Sociology Practice Quiz #4

The expectations that Barbie dolls are for girls and G.I. Joe dolls are for boys reflect societal norms and beliefs about appropriate toys for each gender. These expectations are based on the concept of gender roles, which are the set of behaviors, attitudes, and expectations associated with being male or female in a particular culture. Gender roles are learned and reinforced through socialization, and they can vary across different societies and time periods. In this case, the expectation that Barbie dolls are for girls and G.I. Joe dolls are for boys is an example of how gender roles are perpetuated through children's toys.

Values are an example of nonmaterial culture because they are abstract concepts that are shared and passed down within a society. Unlike money, books, and cars, which are all material objects, values are intangible and exist only in the minds and behaviors of individuals. Values shape the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of a group of people, influencing their social interactions and guiding their decision-making. They are an important aspect of culture, playing a significant role in shaping social norms, customs, and traditions.

Achieved statuses refer to the positions or roles that individuals attain through their own efforts and actions. These statuses are not predetermined at birth or assigned by external factors, but rather are acquired through personal achievements, skills, or qualifications. Unlike ascribed statuses, which are assigned based on characteristics such as gender, race, or family background, achieved statuses are voluntary and reflect an individual's accomplishments and choices. Therefore, the correct answer is achieved statuses.

Socialization refers to the lifelong process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms that are necessary for individuals to become functioning members of a society. Through socialization, individuals acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, and behaviors that enable them to interact and participate in social relationships and institutions. This process occurs through various agents of socialization, such as family, school, peers, and media, which shape individuals' attitudes, behaviors, and identities. Socialization is crucial for the development of individuals and the maintenance of social order within a society.

Roles refer to the expectations and duties that are associated with a particular status. They define the behavior and responsibilities that individuals are expected to fulfill based on their position or social status. Roles play a crucial role in shaping social interactions and maintaining social order by providing a framework for individuals to understand and fulfill their obligations within a given context.

The story of the abused child named Anna teaches lessons about the importance of human interaction on human development. This suggests that the story highlights how crucial it is for individuals to have positive and nurturing relationships with others in order to grow and develop in a healthy way. Human interaction provides emotional support, social skills, and a sense of belonging, all of which are essential for overall development and well-being.

Involuntary statuses refer to the social positions or roles that individuals are assigned at birth or based on certain characteristics such as race, gender, or family background. These statuses are not chosen or achieved by individuals but are imposed upon them by society. Ascribed statuses are therefore the correct answer as they describe the statuses that we are born into or assigned without any personal effort or choice.

Money is considered an example of material culture because it is a physical object that holds value and is used as a medium of exchange in society. It is a tangible representation of wealth and is produced, distributed, and consumed within a specific cultural context. Money is an essential aspect of economic systems and plays a significant role in shaping social interactions, relationships, and behaviors related to economic transactions.

The correct answer is family, schools, peers, and media. These four categories represent the main agents of socialization, which are the sources through which individuals learn and internalize societal norms, values, and behaviors. Family is the primary agent, as it is where individuals first learn basic social skills and cultural values. Schools play a crucial role in socializing individuals by teaching academic knowledge, social skills, and societal expectations. Peers influence socialization through interactions and peer pressure. Media, including television, music, and books, also shape socialization by providing information, values, and role models.

Peer pressure refers to the influence that individuals in a social group have on each other to conform to certain behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs. This influence is particularly strong among teenagers and can lead them to engage in activities they may not otherwise choose to do. It is a common phenomenon during adolescence as teenagers seek acceptance and approval from their peers. Peer pressure can have both positive and negative effects on individuals, depending on the nature of the behavior being encouraged or discouraged.

Venus Williams' status as one of the top women's tennis players in the world is considered her master status. This term refers to a status that holds significant importance and often overrides other statuses an individual may have. In Venus Williams' case, her mastery in tennis is seen as the most prominent and defining aspect of her identity, overshadowing any other statuses she may possess.

Sesame Street was created to provide educational opportunities for low-income children. The show was designed to teach children basic academic and social skills through entertaining and engaging content. It aimed to bridge the educational gap between children from different socio-economic backgrounds by making quality educational programming accessible to all. Sesame Street has been widely recognized for its success in promoting early childhood education and helping children develop essential skills for school readiness.

Resocialization refers to a drastic type of adult socialization that occurs when adults change environments. It involves a process of unlearning old behaviors, attitudes, and values, and adopting new ones that are appropriate for the new social setting. This can happen when individuals enter a new workplace, join a new community, or experience a major life transition. Resocialization often involves intense social pressure and may require individuals to undergo significant changes in their identity and behavior. It can be a challenging and transformative process as individuals adapt to new social norms and expectations.

Military boot camps and prisons are considered total institutions because they exert complete control over all aspects of individuals' lives. In these settings, individuals are subject to strict rules, routines, and regulations, and their behavior, activities, and interactions are closely monitored and controlled. Total institutions aim to strip individuals of their previous identities and mold them into a new collective identity that aligns with the institution's goals and values. This level of control and socialization distinguishes total institutions from other social organizations and institutions such as bureaucracies or front stages.

The correct answer is dramaturgical theory. This theory, developed by sociologist Erving Goffman, uses the metaphor of a theatrical performance to explain social interactions. It suggests that individuals present different versions of themselves depending on the social situation, just like actors on a stage. The concepts of front stage and backstage refer to the different settings where individuals perform and prepare for their roles. While William Shakespeare's work is not directly mentioned in the question, his plays often explored themes of performance and the masks people wear in society, making dramaturgical theory a fitting choice.

The family is the primary unit of socialization for babies because it is within the family that babies first learn social norms, values, and behaviors. Babies rely on their family members for love, care, and guidance, and they learn important social skills such as communication, empathy, and cooperation through interactions with their family. The family provides a safe and nurturing environment for babies to develop their social and emotional skills, laying the foundation for their future social interactions and relationships.

Admission into elite boarding schools is partly based on preferential treatment given to children who come from families in which at least one other family member attended the same school. These children are known as "legacies" because they have a familial connection to the school, which can give them an advantage in the admissions process.

Goffman's concept of "impression management" refers to the idea that individuals actively work to create and maintain a certain image or impression of themselves in the eyes of others. This involves carefully controlling and manipulating their behavior, appearance, and presentation to ensure that others perceive them in a positive or desirable way. The goal is to make a good impression and shape how others perceive and evaluate them. This concept emphasizes the social nature of self-presentation and the importance of managing the impressions we give off to others.

Culture jamming refers to the act of subverting or disrupting mainstream media and advertising in order to challenge dominant narratives and ideologies. It involves using various creative tactics, such as parody, graffiti, and subvertising, to expose the manipulative techniques used by media and to encourage critical thinking among the audience. Rockin' Rollen and Adbusters are known for their culture jamming activities, which aim to reclaim public spaces and challenge the power structures embedded within media and consumer culture.

A recognizable social position that an individual occupies, such as "student" or "professor," is known as a status. Status refers to the position or rank that an individual holds in a social group or society. It is a label that defines a person's social identity and is often associated with certain rights, responsibilities, and expectations.

The expectation that young university professors must "publish or perish" refers to the pressure they face to continuously produce academic publications in order to secure their positions and advance in their careers. This pressure can lead to role strain, as they may struggle to balance their teaching responsibilities, research, and other professional obligations. Role strain occurs when individuals experience tension and conflict between the various roles they are expected to fulfill.

The correct answer is "the opening" because saying "hello" when answering the telephone is a common social convention that signals the start of a conversation or encounter. In the context of dramaturgy, it can be seen as the opening of a performance or interaction, setting the stage for what is to come.

Consumerism refers to the belief that happiness and fulfillment can be attained by acquiring material possessions. This ideology promotes the idea that one's worth and satisfaction are determined by their ability to consume and possess goods and services. It encourages individuals to constantly seek out new products and engage in excessive buying behavior. Consumerism is often associated with a culture that places a high value on material wealth and possessions, leading to overconsumption and environmental concerns.

Soft power refers to the ability to influence or persuade others through cultural and diplomatic means, rather than through force or coercion. It involves shaping the preferences of others and getting them to want the same outcomes as you. Joseph Nye, a political scientist, uses the term "soft power" to describe American cultural and diplomatic dominance, which is achieved through attraction and persuasion rather than through the use of military force or economic incentives. This concept highlights the importance of cultural values, political ideals, and foreign policies in shaping international relations.

Ethnomethodology is Garfinkel's method for critically acting upon and studying social interactions. It focuses on the everyday practices and methods that people use to make sense of their social world. Ethnomethodologists aim to uncover the underlying assumptions and shared understandings that shape social interactions. This approach emphasizes the importance of studying how people actively create and maintain social order through their actions and interpretations. By examining the details of social interactions, ethnomethodology seeks to understand the social structures and norms that guide human behavior.

Cooley's theory of socialization, known as the looking-glass self theory, explains that our sense of self develops from how we perceive others' reactions to us. According to this theory, we imagine how we appear to others, interpret their judgments, and develop our self-concept based on these perceptions. It suggests that our understanding of ourselves is shaped by the social interactions and feedback we receive from others. This theory emphasizes the importance of social interactions in the formation of our identity.

Mead's role-playing theory suggests that individuals develop a sense of self through social interactions and by taking on different roles in society. This theory emphasizes the importance of game playing as a means to understand and develop one's self. Through engaging in games and role-playing activities, individuals learn to take on different perspectives, understand social norms and expectations, and develop a sense of identity. This theory highlights the social nature of self-development and the role of interactions with others in shaping one's sense of self.

In Mead's theory of socialization, the final step involves the development of an internalized sense of the total expectations of others. This is referred to as the "generalized other." This concept encompasses the understanding and awareness of societal norms, values, and expectations that individuals internalize and use to guide their behavior. It represents a broader social perspective and helps individuals navigate social interactions and conform to societal standards.

Buy Nothing Day is the term used by Adbusters to describe their campaign of encouraging people to refrain from shopping on Black Friday. This day, which is widely known as the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States, is targeted by Adbusters as a way to challenge the consumerist culture promoted by advertising. By choosing not to shop on this day, Adbusters aims to raise awareness about the negative impacts of excessive consumerism and encourage people to think critically about their shopping habits.

The term "status set" refers to all the statuses that an individual holds simultaneously. It includes both ascribed statuses, which are assigned at birth or through other factors beyond one's control, and achieved statuses, which are earned or acquired through personal effort. Additionally, the status set may also include a "master status," which is a particularly significant or influential status that shapes a person's identity and interactions with others. Therefore, the correct answer is "status set."

Symbolic interactionism is a theory that focuses on how individuals interact with one another and how they create and interpret symbols and meanings in their social interactions. It suggests that ideas, concepts, and values are socially constructed through these interactions. This theory emphasizes the importance of symbols, language, and communication in shaping social reality. It suggests that individuals actively negotiate and interpret meanings in their social interactions, and these meanings can vary based on the social context and the perspectives of the individuals involved. Therefore, symbolic interactionism is the theory that best explains the process by which ideas, concepts, and values are socially constructed.

Civic inattention refers to the behavior of refraining from directly interacting with someone you know until an opening bracket has been issued. This term, coined by Goffman, suggests that individuals in public spaces often avoid engaging with people they know until a social cue or invitation is given. This concept highlights the social norms and etiquette that govern public interactions, emphasizing the importance of signaling readiness for social engagement before initiating conversation or interaction.

Garfinkel is the correct answer because he is known for his work on ethnomethodology, a sociological approach that focuses on studying social interactions by deliberately breaching social norms and observing the reactions and consequences. He conducted experiments where he instructed his students to intentionally break social rules to reveal the underlying norms and expectations that govern social interactions. This approach allowed him to uncover the taken-for-granted assumptions that people use to make sense of their social world.

Channel One has been found to be disproportionately more common in lower-income schools and advertises in U.S high schools in exchange for providing televisions, video equipment, and satellite dishes.

McDonald's plans to close 175 restaurants in the Arab region, according to the given answer. This suggests that the company is not planning to expand or open new restaurants, but rather reduce its presence in the region by closing a significant number of existing locations. This decision could be influenced by various factors such as market conditions, profitability, or changes in consumer preferences.

This question is asking which theorist's work includes concepts such as I, me, and generalized other. The correct answer is Mead's. George Herbert Mead was a sociologist and philosopher who developed the theory of symbolic interactionism. In his work, he introduced the concepts of the "I" and the "me" as different aspects of the self, and he also discussed the concept of the "generalized other" as the internalized expectations and attitudes of society. Therefore, Mead's work includes these concepts.

According to estimates in Chapter 3, there are approximately 300 million potential consumers living in the Middle East.

Front stage mistakes, such as if your sociology professor belches loudly during a lecture, are known as breaches. This term refers to actions or behaviors that violate social norms or expectations in a specific context or setting. In this case, the professor's belching during a lecture would be considered a breach because it goes against the expected behavior of maintaining professionalism and decorum in a classroom setting.

Erickson is the correct answer because he is known for his theory of psychosocial development, which encompasses the entire lifespan of an individual. Unlike other theorists who focus on specific stages of development, Erickson's theory emphasizes the importance of socialization and identity formation throughout a person's entire life, from infancy to old age. He believed that individuals go through eight stages of development, each characterized by a unique psychosocial crisis that must be resolved in order to achieve healthy development. Erickson's theory is widely recognized and influential in the field of psychology.

Goffman refers to the unconscious signals of our true feelings as "the given-off gestures." These gestures are nonverbal behaviors that we display without consciously intending to do so. They can include facial expressions, body language, and other subtle cues that reveal our true emotions or thoughts, even when we may be trying to hide or suppress them. Goffman's concept highlights the idea that our true feelings can often be communicated through these involuntary gestures, providing insight into our subconscious thoughts and emotions.

The term "status set" refers to the various roles or positions that an individual occupies simultaneously. In the context of college students, they have multiple statuses such as being a student, employee, citizen, son or daughter, etc. These statuses are not mutually exclusive and can coexist, forming a status set. This term encompasses the idea that individuals can have multiple social positions and roles in society.

The correct answer is "Human beings inherit mutual understandings of symbols across cultures, times, and social changes." This statement contradicts the basic tenets of symbolic interactionism theory. Symbolic interactionism suggests that meanings are not inherited, but rather constructed through social interaction and are subject to interpretation and modification by individuals. It emphasizes that individuals act based on the meanings they assign to symbols, which are shaped by their social interactions and experiences.

The correct answer is "buying expensive television ads featuring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt". This is because the question asks for the option that is not included in the new diplomatic efforts to combat growing anti-Americanism in the Middle East. While broadcasting positive messages about the United States over the radio, organizing a Middle East book tour for popular American authors, and dropping leaflets over Iraq are all mentioned as part of the efforts, there is no mention of buying expensive television ads featuring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

According to Laureau's study, both black and white middle-class parents structure their children's leisure time with formal activities. This practice is referred to as "concerted cultivation" by Laureau.

According to Goffman, the term "face" refers to the esteem or social value that an individual is given by others. It represents the positive social attributes and respect that a person receives from their interactions and relationships with others. Face is closely related to one's reputation and the perception others have of them. It is a significant aspect of social interactions and plays a crucial role in maintaining social order and harmony.

Dalton Conley's experiences with "J. T. LeRoy" refer to encounters with individuals who are not genuine or authentic. These "fake people" may present themselves as someone they are not, deceiving others with their false identity. Conley's encounters with "J. T. LeRoy" highlight the existence of individuals who create fictional personas, blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

Rockin' Rollen, also known as the Rainbow Man, received three life sentences for being found guilty of taking a hostage and causing an eight-hour police standoff. This means that he will serve three consecutive life sentences, effectively spending the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole. The severity of the crime, involving hostage-taking and endangering lives during the standoff, likely led to the decision to impose multiple life sentences as a form of punishment.

Zukin wrote the 2003 book Point of Purchase: How Shopping Changed American Culture, which mentions that 24 hours after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the mayor of New York City urged its citizens to take the day off and go shopping.

The correct answer is Laura Albert because in Chapter 4, it was discussed that "J. T. LeRoy" was actually a pseudonym used by Laura Albert. This implies that Laura Albert was the real identity behind the name "J. T. LeRoy".

In preindustrial times, toys specifically made for children did not exist in the United States. This suggests that the concept of childhood and the idea of creating toys specifically for children had not yet developed. Children likely played with items that were readily available to them, such as natural materials or simple objects around them. The absence of toys made exclusively for children indicates that the social construction of childhood during that time did not prioritize the creation of specialized playthings for young individuals.