Question 1

Fred has been a farmer all his life.He inherited the family farm when he was 35, but that was 20 years ago.It looks like he is going to lose the farm and have to take a manual labour job in the city to support his family.What form of mobility best describes Fred's position?

Accepted Answer

Fred's position is moving downward from his previous occupation as a farmer to a manual labor job in the city. This is an example of downward mobility.

Question 2

Most groups exhibit a structure called a ________ in which some members are somehow better off than others.

Accepted Answer

A status hierarchy refers to a structure in which group members hold different levels of status or prestige. This hierarchy may be based on factors such as wealth, education, or social connections, and can result in some members having more power, influence, or other benefits than others. This is a common feature of many groups, ranging from informal social networks to formal organizations like businesses or governments.

Question 3

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

The occupational prestige level of the household head is a crucial factor in determining social status. This measure takes into account the level of education, income, and job prestige associated with the household head's occupation. Therefore, including this in the questionnaire would give a comprehensive view of social status. The other options - membership groups of primary income earners, ability to communicate via the Internet and other electronic communication channels, and ability to win friends and influence people - do not directly relate to social status and are not as relevant for this particular investigation.

Question 4

________ refers to the passage of individuals from one social class to another.

Accepted Answer

Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals to move from one social class to another. It can be upward or downward mobility, and can result from factors such as education, occupation, or economic opportunities. Status crystallisation refers to the level of consistency in a person's social class across different dimensions, while social affinity refers to the degree of attraction or connection between individuals based on social factors. Social stratification refers to the hierarchical ranking of individuals or groups within a society based on various social factors such as income, occupation, or education.

Question 5

Ahmed decided to become a police officer after several years as a firefighter.He still wanted to help people; he just wanted to do it differently.Ahmed's case is an example of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal mobility refers to a change in occupation or role within the same social class, which is what Ahmed experienced by moving from being a firefighter to a police officer.

Question 6

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 coined the term "invidious distinction" to describe the phenomenon of using our purchases to create envy in others through the display of wealth or power. Veblen argued that this behavior was driven by the desire to achieve higher social status than others, which he called the "pecuniary emulation."

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

The phrase "birds of a feather flock together" means that people tend to be attracted to and form relationships with individuals who are similar to themselves, which is a key component of homogamy. The other phrases are unrelated to homogamy.

Question 8

Social class is a strong predictor of purchases that have symbolic aspects, but low to moderate prices.Which of the following is the best example of a product with these characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Liquor is a product that has symbolic aspects, such as connotations of sophistication, class, and status, but is generally priced at a low to moderate level. Social class has been found to strongly predict purchases of symbolic products, such as liquor, as people with higher social class tend to value symbolic meanings and cultural capital more than material possessions. Cars and homes, on the other hand, are typically high-priced products with both functional and symbolic aspects, and their purchase decisions are influenced by a complex interplay of factors beyond social class, such as lifestyle, personality, and life stage. Refrigerators are low-priced products with primarily functional aspects, and are not strongly associated with social status or symbolic meanings.

Question 9

Jaime was born into a wealthy family that has made millions of dollars from multiple generations of real-estate speculation.Because of this, Jaime, now in his 30s, has never had to have a job.Jaime has ________ status.

Accepted Answer

Ascribed status is an inherited position in society, often based on factors such as race, gender, and birth into a particular family. Jaime's social position is not based on any achievements of his own, but rather on his family's wealth and status, making his status ascribed.

Question 10

Kenneth graduated at the top of his class, but he didn't get any breaks.Without any money for a car, he walked two miles to and from school each day.He knew he needed help with math, so he worked a part-time job outside of school to pay for a math tutor.These years were hard for Kenneth, but he graduated with many friends and with much recognition.Kenneth attained ________.

Accepted Answer

Kenneth's hard work and dedication to improving his math skills through a part-time job demonstrate that he achieved his success and stature rather than having it ascribed to him. Therefore, Kenneth attained an achieved status.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

The text does not mention the impact of technology on social class as a reason why marketers have failed to use social class information effectively.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus refers to the set of dispositions, preferences, and habitual practices that individuals acquire through their socialization and experience. In the context of consumption, habitus shapes individuals' tastes and preferences and causes them to cluster together in particular social groups or classes. As a result, consumption choices are not solely based on individual preferences but reflect broader social and cultural influences.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A "taste culture" concept is being applied when people are differentiated based on their aesthetic and intellectual preferences. This refers to a system of shared values and practices that shape people's preferences and consumption choices within a particular cultural context. Other options are not directly related to this concept.

Question 14

The term affluenza refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

Affluenza refers to the psychological ills affecting wealthy individuals, including stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction, often caused by their high levels of consumption and prosperity.

Question 15

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 refers to the process of dividing a society into different social classes based on factors such as wealth, occupation, and education. Amos feels that this division is unfair and that it discourages him from forming friendships with people from different social strata.

Question 16

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

Parody display is when the wealthy adopt styles or items that are traditionally associated with lower social classes, often to make a statement or to differentiate themselves from other wealthy individuals.

Question 17

Sasha has worked hard her whole life, having two and sometimes three jobs when she was in her 20s and 30s.She saved and invested diligently and now, in her 50s, she is a wealthy and highly respected entrepreneur.Sasha has ________ status.

Accepted Answer

Sasha's status is achieved, meaning she attained it through her own efforts and hard work, rather than being born into it (ascribed) or being part of a structured hierarchy (hierarchical). Longitudinal status is not a recognized sociological term.

Question 18

The hundreds of millions of consumers around the world who can now afford higher quality products belong to the ________.

Accepted Answer

The term "mass class" refers to the large group of consumers who can afford higher quality products due to rising incomes and improved access to credit. This group includes a majority of the population in many developing countries and has led to the growth of mass market products and brands. The other options, such as prestige class and ruling class, refer to much smaller and wealthier segments of the population with different consumption patterns. Mobile demanders may or may not be part of the mass class, depending on their income and purchasing power.

Question 19

An Aston Martin car, a Giorgio Armani suit, and a Mark Rothko painting are all items bought and displayed as markers of social class.These products are ________.

Accepted Answer

These products are displayed as markers of social class, which signifies that they are being used as status symbols. They represent higher levels of wealth and social status, and are intended to send a message about the owner's level of prestige and sophistication.

Question 20

Richard never worked very hard on his grades.When he needed help, his parents paid for as many tutors as he needed.Furthermore, because his father was a prominent and wealthy politician, none of Richard's teachers wanted to upset him, and they gave Richard multiple chances to provide his work when he missed deadlines.The best term to describe the form of status that Richard earned is ________.

Accepted Answer

Richard's status was ascribed, meaning it was given to him based on his family's wealth and social position, rather than earned through his own efforts or accomplishments.

Quiz 13: Lifestyle, Income and Social Class