Deck 7: Exchange, Exchange Network, and Rational Choice Theories

Question 1

Identify specific ways in which social exchange characterizes your everyday life. What forms of exchange seem more conducive than others to enhancing your social status among your peers/friends? Discuss.

Answer 1

Social exchange characterizes my everyday life in various ways. One specific way is through the exchange of favors and support among friends and peers. For example, I may help a friend with a project in exchange for them helping me with something else in the future. This reciprocal exchange helps to strengthen our social bonds and build trust within our social circle.

Another form of social exchange that is prevalent in my everyday life is the exchange of information and resources. Whether it's sharing knowledge, recommending products or services, or providing access to opportunities, these exchanges help to enhance our social status among our peers and friends. By being seen as a valuable source of information and resources, we can increase our social influence and reputation within our social network.

In terms of enhancing social status, I have found that exchanges that involve providing support and assistance to others are more conducive to enhancing my social status among my peers and friends. When I am able to offer help, guidance, or resources to others, it not only strengthens my relationships but also elevates my standing within my social circle. This is because people are more likely to view me as a reliable and trustworthy individual, which in turn enhances my social status.

On the other hand, exchanges that are solely focused on personal gain or self-promotion are less conducive to enhancing my social status. While it's important to advocate for oneself and pursue personal goals, doing so at the expense of others can be detrimental to one's social standing. Instead, focusing on mutual support and collaboration in social exchanges has proven to be more effective in enhancing my social status among my peers and friends.

Question 2

Exchange theorists variously emphasize the importance of trust in social and institutional relations. Identify one recent public event/scandal which might be characterized as causing a breakdown in institutional trust (e.g., the crisis in banking; the Catholic Church's sex-abuse scandals; the corporatization of medicine [ see chapter 4]). What social and institutional remedies might help to restore trust in these institutions?

Answer 2

One recent public event that could be characterized as causing a breakdown in institutional trust is the scandal involving the corporatization of medicine, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. This scandal has involved cases of price gouging, unethical marketing practices, and the prioritization of profits over patient well-being.

To restore trust in the pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare system as a whole, social and institutional remedies could include increased transparency and accountability in drug pricing and marketing, stricter regulations and oversight of pharmaceutical companies, and efforts to prioritize patient care and well-being over profits. Additionally, promoting ethical behavior and values within the industry, as well as fostering open communication and collaboration between healthcare providers, patients, and pharmaceutical companies, could help to rebuild trust in the healthcare system. Ultimately, restoring trust in the pharmaceutical industry will require a combination of regulatory reforms, ethical leadership, and a commitment to prioritizing the well-being of patients.

Question 3

As Granovetter highlights, weak ties can serve many important individual and societal functions. Discuss the positive and negative sociological consequences of social networks, and use illustrative examples from contemporary society to illustrate your points. Finally, please probe/speculate on how membership in a particular friendship network might impact cigarette smoking behavior.

Answer 3

Social networks play a significant role in shaping individual and societal functions, as highlighted by Granovetter. Weak ties within these networks can have both positive and negative sociological consequences.

On the positive side, social networks provide individuals with access to diverse resources and opportunities. For example, weak ties can offer job leads, information, and support that may not be available within closer-knit circles. This can lead to increased social mobility and the exchange of innovative ideas. Additionally, social networks can provide a sense of belonging and support, which is crucial for mental and emotional well-being.

However, social networks can also have negative consequences. They can perpetuate inequality and exclusion, as individuals with fewer connections may struggle to access the same resources and opportunities as those with more extensive networks. Furthermore, social networks can also reinforce harmful behaviors and attitudes, such as substance abuse or discrimination.

For example, in contemporary society, social media platforms have been both praised for their ability to connect people and criticized for their role in spreading misinformation and perpetuating cyberbullying. Additionally, exclusive social networks within certain industries or communities can perpetuate inequality and limit opportunities for those on the outside.

Membership in a particular friendship network can also impact behaviors such as cigarette smoking. Research has shown that individuals are more likely to engage in smoking behavior if their close friends or social network members also smoke. This can be attributed to social influence and the normalization of smoking within a particular group. Conversely, individuals who are part of social networks that discourage smoking may be less likely to engage in the behavior.

In conclusion, social networks have both positive and negative sociological consequences. While they can provide access to resources and support, they can also perpetuate inequality and harmful behaviors. Membership in a particular friendship network can impact behaviors such as cigarette smoking, highlighting the influence of social networks on individual choices and actions.

Question 4

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question

-What, according to Blau, is a paradox of social exchange?

Question 5

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question

-In exchange network theory, what is the basis of power in an exchange relation?

Question 6

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question

-Explain, using an example, how social capital is productive for individuals.

Question 7

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question

-Explain, using an example, how marriage can be considered an interest-maximization strategy.

Question 8

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question

-Explain why scarcity matters in social exchange.

Question 9

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question

-What does it mean to say that "money talks in marriage"?

Question 10

Please write 2 or 3 sentences per question

-Identify the theorist, and identify one occupational group that can be considered as occupying a contradictory class location

Question 11

Social exchange theorists argue that social interaction is primarily motivated by:

A) Individuals' desires to attain specific goals/ends
B) Individuals' emotional connectedness
C) Individuals' lack of economic resources
D) Individuals' need for power over others

Question 12

Homans argued that social organizations are:

A) Influenced by social forces that are independent of individuals
B) Reducible to the individuals who are part of them
C) Punishing environments
D) Rewarding environments

Question 13

In social exchange, Homans argues, social status is determined by what a person:

A) Believes
B) Gives and gets
C) Thinks
D) None of the above

Question 14

According to Homans, "the more a particular action of a person is rewarded, the more likely the person is to … that action."

A) Avoid
B) Alter
C) Repeat
D) Reject

Question 15

Social exchange is characterized by:

A) Equally shared power
B) Power imbalances
C) Equal levels of trust
D) High degree of mistrust

Question 16

In social exchange, the value of rewards is a function of their:

A) Plenitude
B) Diffuseness
C) Reciprocity
D) Scarcity

Question 17

According to Peter Blau, social organizations are:

A) Influenced by social forces that are independent of individuals
B) Reducible to the individuals who are part of them
C) Punishing environments
D) Rewarding environments

Question 18

In bureaucratic work settings, informal communication and social exchange:

A) Distract from task completion
B) Are irrelevant to task completion
C) Can be effective in task completion
D) Waste valuable task-completion resources

Question 19

Companies that organize clubs and social activities for their employees recognize the importance of … in the workplace:

A) Social control
B) Time management
C) Trust
D) Conflict management

Question 20

One of the characteristics that both sustains and complicates friendship relations is the:

A) Diffuseness of expectations
B) Clarification of expectations
C) Absence of expectations
D) Shifting of expectations

Question 21

Giving and receiving gifts:

A) Are signs of friendship
B) Reflect power imbalances
C) Affirm status differences
D) All of the above

Question 22

"Status and power differences in social exchange relationships invariably lead to the termination of the relationship."

Question 23

The relations among the US, European countries, and Russia can be studied in terms of:

A) Power imbalances
B) Power dependence
C) Trust
D) All of the above

Question 24

In modern society, trust is:

A) Institutionally regulated
B) Absent
C) Confined to close interpersonal relationships
D) None of the above

Question 25

According to network exchange theorists, social networks function well:

A) Only when there is a high level of trust among social actors
B) When social actors have similar economic resources
C) Regardless of trust
D) When social actors have similar backgrounds

Question 26

Your chances of finding information about a job will most likely increase if you have:

A) Weak ties to several different people
B) Weak ties to a few people
C) Strong ties to a few people
D) No social ties

Question 27

Rational choice theory gives special emphasis to:

A) Aesthetic values
B) Utilitarian interests
C) Historical context
D) Political beliefs

Question 28

Rational choice theory emphasizes that individuals act in ways that:

A) Maximize the utility of their actions to themselves
B) Maximize the long-term contribution of their activities to social equality
C) Balance many competing values and motivations
D) Prioritize means over ends

Question 29

Human capital refers to:

A) Income produced by people
B) Individuals' economic assets
C) Individuals' skills and capabilities
D) Individuals' economic inheritance

Question 30

Social capital is:

A) The number of social connections that individuals have with others
B) The income of a particular social class
C) Another term for human capital
D) The number of people individuals like

Question 31

Social capital can be converted into:

A) More social capital
B) Human capital
C) Economic capital
D) All of the above

Question 32

Marriage can be considered:

A) A power imbalance relationship
B) An exchange-bargaining relationship
C) A social exchange relationship
D) All of the above

Question 33

The fact that wives who earn more than their husbands do more housework than their husbands, suggests that:

A) There is more to marriage than money
B) Cultural expectations constrain social behavior
C) Gender inequality persists in society
D) All of the above

Question 34

Analytical Marxism is concerned with how:

A) Class inequality is unilaterally perpetuated by the capitalist class
B) Class inequality is undermined by occupational mobility
C) Strategic choices reproduce class inequality
D) Class location is less important than political connections in reproducing inequality

Question 35

Erik Olin Wright's theorizing and research focuses on:

A) Class polarization
B) Contradictory class locations
C) The rational choices of the capitalist class
D) None of the above