Question 1

Many Canadians believe that the rich deserve their wealth. However, published data show that the majority of the richest Canadians have inherited their wealth and not earned it by hard work and enterprise. Which of the following concepts best accounts for this belief?

Accepted Answer

Cultural scaffolding refers to the societal structures and narratives that support and justify existing social arrangements, such as the belief that wealth is deserved, even when it is inherited rather than earned.

Question 2

Which of the following should be avoided by a company wishing to maintain maximum efficiency?

Accepted Answer

A highly skewed salary range can lead to dissatisfaction and demotivation among employees, which can decrease efficiency. A cooperative atmosphere, allowing workers' creativity, and participation in decision-making generally contribute positively to efficiency.

Question 3

Stacy is walking on Main Street, lost in thought, and looks up just in time to avoid colliding with a man rushing in her direction. Given what is known about social norms in Canada, what did she most likely do to avoid the collision?

Accepted Answer

In Canada, it is a common social norm to move to the right to avoid collisions when walking towards someone on the street. This behavior helps to maintain orderly pedestrian traffic and avoid unnecessary confrontations.

Question 4

According to the textbook, which of the following is the principal determinant of a successful action?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook, which of the...

Question 5

Patrick is riding the elevator to his apartment when he hears a noise and then notices a foul smell being emitted from a fellow passenger. He does not say anything, but quietly holds his breath until they reach his floor, where he smiles and nods respectfully at the person and steps off the elevator. What is Patrick engaging in?

Accepted Answer

Patrick is engaging in civil inattention, which refers to the practice of politely ignoring others to maintain privacy and social harmony in public or semi-public spaces. By not reacting to the smell and simply nodding respectfully, he is acknowledging the presence of the other person without making the situation uncomfortable for either party.

Question 6

When people are in public, they attempt to have others see them as favourably as possible. What is this behaviour called?

Accepted Answer

Impression management is the process by which people try to control the impressions other people form of them, especially in social or public settings. This involves controlling information in social interactions to influence others’ perceptions.

Question 7

Which of the following people is most likely to be efficient in the workplace?

Accepted Answer

Someone who enjoys their job and identifies with their employer is likely to be more engaged, motivated, and committed, leading to higher efficiency in the workplace.

Question 8

Which of the following is critical to behaving in an altruistic or heroic manner?

Accepted Answer

Empathy is critical to altruistic or heroic behavior as it involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which often motivates individuals to help others selflessly.

Question 9

Bryan has the task of organizing the annual barbecue and dance for his company's staff. From an organizational standpoint, what is the main point of his efforts?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bryan has the task of organizing the...

Question 10

Which of the following modes of interaction is characterized by a medium level of inequality?

Accepted Answer

Competition involves a medium level of inequality because it is based on the principle that individuals or groups are striving against each other to achieve a goal that cannot be shared. Unlike domination, which implies a high level of inequality with one party exerting control over another, competition suggests a more balanced playing field where the inequality arises from differences in skill, resources, or effort. Cooperation and altruism are characterized by lower levels of inequality, as they are based on mutual benefit and selfless help, respectively.

Question 11

Dramaturgy suggests that people act in particular ways in public that are different from how they act in private. What is the reason for these differences in behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Dramaturgy, a concept developed by sociologist Erving Goffman, suggests that people engage in impression management to control how they are perceived by others in social interactions. This involves presenting themselves in a favorable light to fit social norms and expectations.

Question 12

Damien smiles and greets passengers as they board the aircraft on which he is employed as a flight attendant. When an elderly person passes him, he looks at his co-workers and rolls his eyes. What do his smiles and friendly greetings exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Damien's smiles and friendly greetings to passengers as they board the aircraft are examples of front-stage behavior, which refers to the actions and demeanor individuals display in social settings when they are in the view of an audience. This behavior is often guided by social norms and expectations, similar to a performance.

Question 13

According to ethnomethodologists, which of the following explains much social interaction?

Accepted Answer

Ethnomethodologists focus on how people use preexisting norms and understandings to make sense of their social world and interact with others. They study the everyday methods that people use to construct a shared social order.

Question 14

Why does the textbook judge Erving Goffman's view to be cynical?

Accepted Answer

Goffman's theory of dramaturgy suggests that people present themselves in various ways to control how others perceive them, which can be seen as inauthentic or role-playing, leading to a cynical view of human interactions.

Question 15

What types of workplaces are the most efficient?

Accepted Answer

Cooperative workplaces are the most efficient because they foster collaboration, communication, and trust among employees. This leads to increased productivity, innovation, and job satisfaction.

Question 16

The textbook states that slavery is an inefficient means of getting work done. How is this claim explained?

Accepted Answer

Fear of punishment, as opposed to positive motivation, tends to result in minimal effort rather than maximizing productivity, which explains why slavery is considered an inefficient means of getting work done.

Question 17

According to the textbook, how do medical doctors learn to act like doctors?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook, how do medical...

Question 18

Some schools in the United States teach Ebonics, a variant of English spoken by African-Americans. Which concept best describes why Ebonics is not likely to become widely accepted?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some schools in the United States teach...

Question 19

Carrie-Lee is embarrassed when her friends from university see her working as a Walmart greeter, so she explains to them that she is only doing it in order to find out firsthand how the company treats its employees. What is Carrie-Lee engaged in when she justifies her actions to her friends?

Accepted Answer

Carrie-Lee is engaged in role distancing, which occurs when an individual seeks to distance themselves from a role they are performing, often because it conflicts with their self-image or the expectations of their social group. By explaining her job as a means to an end, Carrie-Lee is attempting to create distance between her identity and her role as a Walmart greeter.

Question 20

Which sociologist is most likely to agree with Shakespeare's line, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players"?

Accepted Answer

Erving Goffman is most associated with the dramaturgical analysis of social interaction, where he likens social life to a theatrical performance, with individuals playing roles for others. This aligns closely with Shakespeare's metaphor.

Quiz 5: Social Interaction