Question 1

The term affluenza refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

Affluenza is a term that refers to well-off individuals who despite being wealthy are stressed or unhappy, and their wealth is not bringing them contentment. The term is often used to critique consumerism and materialism, particularly in Western affluent societies.

Question 2

Which of the following theorists is best known for arguing that an individual's relationship to the means of production determines his position in society?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx is most closely associated with the concept of class struggle and the idea that one's relationship to the means of production, i.e. whether they own them or not, determines their social class and position in society.

Question 3

With respect to social organization, some barnyard animals exhibit signs of a dominance-submission hierarchy. Which of the following terms best communicates such a hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

The term "pecking order" specifically refers to a hierarchy based on dominance and submission that is observed in chickens and other birds. This term is commonly used to describe similar hierarchies in other barnyard animals such as cows or pigs. The other options may imply different types of social organization or hierarchies that are not necessarily reflective of dominance-submission relationships.

Question 4

A person who receives rewards and status because of his hard work is said to have ________ status.

Accepted Answer

Achieved status is based on an individual's accomplishments or abilities, as opposed to ascribed status, which is based on traits such as race or gender, and hierarchical status, which is based on one's position in a social hierarchy. Longitudinal status is not a recognized term in sociology.

Question 5

Which of the following refers to consumers who refuse to sacrifice style but who achieve that style on a budget?

Accepted Answer

Frugalistas are consumers who are savvy shoppers and enjoy finding stylish items while still staying within a budget. They prioritize getting good deals and value for their money, but also want to maintain their personal style.

Question 6

Social class is a strong predictor of purchases that have symbolic aspects, but low to moderate prices. Which of the following is the best example of a product with those characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Liquor is a product that is often purchased for its symbolic value, such as for celebratory occasions or to project a certain image or status. It is also typically lower-priced compared to cars and homes, making it more accessible to those in lower to middle social classes.

Question 7

The field of ________ is concerned with the "human" side of economic decisions (including the biases in decision making).

Accepted Answer

Behavioral economics is the field that studies the cognitive, emotional, and social factors that affect people's decision-making processes. It seeks to understand why individuals make irrational choices or fail to act in their own best interests by identifying and analyzing the biases and heuristics that underlie economic decisions.

Question 8

The average American's standard of living continues to improve. These income shifts are linked to two key factors: ________.

Accepted Answer

The two key factors linked to the improvement of the average American's standard of living are a shift in women's roles and increases in educational attainment. As more women entered the workforce and obtained higher levels of education, household incomes increased, leading to an overall improvement in the standard of living. This answer is supported by research and data on the topic.

Question 9

We tend to marry people in a similar social class to our own. Sociologists call this ________, or assortative mating.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists call the tendency to marry people in a similar social class to our own as 'homogamy'. The other options are not relevant to the given statement.

Question 10

A person who is born into a rich, powerful family (i.e., "She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth") is said to have ________ status.

Accepted Answer

Ascribed status is a social position that is assigned at birth and is usually based on one's family background. Therefore, being born into a rich, powerful family is an example of ascribed status.

Question 11

Which of the following questions would be LEAST likely to appear on a questionnaire designed to determine consumer confidence?

Accepted Answer

This question is not relevant to measuring consumer confidence as it relates to personal relationships rather than economic factors.

Question 12

________ refers to the passage of individuals from one social class to another.

Accepted Answer

Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups from one social class or status to another, either upward or downward. This movement can be achieved through education, employment, marriage, or other factors. Status crystallization (A) refers to the degree to which different aspects of a person's social status are consistent with each other. Social affinity (B) refers to the degree of likeness or similarity between two individuals or groups. Social stratification (D) refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in a society based on their social and economic status.

Question 13

According to a classic view of the American class structure, the newer social elites, drawn from current professionals, belong to which of the following social class categories?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to a classic view of the...

Question 14

The hundreds of millions of consumers around the world who can now afford higher quality products belong to the ________.

Accepted Answer

The term "mass class" refers to the millions of consumers around the world who have recently been able to afford higher quality products, due to rising incomes and improved access to credit. This group is a major driver of economic growth and consumer demand. The term was coined by business strategist CK Prahalad in his book "The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid".

Question 15

Consumers who are ________ love buying everything in sight.

Accepted Answer

Consumers who are spendthrifts love buying everything in sight. Tightwads are the opposite, as they are extremely frugal and hesitant to spend money. Price-sensitive affluents pay attention to the price of items, but still have the ability to spend money on luxury goods. Socially stratified refers to the division of society into different classes based on social and economic factors, and is not related to spending habits.

Question 16

Sandra Jackson decided to become a nurse after several years as an elementary teacher. She still wanted to help people; she just wanted to do it differently. Sandra's case is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sandra Jackson decided to become a nurse...

Question 17

Most groups exhibit a structure called a ________ in which some members are somehow better off than others.

Accepted Answer

A status hierarchy is a structure within a group where some members have higher status or prestige than others. This can be based on a variety of factors such as age, education, wealth, or position within the group. The hierarchical structure creates a system of inequality within the group. The other choices, social array, social mobility, and symbolic reference, do not capture the concept of a hierarchical structure within a group.

Question 18

The phenomenon called ________ refers to the creation of artificial divisions in a society.

Accepted Answer

Social stratification refers to the division of a society into different social classes or strata based on factors such as wealth, income, education, and occupation. This division can be created artificially through policies and practices that favor certain groups, leading to inequalities and discrimination.

Question 19

________ income is the money available to a household over and above that required for a comfortable standard of living.

Accepted Answer

Discretionary income is the income left after subtracting taxes and necessary expenses (such as rent, utilities, and food) from a person's income. This income is used for non-essential purchases such as entertainment, vacations, and luxury items.

Question 20

Fred Johnson has worked hard all of his life to make a decent living for himself and his family. However, in recent years he has become obsessed with a fear of being ruined, either because of losing his job or losing all of his savings. According to clinical psychologists, Fred Johnson's fear of being ruined is equated to which of the following phobias?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Fred Johnson has worked hard all of...

Quiz 12: Social Class and Lifestyles