Question 1

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

Homogamy is the principle that individuals tend to select partners who share similar social characteristics such as social class, education level, religion, etc. Therefore, since Vance and Jeff come from the same social class, it is possible that Julia could be attracted to both of them according to the principle of homogamy. Elaborated codes and restricted codes are terms used in sociolinguistics, and ascribed status is a term used in sociology to describe the social status one is born into. None of these concepts are relevant to understanding why Julia could be attracted to both Vance and Jeff.

Question 2

Of the countries listed below,which is thought to be highly status-conscious?

Accepted Answer

Japan is known for its emphasis on hierarchy and the importance of social status. This is reflected in many aspects of Japanese culture, including language, behavior, and business practices.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

This is true, as studies have shown that wealthier individuals tend to spend more on discretionary items such as luxury cars and vacations, while being more frugal with daily expenses like groceries and household supplies.

Question 4

What are the two major components of social class? Explain and comment on each component (such as which is more important).

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

According to research, lower-class men are actually less likely to have a sense of empowerment compared to middle-class men. This may be due to factors such as lack of access to education and opportunities for advancement.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

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

Rolls-Royce cars, Cartier diamonds, and Andy Warhol paintings are all considered status symbols, which are possessions or displays that indicate a person's wealth, social class, or status in society. They are used to communicate a person's elevated position to others, and to reinforce hierarchical distinctions in social interactions.

Question 8

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 gained significant personal wealth and may experience status anxiety. These individuals may feel insecure about how to behave in high society and may try to display symbols of their success to compensate for this insecurity.

Question 9

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 display of wealth, such as flying in 200 friends by chartered jets and burning down and rebuilding bungalows daily, is an example of conspicuous consumption, where people purchase and display expensive goods to demonstrate their social status and wealth.

Question 10

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 is a unique form of conspicuous consumption where people deliberately flout the norms of the dominant culture by displaying unconventional and often outlandish styles of dress, language or mannerisms. The act is meant to signal that the person has enough power, status, and resources to bend the rules without fear of reprisal. Wearing shredded Levi's jeans to a formal party signifies a parody of the upper-class fashion norms and is a clear demonstration of this form of consumption. Invidious distinction is another form of conspicuous consumption where people display their wealth and status through the acquisition of luxury goods and services that set them apart from others in a visibly superior way. Downsizing, on the other hand, is a trend where people intentionally adopt less conspicuous forms of consumption to signal their concern for the environment or social justice issues. Status anxiety refers to the fear or insecurity that people experience when they perceive that their social status or position is under threat.

Question 11

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 practice of buying and using luxury goods to visibly display one's wealth and social status to others.

Question 12

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 13

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

Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus refers to the internalized system of dispositions (habits, tastes, norms) that shapes an individual's behaviors and preferences, including their choices in art and entertainment. Bourdieu argued that people's habitus is shaped by their social class, education, and cultural background, and that it reproduces social inequalities by perpetuating distinctions between high and low culture, elite and popular taste, and so on. Therefore, people's taste in art and entertainment can function as a status-making force or marker of social distinction, as it reflects their position in the social hierarchy and their cultural capital. The other options are either incorrect or irrelevant to Bourdieu's theory. A "code" could refer to a specific language or set of rules, but it does not capture the social dynamics of taste. A "hierarchy" is related to social stratification, but it does not explain how taste operates as a force of differentiation. A "chav" is a derogatory term used in Britain to refer to working-class youth, but it is not a sociological concept or relevant to Bourdieu's theory.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Explain what a credit score is and how it relates to social class.

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The term "taste culture" refers to the way that people are grouped and differentiated based on their aesthetic and intellectual preferences. This can include things like art, music, literature, and more. People with similar tastes may form social clusters, but the focus is on the underlying cultural values and preferences that bring people together. Culture code designation and consumption constellation are not commonly used terms in this context.

Question 17

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's statement indicates that he believed he was part of the elite due to his wealth and success in business, but his failed bid for the established bank showed that he lacked the cultural capital necessary to be accepted by the prestigious families who owned the bank. Cultural capital refers to the social and cultural knowledge, values, and behaviors that are necessary to navigate and succeed in certain social circles.

Question 18

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

This answer suggests that it is reasonable for Jason to ask respondents to pick their own social class, as most Americans can accurately place themselves in the middle or lower-middle class. If this were not the case, it might be more difficult for Jason to use this approach to segment the market based on social class. The other answer choices suggest potential challenges with Jason's approach (A: most respondents are inaccurate, C: respondents are better at identifying others' social classes than their own, and D: respondents may list a desired social class rather than their actual one).

Question 19

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

Since lower classes use more restrictive codes, the promotion to the working-class man should emphasize his immediate satisfaction in knowing that his family will be cared for, while the upper-class promotion should emphasize the long-term consequences of the choice. This is because working-class individuals are more likely to focus on their immediate needs and benefits, while the upper class may be more focused on long-term planning and consequences.

Question 20

List the 6 social classes.

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 12: Income and Social Class