Question 1

Amos always felt that it was unfair that society created artificial divisions that discouraged him from having friends from different social structures. Which of the following terms describes the process that Amos is having difficulty with?

Accepted Answer

Social stratification is the process by which society divides people into different economic and social classes based on factors such as occupation, income, education, and social status. This societal division can create artificial barriers, preventing people from different classes from interacting or forming friendships due to perceptions of differences in values or lifestyles.

Question 2

In school, it always seemed as if Kenneth got all the breaks. He had access to all the right resources, such as special privileges, fancy cars, a large allowance, and dates with all the beautiful girls. Even at work, he was put on the fast track and got promoted early to a high-prestige job. It seemed as if Kenneth was artificially ranked higher than others. The process that best describes what happened to Kenneth is called ________.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes Kenneth as having access to a variety of resources and privileges that are based on his background or status, rather than his own effort or merit. This is commonly known as the "silver spoon" syndrome or ascribed status, where individuals are given advantages based on their family background, wealth, or connections. Bias may be a factor in how Kenneth is perceived or treated, but it does not fully explain the advantages he has received. Reference group affiliation and achieved status are not relevant terms in this scenario.

Question 3

The ________ marketing perspective recognizes that people sort themselves into groups on the basis of the things they like to do, how they like to spend their leisure time, and how they choose to spend their disposable income.

Accepted Answer

The lifestyle marketing perspective considers how individuals choose to live their lives, including their activities, interests, and opinions, and how these choices influence their purchasing decisions. The personality perspective focuses on individuals' enduring traits and characteristics that affect their behavior, whereas the motivation perspective examines the underlying reasons why people behave the way they do. The social perspective looks at the impact of social factors, such as culture, family, and social class, on consumer behavior. Therefore, option C is the best choice for the given question.

Question 4

If a social researcher wanted to investigate social status in a small city, her best choice for a questionnaire would be one that included questions or observations on education, area of residence, total family income per year, and ________.

Accepted Answer

Occupation prestige level of household head is a relevant indicator of social status and is often used in social research as a measurement of socioeconomic status. Membership groups and ability to communicate online are not necessarily direct indicators of social status, and the ability to win friends and influence people is a subjective measure that does not necessarily relate to social status.

Question 5

A Rolls-Royce, a Cartier diamond, and an Andy Warhol painting are all items bought and displayed as markers of social class. These products are ________.

Accepted Answer

These products are commonly known as status symbols, which are tangible and often expensive products used to display one's social status or class to others.

Question 6

Richard worked very hard on his grades and worked after school part time to be able to afford tutors to help him advance his education. When he was named number one in his class, he earned a certain status. The best term to describe the form of status that Richard earned is ________.

Accepted Answer

Richard's status was earned through his own efforts and achievements, which is the definition of an achieved status. Reference group affiliation would refer to being accepted and associated with a certain group, but that is not directly related to Richard's academic success. Classification status and ascribed status refer to being placed into a social category based on factors such as race, gender, and family background, which do not apply in this scenario.

Question 7

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

The knowledge that lower classes use more restrictive codes means that the promotion to a working-class man should emphasize immediate satisfaction and practical benefits, such as ensuring his family's wellbeing. In contrast, the promotion to an upper-class man should emphasize long-term consequences and the potential for financial gain or loss. By tailoring the message to each group's distinct communication style, the insurance company can increase the likelihood that the message will resonate with its audience and inspire them to take action.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a reason cited by your text that marketers have failed to use social class information as effectively as they could?

Accepted Answer

The text does not cite that marketers have ignored the impact of technology on social class as a reason for their failure to use social class information effectively. Instead, the text focuses on other factors such as ignoring status inconsistency, intergenerational mobility, and consumers' aspirations to change their class standing.

Question 9

Social analyst Thorstein Veblen believed that we buy things to create ________. This means we use our purchases to inspire envy in others through our display of wealth or power.

Accepted Answer

Thorstein Veblen believed that we buy things to create invidious distinction, which means we use our purchases to inspire envy in others through our display of wealth or power.

Question 10

A person in the middle class, but with an income at least 15 percent lower than the median for the middle class, would be known as a(n) ________ consumer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A person in the middle class, but...

Question 11

Fred has been a farmer all his life. He inherited the family farm when he was 35, but that was twenty years ago. It looks like he is going to lose the farm and have to take a manual labor job in the city to support his family. What form of mobility best describes Fred's position?

Accepted Answer

Downward mobility refers to the movement from a higher social position to a lower one. In this case, Fred is losing his family farm and having to take a manual labor job in the city, which represents a decrease in social status and a move from a higher social position (farmer) to a lower one (manual laborer).

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

The concept being described is "taste culture," which refers to the ways in which individuals and groups develop shared preferences and distinctions based on their aesthetic and intellectual tastes. Cultural code designation, social cluster, and consumption constellation are not commonly used terms in this context.

Question 13

________ defines a pattern of consumption reflecting a person's choices on how he or she spends their time and money.

Accepted Answer

Lifestyle refers to the way a person chooses to live their life, including their patterns of consumption and how they spend their time and money. It includes choices related to leisure activities, clothing, food, and other aspects of daily life. Habitus, social class, and cultural capital are all related concepts, but they do not specifically refer to patterns of consumption.

Question 14

________ are wealthy individuals who are likely to suffer from status anxiety, trying to display symbols of their success to make up for an internal lack of assurance about the "correct" way to behave.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the characteristics of the "nouveau riche," a term commonly used to refer to people who have recently gained a large amount of wealth and may feel insecure about their new status.

Question 15

If the super rich bought "shredded Levi's jeans" to wear to formal parties, they would be exhibiting a sophisticated form of conspicuous consumption known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the super rich bought "shredded Levi's...

Question 16

Product ________ occurs when the symbolic meanings of different products are related to one another.

Accepted Answer

Complementarity occurs when the symbolic meanings of different products are related to one another, such as when a luxury car brand promotes its partnership with a high-end watch brand.

Question 17

Consumers use a set of products called a(n) ________ to define, communicate, and perform social roles.

Accepted Answer

Consumption constellation refers to a set of products that consumers use to define their social roles and communicate their identities to others. This includes products that are specifically associated with a particular role, such as work attire or athletic gear, as well as broader lifestyle products that reflect a consumer's values and interests.

Question 18

Sixteen-year-old Michael wanted a car. One evening while his father was paying bills, Michael looked over his father's shoulder and saw how much money had been placed in the checking account. He whistled. "I thought you said that you didn't have enough money to buy me a used car. In just one month you could buy me the car I want." Michael's father then gave him a lecture on the differences between income and what is left after money is spent on utilities, mortgages, insurance premiums, and food. "Total income," his father said, "is not the same as ________ income, the source from which your unnecessary car would have to come."

Accepted Answer

The word "discretionary" means "available for use at one's own discretion" or "left to one's own judgment" and refers to income or money that is available to spend after all necessary expenses have been paid. This fits the context of the sentence and the father's lecture to his son about the difference between total income and income available for discretionary spending. Therefore, option D is the best choice.

Question 19

Pierre Bourdieu concluded that "taste" is a ________ that causes consumption preferences to cluster together.

Accepted Answer

Pierre Bourdieu's theory on taste centers on the concept of habitus, which refers to the social and cultural structures that shape an individual's worldview, values, and preferences. In this context, taste is seen as a manifestation of one's habitus, and consumption preferences tend to cluster together based on shared habitus. Therefore, option A) habitus is the best choice. Option B) code refers to the symbolic meaning conveyed by cultural objects and practices, but it is not directly related to Bourdieu's concept of taste. Option C) hierarchy relates to the relative positions of individuals or groups within a social system, which is a separate concept from taste. Option D) capital refers to the various forms of resources that can be used to gain power and social status, which is related to but distinct from Bourdieu's concept of habitus and taste.

Question 20

Psychologists use the term homogamy to describe "assortative mating." Which of the following phrases is the best illustration of homogamy?

Accepted Answer

Homogamy refers to the tendency for individuals to choose partners who are similar to themselves in various characteristics such as age, education level, and personality traits. "Birds of a feather flock together" means that people with similar interests and attitudes tend to stick together, which is a good illustration of homogamy. "Opposites attract" is the opposite of homogamy and refers to the idea that people are attracted to those who are different from themselves. "Leave no stone unturned" and "to the victor go the spoils" are phrases that have nothing to do with homogamy.

Quiz 12: Social Class and Lifestyles