Question 1

Which classic figure from early sociology made major contributions to the conflict perspective on social problems?

Accepted Answer

Karl Marx is recognized as the founding father of the conflict perspective on social problems. He argued that society is divided into classes, with the capitalist class exploiting the working class, and that conflict between these classes leads to social problems such as inequality and poverty.

Question 2

__________ theory stresses that a social process separates deviant and nondeviant persons not by what they do,but by how society reacts to what they do.

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory argues that deviance is not an inherent trait of certain types of behavior, but rather the product of societal reactions to such behavior. This means that whether someone is labeled as deviant or not depends not on what they do, but on how others interpret and react to their behavior. This theory also suggests that those who are labeled as deviant are often stigmatized and marginalized, leading to further deviance and social exclusion.

Question 3

A more modern version of the functionalist perspective attempts to show how people reorganize their lives to cope with new conditions,resulting in new kinds of organizations and/or whole new institutions.Research focusing on these attempts is known as the _________ approach.

Accepted Answer

The institutional or institution-building approach focuses on how people reorganize their lives to cope with new conditions, resulting in new kinds of organizations and/or whole new institutions. This aligns with the description given in the question. The other options do not fit the description as well.

Question 4

The Marxian conflict view of deviance emphasizes__________.

Accepted Answer

The Marxian conflict view of deviance emphasizes differences in the power of different groups or classes in society, specifically how those with less power are more likely to be labeled as deviant and punished than those with more power. This view critiques the idea that deviance is a result of individual pathology or a lack of morality, but rather a consequence of social inequalities and power imbalances.

Question 5

Which classic figure from early sociology made a major contribution to the interactionist perspective on social problems in the early twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

William I. Thomas, along with his collaborator Florian Znaniecki, conducted the famous study The Polish Peasant in Europe and America, which explored the subjective meanings and interpretations individuals give to their social experiences. This approach forms the basis of the interactionist perspective, which focuses on individuals' interactions and negotiations with their social environment in shaping social problems.

Question 6

Drug addicts may possess illegal drugs - an act that is criminal.To maintain their "habit," addicts may commit crimes in order to maintain their supply of drugs.This type of crime is categorized as __________ deviance.

Accepted Answer

Secondary deviance is when individuals engage in deviant behavior as a result of societal reactions to their primary deviance (in this case, drug addiction). The drug addiction itself may not be criminal, but the possession and use of illegal drugs is, and addicts may turn to criminal activities to maintain their drug habit. Therefore, the crimes committed by drug addicts in order to maintain their addiction would be considered secondary deviance.

Question 7

According to the __________ perspective on social problems,an individual's or group's definition of the situation is central to understanding the actions of that individual or group.

Accepted Answer

The interactionist perspective emphasizes the importance of individuals and groups in creating and defining social problems through their interactions and interpretations of the world around them. It emphasizes the subjective experiences and meanings that people attach to their actions and situations. Therefore, this perspective highlights the significance of an individual's or group's definition of the situation as central to understanding how they are likely to act in response to a particular social problem.

Question 8

Sociologists distinguish between the nature of media coverage of a social problem and the way that problem is perceived by the public and political leaders.They have also devoted considerable study to the question of how social problems develop from underlying conditions into publicly defined problems that engender social policies and sustained social movements.This subject is often referred to as the "__________" of social problems.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "natural history" is commonly used in sociology to describe the process by which social problems develop from underlying conditions to publicly recognized issues that require social policies and sustained social movements.

Question 9

In a recent national survey of Americans' attitudes on controversial issues,researchers found that on none of the issues presented did more than __________ percent of the respondents line up on either the conservative or liberal side of the question.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a recent national survey of Americans'...

Question 10

According to labeling theory,a major solution to deviance is __________.

Accepted Answer

Labeling theory suggests that one solution to deviance is to change the definition of what is considered deviant, such as decriminalizing certain offenses. This would reduce the number of people who are labeled as deviant, and therefore reduce the negative effects of labeling. Spending more money on the criminal justice system (option A) would only lead to more labeling, and major reform programs (option C) may be difficult to implement and may not be effective.

Question 11

According to value-conflict theory,a common approach to solving social problems involves __________.

Accepted Answer

Value-conflict theory suggests that many social problems arise from conflicting values held by different groups in society. Therefore, a solution to these problems would involve facilitating negotiation and compromise between and among these groups, which aligns with option B. The other options do not directly address the problem of conflicting values and may not necessarily solve the underlying issue.

Question 12

The institutional or institution-building approach,which shows how people reorganize their lives to cope with new conditions,is a modern version of the __________ approach to social problems.

Accepted Answer

The institutional or institution-building approach focuses on how people create new organizations or institutions in response to changing societal conditions. This approach is rooted in functionalist theory, which sees society as a complex system with various interconnected parts working together for the overall functioning and stability of society. Therefore, the best choice is A) functionalist.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT one of the major stages that most social problems seem to go through,as identified by Spector and Kitsuse?

Accepted Answer

The major stages identified by Spector and Kitsuse are problem definition, legitimization, re-emergence of demands, rejection and institution building. Legal invasion is not one of the major stages.

Question 14

"Social problems occur when groups with different values meet and compete." This statement describes __________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that social problems arise due to conflicts between groups with different values. This is a fundamental principle of value-conflict theory. Social disorganization theory is concerned with the breakdown of society's basic institutions and systems, leading to social disorganization. Social pathology theory contains a biomedical approach to social problems, and labeling theory emphasizes the influence of social labels on an individual's behavior. Differential resources theory focuses on the unequal distribution of resources leading to social problems.

Question 15

In their work,scholars who adopt a Marxian conflict perspective on deviance usually emphasize how ___________.

Accepted Answer

Scholars who adopt a Marxian conflict perspective view deviance as a result of inequalities of wealth and power. They argue that social problems, including deviance, are distributed unevenly in the population because of the dominance of the ruling class and their control over the means of production. Therefore, addressing deviance requires addressing the underlying economic and power structures of society. Minor reforms, rehabilitation programs, and improving police forces may have limited impact if the underlying structures of society remain unchanged.

Question 16

The __________ perspective on social problems is based on the belief that social problems arise out of major contradictions,leading to contention between those who have access to the "good life," and those who do not.

Accepted Answer

The conflict perspective examines how power differentials and inequality contribute to social problems. It views society as composed of competing groups that have conflicting interests, with those in power seeking to maintain their advantage at the expense of less powerful groups. This perspective emphasizes the struggle for resources and power, which ultimately leads to social problems such as poverty, crime, and discrimination.

Question 17

Which two sociologists made major contributions to the interactionist perspective on social problems by drawing attention to the importance of what sociologists call peer groups?

Accepted Answer

Charles H. Cooley and George H. Mead both made major contributions to the interactionist perspective on social problems by highlighting the role of peer groups in shaping individual behavior and beliefs. Cooley developed the concept of the "looking-glass self," which emphasizes how individuals develop a sense of self based on how they imagine others perceive them. Mead's work on symbolic interactionism stressed the importance of communication and language in shaping social behavior, including the role of peer groups in developing shared meanings and norms.

Question 18

According to labeling theory,the act of labeling a person or group deviant may cause society to suffer in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

According to labeling theory, labeling someone as deviant may cause them to accept that definition and increase their deviant behavior as a result. This is known as the self-fulfilling prophecy, where individuals conform to the expectations placed upon them. As a result, society may suffer from an increased level of deviant behavior.

Question 19

The debate over legalization versus criminalization of abortion reflects disagreements that can be explained by __________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The debate over the legalization versus criminalization of abortion reflects fundamental value conflicts regarding the importance of individual autonomy and privacy versus the value of protecting the potential human life of the fetus.

Question 20

According to Karl Marx,the conflict in capitalist societies takes place between__________.

Accepted Answer

According to Karl Marx's theory of capitalism, the primary conflict in capitalist societies is between the two main classes - the bourgeoisie (those who own the means of production) and the proletariat (those who sell their labor for wages). This conflict arises because the bourgeoisie seek to maximize their profits by paying the proletariat as little as possible, while the proletariat seeks to earn higher wages and improve their working conditions. This creates a fundamental tension between the two classes that Marx believed would eventually lead to a revolution and the overthrow of capitalism.

Quiz 1: Sociological Perspective on Social Problems