Question 1

You are walking across campus and see a large group of students gathered outside the student union listening to someone talk. You stop and try to listen, but you can't get close enough. You ask another member of the crowd what's happening, and you are told that someone was proselytizing and that some students gathered to listen while others argued. What does this tell you about crowds?

Accepted Answer

The fact that some students gathered to listen while others argued shows that crowds can consist of individuals with different motivations and beliefs.

Question 2

In trying to understand the evacuation of the World Trade Center when it was first bombed in 1993, B. E. Aguirre, Dennis Wenger, and Gabriela Vigo argue that the more "the search for meaning in the milling process focuses upon defining the situation as serious, the quicker should be the mobilization of people and the initiation of collective behavior." What type of theory are they using to make this prediction?

Accepted Answer

The authors are using emergent norm theory, which suggests that in uncertain or ambiguous situations, people look to others for cues on how to behave and establish new norms that guide collective behavior. They argue that if people in a crowd interpret the situation as serious and urgent, they will quickly mobilize and initiate a collective response.

Question 3

What is the relationship between deliberate social action and consequences?

Accepted Answer

Deliberate social action can have intended and unintended consequences. While individuals or groups may aim to achieve a specific outcome through their actions, there are many variables at play in social situations that can lead to unintended consequences. For example, a protest organized by a group may aim to raise awareness of a specific issue, but may also lead to increased tension and conflict with opposing groups. Thus, it is important to consider both the intended and unintended consequences of deliberate social action.

Question 4

What do large numbers of people form when they come together?

Accepted Answer

A large number of people coming together typically form a crowd, which is a temporary gathering of individuals in close proximity.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about social change is true:

Accepted Answer

Social change is an ongoing process that happens continuously in society. It may occur at varying rates and levels, but it is always happening in one form or another.

Question 6

In recent years, salsa has overtaken ketchup as America's most popular condiment. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The shift in popularity from ketchup to salsa represents a social change, indicating a shift in cultural tastes and preferences. This change is not a result of resource mobilization, cultural leveling, the political power of Hispanics, or collective behavior, but rather a reflection of evolving cultural norms and preferences.

Question 7

The majority of households in the United States now have personal computers. This trend has been encouraged by the federal government for many reasons, including increased productivity, better education, and a better-informed public. At the same time, there has been an increase in acute injuries related to computers or computer tools. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The increase in computer-related injuries is a consequence that was not intended by the government's encouragement of computer use in households. It highlights the fact that social change can have unintended consequences.

Question 8

The transformation of culture over time is called:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The transformation of culture over time is...

Question 9

Today, it is not uncommon for parents to call their children because they need help performing a simple task on a computer, like ripping a CD and using an e-mail program to mail a song to someone. Typically, parents teach children, not the other way around. What creates situations in which parents have to turn to their children for help?

Accepted Answer

Social change, such as advancements in technology, can lead to parents needing help from their children because they did not grow up with the same level of technology and technological literacy. As technology evolves at a faster pace, this situation may become even more common.

Question 10

When a recruiter for a social movement organization assumes everyone has the same reason for joining, he fails to understand that:

Accepted Answer

Individuals have different motivations and reasons for joining a social movement. Assuming that everyone has the same reason for joining ignores the diversity of perspectives and experiences that individuals bring to the movement. It is important for recruiters to listen to and understand the various reasons that individuals may have for joining, in order to effectively engage with and mobilize diverse groups of people.

Question 11

When a large number of people either collectively or individually engage in similar behaviors, sociologists call it:

Accepted Answer

Mass behavior refers to actions taken by a large number of people who engage in similar behaviors without necessarily being in the same location, often influenced by trends, fads, or social phenomena.

Question 12

Periods in which social change happens so rapidly that whole societies are dramatically redefined are called:

Accepted Answer

Social revolutions are periods of rapid social change that redefine a society's structure, culture, institutions, and values. During a social revolution, existing power structures are challenged or overthrown, and new ones take their place. Social revolutions can be violent, nonviolent, or both, and they often involve significant cultural and ideological shifts. Examples of social revolutions include the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the American Civil Rights Movement.

Question 13

What was one of the earliest theories of collective behavior?

Accepted Answer

The contagion theory, which suggests that crowds are like epidemics, was one of the earliest theories of collective behavior. It posits that a collective behavior is a result of individuals being influenced by one another and acting impulsively, like a contagious disease.

Question 14

The relatively short-lived enthusiasm for leg warmers during the 1980s was an example of a:

Accepted Answer

A fad is a short-lived, popular trend, and the enthusiasm for leg warmers during the 1980s is a classic example of a fad. A social dilemma refers to a situation where individuals must choose between doing what is best for themselves or what is best for the group. A riot is a violent disturbance of the peace. A virtual community is a social network formed online. A public goods dilemma refers to a situation where individuals must choose between personal gain and contributing to a common good.

Question 15

Until it was canceled due to safety concerns in 2009, thousands of UCLA students used to gather several times a year for an "undie run" as a way of relieving stress during finals. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

The "undie run" is an example of collective behavior, as it involves a spontaneous and unstructured gathering of individuals who share a common goal or interest.

Question 16

"An agglomeration of men presents new characteristics very different from those of the individuals composing it. The sentiments and ideas of all the persons in the gathering take one and the same direction, and their conscious personality vanishes. A collective mind is formed, doubtless transitory, but presenting very clearly defined characteristics. The gathering has thus become what, in the absence of a better expression, I will call an organized crowd. . . . It forms a single being . . ." Which theory describes this quote?

Accepted Answer

The quote describes the concept of contagion theory, which suggests that in a crowd, people tend to lose their individual self and their personal consciousness, adopting the collective behavior or mindset of the crowd. This theory emphasizes the idea of a 'collective mind' that emerges within crowds, leading individuals to act in ways they might not typically do on their own.

Question 17

What theory of collective behavior would suggest that when crowds come together a "mob mentality" takes over and rational thought disappears?

Accepted Answer

Contagion theory suggests that individuals in a crowd experience a loss of individual identity and rational thought, leading to a "mob mentality" where actions and emotions are contagious and spread throughout the group. This theory emphasizes the importance of the emotional and irrational aspects of crowd behavior, rather than rational decision making.

Question 18

In Lincoln, Nebraska, in the summer of 2009, two groups held rallies about health care, one supporting and one opposing legislation proposed to overhaul America's health-care system. At one point, the two groups went beyond holding signs and shouting slogans, and tempers flared. Objects were thrown, shoving matches broke out, and the police had to step in to break up the:

Accepted Answer

The use of "tempers flared," "objects were thrown," and "shoving matches broke out" suggest that the situation escalated beyond a peaceful rally or assembly, making "riot" the most appropriate choice.

Question 19

Around twelve thousand years ago, in what we now call the Middle East, people began to domesticate grain, a process that slowly spread around the world over the next six to seven thousand years. In 1984, 8 percent of U.S. households had a computer; by 2008, that number was estimated to be above 70 percent. How do these two things relate to social change?

Accepted Answer

Both the domestication of grain and the widespread ownership of computers represent examples of social change. The change in agriculture occurred over several thousand years, while the change in computer ownership occurred much more rapidly, over only a few decades. Therefore, both are examples of social change occurring at different rates.

Question 20

In 2007 Jason Fox and the Hood Presidents, a hip-hop group, uploaded a video of their song "Aunt Jackie" to YouTube, and almost instantly people started imitating the dance moves seen in the video. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of mass behavior, where a large number of people engage in similar behaviors independently, often influenced by media or social trends.

Quiz 16: Social Change: Looking Toward Tomorrow