Question 1

Sociologists distinguish among movements on the basis of their goals and the amount of change they seek to produce. Some movements seek to change people whereas others seek to change society.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists do distinguish among movements based on their goals and the amount of change they seek to produce, and some movements do seek to change people while others seek to change society.

Question 2

Absolute deprivation refers to the discontent that people may feel when they compare their achievements with those of similarly situated persons and find that they have less than they think they deserve.

Accepted Answer

Absolute deprivation is the lack of basic necessities required for survival, such as food, water, shelter, and health care. It is not related to a comparison with others' achievements.

Question 3

Rumors thrive when tensions are low and when an abundance of authentic information is available on an issue of great concern.

Accepted Answer

Rumors thrive when tensions are high and when there is a lack of authentic information available on an issue of great concern.

Question 4

Resource mobilization theory is based on the assumption that a social movement is an interactive, symbolically defined, and negotiated process that involves participants, opponents, and bystanders.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Resource mobilization theory is based on the...

Question 5

When successful framing occurs, the individual's vague dissatisfactions are turned into well-defined grievances, and people are compelled to join the movement in an effort to reduce or eliminate those grievances.

Accepted Answer

Successful framing is about creating a narrative around an issue or problem that helps people understand and define their grievances, making them more likely to join a movement to address those grievances.

Question 6

Based on sociologist Neil Smelser's value-added theory, movements go through six different stages. These steps are necessary for the development of a social movement.

Accepted Answer

According to sociologist Neil Smelser's value-added theory, movements go through six different stages which are necessary for the development of a social movement.

Question 7

Sociologists define social change as the alteration, modification, or transformation of public policy, culture, or social institutions over time; such change is usually brought about by collective behavior and social movements.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of social change according to sociologists.

Question 8

The so-called New Age movement seeks some limited change in people's behavior. Therefore, the New Age movement is classified as a reform movement.

Accepted Answer

The New Age movement is generally considered a spiritual or religious movement rather than a reform movement, as it focuses on personal transformation and spiritual growth rather than societal change.

Question 9

When social movements reach the institutionalization (bureaucratization) stage, the initial zeal and idealism of members may diminish as administrators take over management of the organization. Early grassroots supporters may become disillusioned and drop out.

Accepted Answer

This is because the institutionalization stage involves the development of formal systems and structures within the organization, which can lead to a shift in power and influence towards administrators and away from grassroots supporters. This can lead to a loss of the initial enthusiasm and idealism that motivated early members to join the movement.

Question 10

A classic example of mass hysteria with a widely dispersed audience was actor Orson Welles's 1938 radio dramatization of H.G. Wells's science fiction classic "The War of the Worlds."

Accepted Answer

The broadcast caused panic and confusion among many listeners who believed that Martians were actually invading the Earth.

Question 11

Religious (expressive) movements seek limited change in some aspect of people's behavior. For example, early in the 20ᵗʰ century, the Women's Christian Temperance Union attempted to get people to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages.

Accepted Answer

Religious (expressive) movements seek to bring about fundamental or radical change in society, including changes in values, beliefs, and behaviors. The example given in the statement is actually an example of a moralistic (reform) movement rather than a religious expressive movement.

Question 12

A fad is defined as a currently valued style of behavior, thinking, or appearance. Unlike fashions, fads tend to be longer lasting. A fashion is a temporary but widely copied activity enthusiastically followed by large numbers of people.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. Fads tend to be shorter lasting than fashions, and are typically characterized by a sudden burst of popularity and then a rapid decline in interest.

Question 13

People engaging in collective behavior may be divided into crowds and masses. A crowd is a number of people who share an interest in a specific idea or issue but who are not in one another's immediate vicinity. By contrast, a mass is a relatively large number of people who are in one another's immediate vicinity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of People engaging in collective behavior may be...

Question 14

Social movements are more likely to develop in preindustrial societies than in industrialized societies, where acceptance of traditional beliefs and practices makes such movements unlikely.

Accepted Answer

This statement is not accurate. Historically, social movements have developed in both preindustrial and industrialized societies. In fact, industrialized societies have often been hotbeds of social movements, with examples including the labor movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, civil rights movements in the mid-20th century, and environmental and feminist movements in more recent times. The acceptance of traditional beliefs and practices may actually contribute to social movements in some cases, as activists seek to challenge and change long-standing social structures and cultural norms.

Question 15

Public opinion consists of the attitudes and beliefs communicated by ordinary citizens to decision makers. It is measured through polls and surveys, which use research methods such as interviews and questionnaires.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Public opinion refers to the views and perspectives held by the general public on various issues or topics, which can be communicated through various channels such as social media, letters, petitions, and meetings with public officials. Polls and surveys are commonly used tools to collect and analyze public opinion, enabling decision makers to understand public sentiment and make informed decisions accordingly.

Question 16

It has been found that people respond similarly to both natural disasters and those caused by technological failure.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It has been found that people respond...

Question 17

Conventional crowds are made up of people who come together for a scheduled even and thus share a common focus.

Accepted Answer

Conventional crowds are defined as groups of people who come together for a common purpose, event, or activity. Thus, they share a common focus.

Question 18

Similar to the organizational behavior found in corporations and voluntary associations (such as labor unions and environmental organizations), collective behavior also has an official division of labor, hierarchy of authority, and established rules and procedures.

Accepted Answer

Collective behavior does not have an official division of labor, hierarchy of authority, or established rules and procedures. It is characterized by spontaneous and often unpredictable actions by a group of individuals.

Question 19

Mob violence tends to dissipate relatively quickly once a target has been injured, killed, or destroyed. Sometimes, actions such as an effigy hanging are used symbolically by groups that are not otherwise violent.

Accepted Answer

Mob violence is often spontaneous and lacks clear objectives or long-term planning. Once a target has been attacked or destroyed, the momentum of the mob tends to wane. However, it is important to note that this is not always the case and some mobs may continue to be violent even after achieving their initial goal. Additionally, symbolic acts such as effigy hanging can sometimes lead to further violence if they are seen as provocative or insulting by others.

Question 20

Scholar Gustave Le Bon asserted that emotions such as fear and hate are contagious in crowds because people experience an increase in personal responsibility; they will do things by themselves that they would never do as a collectivity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Scholar Gustave Le Bon asserted that emotions...

Quiz 16: Collective Behavior, Social Movements, and Social Change.