of low-cost housing due to urban renewal and transportation projects is an example of such a policy that harms disadvantaged groups, such as low-income families and minorities, and exacerbates their problems.

Question 12

A __________ is a highly structured group formed for the purpose of completing certain tasks or achieving specific goals.

Accepted Answer

A formal organization is a structured group created with specific goals in mind. It is designed to achieve efficiency and specialization by defining roles, responsibilities, and a clear hierarchy of authority. Examples include corporations, government agencies, and hospitals.

Question 13

__________ occurs when people consciously foster the impression of a lack of commitment or attachment to a particular role and merely go through the motions of role performance.

Accepted Answer

Role distancing occurs when people deliberately create distance between themselves and a particular role, because they do not want to be identified too closely with the role, or because they are not fully committed to the role. This can manifest in a lack of enthusiasm or effort in role performance, or a lack of identification with the role's goals and values.

Question 14

__________, or cohesion, refers to a group's ability to maintain itself in the face of obstacles. It exists when social bonds, attractions, or other forces hold members of a group in interaction over a period of time.

Accepted Answer

Social solidarity refers to the ability of a group to maintain itself over time against obstacles. It involves social bonds that hold group members together, and these bonds can take many forms, such as shared values, beliefs, or interests. Social solidarity is essential for the long-term survival and success of any group, whether it is a family, a community, or a nation.

Question 15

The __________ theorists do not believe that social institutions work for the common good of everyone in society. For example, the homeless lack the power and resources to promote their own interests when they are opposed by dominant social groups.

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists focus on power struggles between different groups in society and how social institutions serve the interests of the dominant group. They argue that the distribution of resources and opportunities is uneven and that marginalized groups, such as the homeless, lack the power and resources to promote their own interests. This is in contrast to functionalists, who see social institutions as working for the common good of everyone in society. Symbolic interactionists focus on how individuals interact and create meaning in their daily lives, while postmodernists emphasize the role of language, culture, and identity in shaping social reality.

Question 16

Schools, churches, and corporations are examples of __________ groups.

Accepted Answer

Schools, churches, and corporations are examples of secondary groups, which are larger and more impersonal than primary groups. They are based on some common interest or activity, and their members are likely to have formal, impersonal relationships.

Question 17

Jack is a freshman at the local college. As a student, he is feeling pressure. He wants to party like the rest of his fraternity brothers, while at the same time, he wants to maintain his 4.0 grade point average. Sociologists would say that Jack is experiencing _________.

Accepted Answer

Jack is experiencing role strain, which is the tension and pressure associated with trying to meet the expectations associated with a single role. In this case, Jack is feeling the strain of wanting to party like his fraternity brothers (an expectation associated with his role as a college student) while also maintaining a 4.0 GPA (another expectation associated with his role as a student). Role conflict (A) refers to the tension and pressure associated with trying to balance the expectations of multiple roles, such as being a student, employee, and parent. Role incompatibility (B) is not a term commonly used in sociology. Role reversal (C) refers to a situation where one person takes on the roles usually associated with another person, such as when a child becomes the caregiver for a parent.

Question 18

Recent social changes may have increased __________ for men. In the family, men's traditional positions of dominance have eroded as more women have entered the paid labor force and demanded more assistance in child-rearing and homemaking responsibilities.

Accepted Answer

Role strain is the stress that results from having too many roles to fulfill. In the family, men's traditional positions of dominance have eroded as more women have entered the paid labor force and demanded more assistance in child-rearing and homemaking responsibilities. This has led to role strain for men, as they are now expected to fulfill both traditional masculine roles and more egalitarian roles.

Question 19

While Ben is working in a fast-food restaurant, he does not want people to think of him
As a "loser in a dead-end job." He wants them to view him as a college student who is working there just to "pick up a few bucks" until he graduates. When customers from the college come in, Ben talks to them about what courses they are taking, what they are majoring in, and what professors they have. He does not discuss whether the bacon cheeseburger is better than the chili burger. In this scenario, Ben is engaging in __________.

Accepted Answer

Ben is trying to distance himself from the stereotype associated with his job and establish a different identity as a college student. He does not want his job to define him, hence engaging in role distancing.

Question 20

__________ occurs when people disengage from social roles that have been central to their self-identity.

Accepted Answer

Role exit is the process of disengaging from a role that has been central to one's self-identity. This can occur for various reasons, such as a change in personal values or a shift in life circumstances. The individual may experience a period of disorientation and confusion as they try to redefine their self-identity without that role.

Quiz 4: Social Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life.