Question 1

Each party to the exchange must perceive that they are not paying too high a cost relative to the rewards gained; Homans's titled this concept
A) behavioral propositions.
B) elementary social behavior.
C) neoclassic economics.
D) distributive justice.

Accepted Answer

The concept described in the question is distributive justice, which refers to the perceived fairness of the distribution of costs and rewards in social exchanges. Choices A, B, and C are not relevant to the question.

Question 2

Homans and Blau differed because Blau
A) went farther with the concept of behavioral psychology.
B) emphasized that interaction is shaped by a reciprocal exchange of rewards.
C) abandoned Homans's psychological behaviorism and emphasized power and inequality.
D) reinterpreted Homans's conception of distributive justice.

Accepted Answer

Blau departed from Homans's psychological behaviorism and focused more on power and inequality in social interactions, while also recognizing the importance of exchange and rewards.

Question 3

Exchange theory differs from James S. Coleman's work in that exchange theory deals with relationships, while Coleman's deals with
A) decisions.
B) power.
C) symbols.
D) economics.

Accepted Answer

Exchange theory focuses on the exchange of resources and social interactions between individuals, while Coleman's work focuses on how individuals make decisions in groups and organizations.

Question 4

According to the authors, Homans's basic theoretical orientation can be considered
A) Individual/rational.
B) Individual/nonrational.
C) Collective/rational.
D) Collective/nonrational.

Accepted Answer

Homans's basic theoretical orientation emphasizes individual behavior and decision-making, and he argues that individuals act rationally to achieve their goals based on the rewards and costs associated with different actions. Therefore, his approach can be characterized as individual and rational.

Question 5

A woman who dates a wealthy but otherwise miserable to be around man could be assumed to be doing so for
A) intrinsic rewards.
B) extrinsic rewards.
C) imbalanced exchange.
D) distributive justice.

Accepted Answer

The woman is likely dating the man for extrinsic rewards such as money, status, or material possessions, despite his unpleasant personality or behavior.

Question 6

Which concept does Homans's describe as an exchange of goods reinforced by the values that actors attach to rewards sought and costs endured?
A) economics
B) psychology
C) interaction
D) justice

Accepted Answer

Homans describes this concept as interaction, where actors exchange goods (such as rewards and costs) based on the values attached to them.

Question 7

Unavoidable punishments that are experienced when a behavior also elicits positive reinforcement are called
A) losses.
B) retributions.
C) costs.
D) dysfunctions.

Accepted Answer

The term for punishments that co-occur with positive reinforcement is "costs." This is because the behavior still produces some positive outcome, but at a higher overall expense. Losses refer specifically to negative outcomes, retributions are a form of revenge, and dysfunctions are typically negative consequences that arise from a system or individual not working properly.

Question 8

For Blau, the concept of power was based upon
A) an unequal exchange due to monopoly over a desired resource.
B) an ability to exercise one's will economically.
C) a discrepancy in meaning actors possess during an interaction.
D) a biological difference realized through the study of behavior.

Accepted Answer

Blau's concept of power was based on an unequal exchange due to a monopoly over a desired resource. He believed that power was the ability to control the distribution of valued resources in a way that disadvantaged others.

Question 9

Which scholar's work on the effects of operant conditioning greatly influenced Homans's work?
A) James Coleman
B) B.F. Skinner
C) Georg Simmel
D) Robert Merton

Accepted Answer

Homans was greatly influenced by B.F. Skinner's work on operant conditioning, which he used to develop his social exchange theory.

Question 10

Blau argues that social interaction is rooted in the seeking of rewards. Intrinsic rewards are those that
A) we value for their own sake, not because they produce additional advantages.
B) create the opportunity for further gains, particularly regarding wealth or power.
C) are less important to interaction than the pursuit of extrinsic rewards.
D) are valued because they produce additional advantages

Accepted Answer

Blau argues that social interaction is based on the seeking of rewards, and intrinsic rewards are those that we value for their own sake, not because they produce additional advantages.

Question 11

Homans sought to explain elementary social behavior which he defined as
A) face-to-face contact between individuals, in which the reward each gets from the behavior of the others, is relatively direct and immediate.
B) human beings acting toward things on the basis of the meanings that the things have for them.
C) based on the division of labor inherent within primitive societies.
D) a reciprocal relationship between an interdependent self and society.

Accepted Answer

Homans' definition of elementary social behavior focuses on face-to-face interactions between individuals where the reward received by each person is immediate and direct. This type of behavior occurs in small-scale social settings, such as families or small groups. Homans believed that social behavior is motivated by the rewards and punishments that individuals experience through their interactions with others, and that these rewards and punishments shape their future behavior.

Question 12

Which one of the following is not one of Homans's behaviorist propositions?
A) success
B) satisfaction
C) value
D) stimulus

Accepted Answer

Satisfaction is not one of Homans's behaviorist propositions. His propositions include success, value, stimulus, and deprivation-satiation.

Question 13

Which term do we use to refer to the instances where the same individuals are both the beneficiaries and the targets of the norm?
A) proscriptive.
B) disjoint.
C) prescriptive.
D) conjoint.

Accepted Answer

When the same individuals are both the beneficiaries and the targets of the norm, we use the term "conjoint."

Question 14

Blau's basic theoretical orientation according to the authors is primarily
A) individual/rational.
B) individual/nonrational.
C) collective/rational
D) collective/nonrational

Accepted Answer

Blau's theoretical orientation is primarily individual/rational, focusing on how individuals engage in social exchange and make rational choices based on costs and benefits.

Question 15

The more often an action is followed by a reward, the more likely a person will repeat the behavior is referred to by Homans as
A) the value proposition
B) the stimulus proposition
C) the success proposition
D) the deprivation-satiation proposition

Accepted Answer

This principle is referred to by Homans as the success proposition, which posits that if an action is followed by a desirable outcome (reward), it is more likely to be repeated in the future. This is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, emphasizing the role of reinforcement in shaping behavior.

Question 16

The authors point to James S. Coleman as a significant other due to his work with _________ which is closely aligned with exchange theory.
A) symbolic interactionism
B) conflict theory
C) rational choice theory
D) structural functionalism

Accepted Answer

The authors identify James S. Coleman as significant due to his work with rational choice theory, which is closely aligned with exchange theory. Rational choice theory posits that individuals make decisions based on rational calculations of costs and benefits, and exchange theory builds on this idea by focusing on social exchanges between individuals and how they are impacted by factors like power, resources, and social norms.

Question 17

Which scholar could it be argued was most influential on Blau's work on interaction?
A) Karl Marx
B) Emile Durkheim
C) Max Weber
D) Georg Simmel

Accepted Answer

Blau was heavily influenced by German sociologist Georg Simmel, particularly his ideas on social interaction and forms of association. Simmel's concept of "social distance" was particularly influential in shaping Blau's ideas on how social structure and interaction shape inequality.

Question 18

Which of the following represents the subtle difference between rational choice theory and exchange theory?
A) Only rational choice theory views the actor as rational
B) Rational choice theory situates strategic decisions within group dynamics
C) Only exchange theory views the actor as a purposeful agent
D) Exchange theory rarely situates decision-making within reward maximation

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory focuses on individual decision-making based on maximizing personal advantage, while exchange theory extends this to social interactions, considering group dynamics and reciprocal exchanges.

Question 19

Max Weber and Talcott Parsons influenced Blau's analysis of the role of
A) interaction in realizing our ambitions.
B) power and norms of legitimation in shaping group processes.
C) individual interactions resulting in the pursuit of extrinsic value.
D) Individual interactions symbolized by imbalanced exchange.

Accepted Answer

Blau's analysis of the role of power and norms of legitimation in shaping group processes was influenced by the works of Max Weber and Talcott Parsons. Weber's ideas of authority and legitimacy, and Parsons' concept of pattern maintenance were crucial in shaping Blau's understanding of how power and norms of legitimation operate within groups. Blau expanded on these ideas by developing his own theory of social exchange, which emphasizes the importance of social structure and power differentials in shaping group interactions.

Question 20

George Homans's approach to exchange theory is based upon a fusion of principles of
A) structural functionalism and behaviorialism.
B) behavioral psychology and neoclassical economics.
C) symbolic interactionism and behaviorialism.
D) dramaturgy and social psychology.

Accepted Answer

George Homans's approach to exchange theory is based on merging behavioral psychology and neoclassical economics. He views human behavior as purposeful and rational, with individuals seeking to maximize rewards and minimize costs in their interactions with others. This approach is also referred to as social exchange theory.

Quiz 11: Exchange and Rational Choice Theory

Each party to the exchange must perceive that they are not paying too high a cost relative to the rewards gained; Homans's titled this concept

Homans and Blau differed because Blau

Exchange theory differs from James S. Coleman's work in that exchange theory deals with relationships, while Coleman's deals with

According to the authors, Homans's basic theoretical orientation can be considered

A woman who dates a wealthy but otherwise miserable to be around man could be assumed to be doing so for

Which concept does Homans's describe as an exchange of goods reinforced by the values that actors attach to rewards sought and costs endured?

Unavoidable punishments that are experienced when a behavior also elicits positive reinforcement are called

For Blau, the concept of power was based upon

Which scholar's work on the effects of operant conditioning greatly influenced Homans's work?

Blau argues that social interaction is rooted in the seeking of rewards. Intrinsic rewards are those that

Homans sought to explain elementary social behavior which he defined as

Which one of the following is not one of Homans's behaviorist propositions?

Which term do we use to refer to the instances where the same individuals are both the beneficiaries and the targets of the norm?

Blau's basic theoretical orientation according to the authors is primarily

The more often an action is followed by a reward, the more likely a person will repeat the behavior is referred to by Homans as

The authors point to James S. Coleman as a significant other due to his work with _________ which is closely aligned with exchange theory.

Which scholar could it be argued was most influential on Blau's work on interaction?

Which of the following represents the subtle difference between rational choice theory and exchange theory?

Max Weber and Talcott Parsons influenced Blau's analysis of the role of

George Homans's approach to exchange theory is based upon a fusion of principles of