Sociology Concepts and Role Strain

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Questions and Answers

The student's actions of running late and receiving a warning are an example of _______.

Primary deviance (correct)

Positive deviance

Master deviance

Secondary deviance

Which of the following individuals is most likely to be a member of the power elite?

Professor

Mechanic

A senator (correct)

A War Veteran

According to social disorganization theory, crime is most likely to occur in which type of community?

A community where neighbors don’t know each other very well (correct)

A college campus with students who are very competitive

A city with a large minority population

A neighborhood with mostly elderly citizens

Shaw and McKay's research linked crime primarily to ________.

Power Signup and view all the answers

Why might a celebrity like Charlie Sheen commit a crime according to the concept of the power elite?

Because his fame protects him from retribution Signup and view all the answers

Labeling theory would explain a convicted sexual offender's re-arrest as likely due to _______.

Acceptance of a new master status as a deviant Signup and view all the answers

Which option is an example of corporate crime?

Embezzlement Signup and view all the answers

Spousal abuse is classified as a _______.

Violent crime Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely result of Mary trying to juggle her work, family responsibilities, and volunteering?

Role strain Signup and view all the answers

According to Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann, society is primarily founded on what concept?

Institutionalization Signup and view all the answers

Paco's actions of dyeing his hair and camouflaging his weight can be best explained through which concept?

The looking-glass self Signup and view all the answers

How is deviance best defined in a social context?

Deviance is socially defined. Signup and view all the answers

Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on the bus exemplifies which form of action?

An act of deviance Signup and view all the answers

What type of intervention did the professor use when he asked the student to turn off her phone during class?

Informal negative sanctions Signup and view all the answers

Social practices help maintain which important social construct?

Social order Signup and view all the answers

When grocery store patrons react to someone wearing pajamas, they are exhibiting which form of social response?

Informal sanctions Signup and view all the answers

What motivates individuals in the United States to pursue a higher degree?

To obtain a better job position Signup and view all the answers

What does structural mobility refer to?

A large group moving due to societal changes Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the behaviors, customs, and norms associated with a social class?

Class traits Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes occupational prestige?

Jobs have unequal status and value Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of social stratification in a society?

Ranking members into distinct categories Signup and view all the answers

Which graphic representation best illustrates social stratification?

Pyramid Signup and view all the answers

What does the GNI PPP figure signify?

The average annual income of its citizens Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic premise of the Davis-Moore thesis regarding social stratification?

It serves a purpose within societal structures Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of technological diffusion?

The spread of technology across borders. Signup and view all the answers

Caleb's better preparedness for college compared to Ted is an example of which phenomenon?

Digital Divide Signup and view all the answers

What does media globalization refer to?

The worldwide integration of media through the cross-cultural exchange of ideas. Signup and view all the answers

What makes caste systems closed?

People cannot change their social standings. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is a factor that makes class systems open?

They allow for movement between the classes. Signup and view all the answers

Which social structure allows for the most mobility?

Class Signup and view all the answers

Who exemplifies opportunities for upward social mobility in the U.S.?

First-generation college student Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best illustrates low status consistency?

A single mother receives food stamps and struggles to find adequate employment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)?

The NCVS doesn’t address the relationship between the criminal and the victim Signup and view all the answers

Which sociological perspective sees technology and media as a tool individuals use to express how much wealth they have?

Symbolic Interactionist Signup and view all the answers

How has advertising revenue significantly changed in the past few years?

Magazine revenue has risen steadily while online and newspaper revenue has fallen dramatically Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of new media?

Barnes and Noble Signup and view all the answers

This series of technological advancements from floppy disks to zip drives to flash drives is an example of:

Evolutionary model of technological change Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of planned obsolescence?

Sarah’s iPod breaks just as the newest iPod Nano is being introduced Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for when a major news event is covered extensively across multiple platforms?

Homogenization Signup and view all the answers

E-readiness can be defined as:

The ability to sort through, interpret and process digital knowledge Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Role Strain

Mary is experiencing role strain. This is because she has multiple responsibilities that are competing with each other.
Mary's responsibilities include working full-time, caring for her children, volunteering at church, and caring for her mother-in-law.
Mary's stress is coming from attempting to juggle all of these responsibilities.

Society is based on ______.

Society is based on institutionalization. This means that society is built on patterns of behavior, beliefs, and customs that have become established and accepted over time.
The patterns are seen as natural and necessary for the smooth functioning of society.

Paco's behavior is best explained by the concept of _______.

Paco's behavior can be explained by the looking-glass self. This is the idea that people's self-concept is developed based on how they think others perceive them.
Paco is trying to maintain his attractiveness because he believes that this is important to women.

Deviance

Deviance is socially defined. This means that what is considered deviant varies from society to society and even within different groups within the same society.

Rosa Parks and other black protestors

Rosa Parks and other black protestors were engaging in an act of deviance. This is because they were violating the social norms of segregation that were in place at that time.

Professor stops lecture

The professor is using informal negative sanctions to maintain social control.
This is because he is publicly reprimanding the student for her behavior.

Social practice social control to maintain social order.
Social control is the process by which society attempts to regulate the behavior of its members.

Strange looks at the grocery store

The grocery store patrons are demonstrating informal sanctions.
The patrons are expressing disapproval of the student’s clothes but not through any formal means of enforcement.

The student speeding

The student's actions are an example of primary deviance.
Primary deviance is a violation of norms that does not result in the person being labeled as deviant.

C. Wright Mills

C. Wright Mills believed that the power elite was made up of people who hold the most power in society.
He believed that the power elite were able to make decisions that affected the lives of many people, even if those people were not directly involved in making those decisions.

Social disorganization theory states that crime is more likely to occur in communities that are disorganized and lack social cohesion.
This is likely due to things like:
- Lack of neighborhood watch programs
- Weak community ties
- High poverty rates

Crime is linked to ______.

Shaw and McKay found that crime is linked to poverty.
They found that crime rates were higher in areas with higher poverty rates, regardless of the race or ethnicity of the residents.

Celebrity committing crime

A celebrity such as Charlie Sheen would commit a crime because fame disconnects him from society.
This lack of connection can lead to recklessness and a disregard for the law.

Convicted sexual offender

The offender has been labeled deviant by society and has accepted a new master status.
This means that the offender has internalized the label of "deviant" and has come to see themselves as deviant.

Corporate Crime

Embezzlement is an example of corporate crime.
This is a crime that is committed by a corporation or an individual acting on behalf of a corporation.

Spousal abuse

Spousal abuse is considered a violent crime.
This type of crime is considered a particularly serious form of violence because it occurs within the context of a close relationship, leading to deeper emotional trauma for victims.

Crime trends in the United States

Rates of violent and nonviolent crimes are decreasing.
There are various factors contributing to this trend, including improved law enforcement, social programs, and changes in social norms.

National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

The NCVS may be unable to reach important groups, such as those without phones.
This is because the NCVS relies on telephone surveys to collect its data.

Technology and media

Symbolic Interactionists view technology and media as a tool people use to express their wealth. This perspective focuses on the social meanings of technology and how it is used to communicate status and identity.

Advertising Revenue

Newspaper and magazine advertising revenue have fallen greatly.
This decline is due to the rise of online advertising.

New Media

Barnes and Noble is not an example of new media.
This is because Barnes and Noble is still a traditional retail store.

Technological change

The floppy disk, zip drive, and flash drive are an example of an evolutionary model of technological change.
This is because each new technology builds on the previous technology and improves upon it.

Planned Obsolescence

Sarah's iPod breaks just as the newest iPod Nano is being introduced to the market. This is an example of planned obsolescence.
This is because the iPod's breaking is strategically timed to encourage Sarah to buy the newest model.
Planned obsolescence is when products are designed to become obsolete in a short period, encouraging consumers to buy new ones.

Major politician in a scandal

This is referred to as homogenization.
Homogenization refers to the process of media becoming more similar over time, leading to a reduced range of viewpoints and a narrowed scope of information.

E-readiness

E-readiness is the ability to sort through, interpret, and process digital knowledge.
This competency is essential for navigating the growing digital landscape.

Technological diffussion

The term technological diffusion refers to the spread of technology across borders. This is often influenced by factors like globalization, trade, and communication.

Digital Divide

Caleb attending a private school with access to technology is an example of the digital divide.
The digital divide refers to the gap in access to technology and its skills between different groups, which often leads to unequal opportunities in education, employment, and social participation.

Media Globalization

Media globalization is the worldwide integration of media through the cross-cultural exchange of ideas.
This includes the spread of media content, technology, and business practices globally.

Caste systems are closed

Caste systems are closed because people cannot change their social standings.
Individuals are born into a specific caste and are expected to remain within it for their entire lives.

Class systems are open

Class systems are open because they allow for movement between the classes.
People can move up or down the class ladder depending on their education, occupation, wealth, and other factors.

Class systems allow for the most social mobility.
Social mobility refers to the ability to move up or down in social status.

A first-generation college student best illustrates opportunities for upward social mobility in the United States. This is because the educational system allows individuals to improve their social standing.

Low status consistency

A college dropout launching an online company that earned millions in the first year illustrates low status consistency. This is because their education level is low, but their wealth is high.

Meritocracy

In a meritocracy, a physician’s assistant would earn a pay raise for doing excellent work.
Meritocracy is a system in which people are rewarded based on their abilities and achievements.

Class identity in the United States

Most people in the United States define themselves as middle class.
This is because many people see themselves as having a moderate standard of living and not being extremely wealthy or poor.

Structural mobility

Structural mobility happens when a large group moves up or down the class ladder due to societal changes.
Examples of structural mobility include:
- Technological advances
- Economic booms or busts
- Large-scale political or social changes

Class traits

Class traits are the behaviors, customs, and norms associated with a class.
They can include things like:
- Clothing style and fashion
- Language, accent, and dialect
- Food preferences
- Leisure activities

Occupational Prestige

Jobs are not equally valued.
Occupations are seen as different in terms of prestige, status, and importance in society based on factors such as income, education, and societal perception.
Societies use occupational prestige to help understand how people fit into the social hierarchy.

Social stratification is a system that ranks society members into categories.
These categories can be based on factors like income, wealth, education, occupation, and power.
Social stratification creates a hierarchical structure in society, with some groups having more advantages than others.

A pyramid graphically best illustrates the concept of social stratification.
This is because a pyramid shows a hierarchical structure with a small number of people at the top and a large number of people at the bottom.

GNI PPP

The GNI PPP (Gross National Income Purchasing Power Parity) figure represents a country's average annual income of its citizens. This number considers the cost of goods and services in a country to give a more accurate picture of purchasing power.

Davis-Moore thesis

The Davis-Moore thesis states that unequal distribution of rewards in social stratification serves a purpose in society.
This purpose is based on the idea that important positions in society require more training and talent, thus justifying higher rewards.

Davis and Moore vs. Melvin Tumin

Melvin Tumin believed that social stratification denies qualified people the opportunity to obtain higher-level job positions. He argued that this inequality limits social mobility and talent development.

Symbolic interactionism and stratification

After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French restaurant, illustrates stratification from the perspective of symbolic interactionism. This focuses on the social meanings and symbols associated with class, and how they influence behavior and interaction.

Karl Marx and alienation

Karl Marx believed that workers experience alienation because they are separated from the product of their labor. Workers are forced to sell their labor to capitalists, who then profit from the workers' labor.
The worker does not own or control their labor, and therefore feels estranged from their work.

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Description

This quiz explores key sociological concepts including role strain, institutionalization, and the looking-glass self. Understand how these theories apply to real-life scenarios such as balancing multiple responsibilities and self-perception. Test your knowledge of societal behaviors and their impacts.