Question 1

For any particular status, __________ refers to how a person actually behaves within her role.

Accepted Answer

Role performance refers to how a person actually behaves within their role, while role expectation refers to the societal expectations one has when fulfilling a certain role. Symbolic performance and status expectation are not directly related to how a person behaves within their role.

Question 2

Charles has a final exam in the evening at a time when he is supposed to be working.That same evening Stephanie (his girlfriend) wants him to take her to a movie. To top it off, his mother calls, asking him to fly home because his father is going to have emergency surgery. Sociologists would say that Charles is very likely experiencing __________.

Accepted Answer

Charles is experiencing role conflict, which is defined as a situation in which two or more roles associated with contradictory expectations. In this case, his role as a student conflicts with his role as an employee, and his role as a boyfriend conflicts with his potential role as a son.

Question 3

__________ occurs when the expectations associated with a role are unclear.

Accepted Answer

Role ambiguity occurs when the expectations associated with a role are unclear. This can include uncertainty about tasks, responsibilities, performance standards, and other requirements associated with performing the role effectively. Role ambiguity can lead to confusion, stress, and decreased job satisfaction.

Question 4

The expectations for being a college student include attending class, completing assignments, and being involved in campus activities. These expectations are an example of a __________.

Accepted Answer

The expectations listed are examples of the role of a college student - the set of behaviors, attitudes, and obligations associated with being a student. A status symbol refers to an item or possession that signals status, social status refers to one's position in society based on various factors, and status conflict refers to when two or more statuses a person holds conflict with each other. None of these fully capture the expectations given.

Question 5

Jane defines herself first and foremost as a student. For Jane, being a student is considered her _________ status.

Accepted Answer

Jane's identification of herself primarily as a student indicates that being a student is her master status. A master status is a status that has exceptional significance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life.

Question 6

It is not always clear when the provider-dependent aspect of the parent-child relationship ends. Should it end at age 18 or 21? When a person is no longer in school? This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of role ambiguity, as there is confusion about the expectations and responsibilities of the provider-dependent aspect of the parent-child relationship.

Question 7

A former business manager is between jobs and takes a job at a local retail store in order to make ends meet. In that position, she frequently talks about her previous work and her plans for the future. She doesn't want people to view her as a "clerk." Her behavior is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The former business manager's behavior is an example of role distancing, where she is trying to distance herself from the perceived lower status of a clerk and maintain her previous professional identity. Role ambiguity refers to confusion about one's role expectations, role inconsistency refers to conflicting role expectations, and role exiting refers to leaving a role altogether.

Question 8

Regardless of a person's other characteristics, which of these is most likely to become a stigmatized master status?

Accepted Answer

Homelessness is often stigmatized in society, and individuals who are homeless may be seen as "less than" or somehow flawed in some way. This can affect how they are treated by others and may become a defining characteristic of their identity. While being a father, coach or male may also be part of a person's identity, it is less likely to be stigmatized in the same way that homelessness can be.

Question 9

__________ occurs when people disengage from social roles that have been central to their self-identity.

Accepted Answer

Role exit occurs when people disengage from social roles that have been central to their self-identity. This may involve leaving behind a job, a relationship, or a community, and can be a difficult and complex process. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including personal growth, cultural shifts, or changes in life circumstances.

Question 10

Wearing a wedding ring proclaims that a person is married, owning a Rolls-Royce announces that one has "made it," and pushing a shopping cart is an indicator that one is homeless. These are examples of __________.

Accepted Answer

These examples are all status symbols, which are objects or social cues that indicate a person's social and economic position within society.

Question 11

When __________ occurs, we may feel pulled in different directions. We may prioritize our roles and first complete the one we consider to be most important. Or we may compartmentalize our lives and "insulate" our various roles.

Accepted Answer

Role conflict occurs when we face competing demands or expectations from different roles we hold. As a result, we may feel torn between fulfilling one role or another. In response, we may prioritize our roles or insulate them to alleviate some of the tension.

Question 12

Recent research indicates that female student-athletes have their own ways of dealing with the "female/athlete paradox," which is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The "female/athlete paradox" refers to the tension that female athletes can experience in reconciling their femininity with their athletic prowess. This tension is an example of role conflict, which occurs when an individual is confronted with incompatible expectations from different social roles they occupy. Female student-athletes are expected to adhere to traditional gender norms relating to femininity, while also embodying the physical and competitive qualities of an athlete, creating a tension between these two roles.

Question 13

__________ refers to the conscious fostering of the impression of a lack of commitment or attachment to a particular role. It is clear one merely goes through the motions of role performance.

Accepted Answer

Role distancing refers to consciously creating the impression of a lack of commitment or attachment to a particular role by going through the motions of role performance. Role conflict refers to facing contradictory demands from multiple roles, role ambiguity refers to unclear role expectations, and role strain refers to difficulties in meeting the demands of a single role.

Question 14

A __________ is a set of behavioral expectations associated with a given status.

Accepted Answer

The term "role" refers to the set of behavioral expectations that are associated with a given status. A person who occupies a particular position or status is expected to fulfill certain responsibilities and perform certain actions that are unique to that role. Thus, a person who holds the status of a doctor is expected to behave in a certain way and perform certain functions, such as diagnosing and treating patients, prescribing medication, etc. This set of behavioral expectations is what we refer to as a role.

Question 15

Which of these is the best illustration of the characterization of roles as relational?

Accepted Answer

Choice D directly states an example of a relational role, where the performance of the teacher's role is dependent on the existence of a student, thereby emphasizing the importance of relationships in defining roles. The other options touch on different aspects of role theory but do not offer as clear a depiction of relational roles.

Question 16

In regard to media stories about the problem of homelessness, __________ is the term for news stories that focus primarily on statistics about the homeless population and recent trends in homelessness.

Accepted Answer

Thematic framing refers to news stories that provide context and background information, such as statistics and trends, to help the audience understand the broader issues surrounding a topic like homelessness.

Question 17

Cameron is a freshman at the local college. As a student, he is feeling pressure. He wants to party like the rest of his fraternity brothers, but at the same time, he wants to maintain his 4.0 grade point average. Sociologists would say that Jack is experiencing _________.

Accepted Answer

Cameron is experiencing role strain, which is the tension or pressure a person feels when they have incompatible roles within the same status. In this case, Cameron's roles as a partying fraternity brother and a student with a 4.0 GPA are causing tension and pressure. Role conflict (A) refers to the tension or pressure a person feels when they have to fulfill the expectations of two or more different statuses. Role incompatibility (B) is another term for role strain. Role reversal (C) refers to a situation where two people switch their roles, such as a child taking care of their parent.

Question 18

One's occupation is an indicator of level of education and income and may also reflect family background. In the United States, occupation is an important determinant of social position. This makes occupation a likely __________ status.

Accepted Answer

Master status is a term in sociology that refers to a status that has exceptional importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life. Occupation fits this description as it significantly influences one's social position, interactions, and identity in society.

Question 19

__________ may focus on the problems of one homeless family, describing how the parents and kids live in a car and eat meals from a soup kitchen. These stories do not necessarily describe the larger context of homelessness.

Accepted Answer

Episodic framing refers to stories that focus on an individual or small group of people, such as a homeless family, without necessarily providing a broader context or addressing systemic issues.

Question 20

Marital inequality, conflict over parenting responsibilities, unclear expectations, and lack of emotional support may contribute to __________ for both men and women.

Accepted Answer

The mentioned factors can all contribute to role strain for both men and women. Role strain refers to the experience of tension or difficulty in fulfilling multiple roles or expectations within one's life. In this case, the strain is related to the roles of being a spouse and parent, and the conflicting demands and expectations that can come with those roles. Option A (role conflict) refers specifically to conflicting demands within a single role, while option B (status inconsistency) and option D (status frustration) refer to different concepts unrelated to this scenario.

Quiz 4: Social Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life

For any particular status, __________ refers to how a person actually behaves within her role.

__________ occurs when the expectations associated with a role are unclear.

The expectations for being a college student include attending class, completing assignments, and being involved in campus activities. These expectations are an example of a __________.

Jane defines herself first and foremost as a student. For Jane, being a student is considered her _________ status.

It is not always clear when the provider-dependent aspect of the parent-child relationship ends. Should it end at age 18 or 21? When a person is no longer in school? This is an example of __________.

A former business manager is between jobs and takes a job at a local retail store in order to make ends meet. In that position, she frequently talks about her previous work and her plans for the future. She doesn't want people to view her as a "clerk." Her behavior is an example of __________.

Regardless of a person's other characteristics, which of these is most likely to become a stigmatized master status?

__________ occurs when people disengage from social roles that have been central to their self-identity.

Wearing a wedding ring proclaims that a person is married, owning a Rolls-Royce announces that one has "made it," and pushing a shopping cart is an indicator that one is homeless. These are examples of __________.

When __________ occurs, we may feel pulled in different directions. We may prioritize our roles and first complete the one we consider to be most important. Or we may compartmentalize our lives and "insulate" our various roles.

Recent research indicates that female student-athletes have their own ways of dealing with the "female/athlete paradox," which is an example of __________.

__________ refers to the conscious fostering of the impression of a lack of commitment or attachment to a particular role. It is clear one merely goes through the motions of role performance.

A __________ is a set of behavioral expectations associated with a given status.

Which of these is the best illustration of the characterization of roles as relational?

In regard to media stories about the problem of homelessness, __________ is the term for news stories that focus primarily on statistics about the homeless population and recent trends in homelessness.

Cameron is a freshman at the local college. As a student, he is feeling pressure. He wants to party like the rest of his fraternity brothers, but at the same time, he wants to maintain his 4.0 grade point average. Sociologists would say that Jack is experiencing _________.

One's occupation is an indicator of level of education and income and may also reflect family background. In the United States, occupation is an important determinant of social position. This makes occupation a likely __________ status.

__________ may focus on the problems of one homeless family, describing how the parents and kids live in a car and eat meals from a soup kitchen. These stories do not necessarily describe the larger context of homelessness.

Marital inequality, conflict over parenting responsibilities, unclear expectations, and lack of emotional support may contribute to __________ for both men and women.