Question 1

Which of the following is the best term for rules or standards that govern the behavior of a society?

Accepted Answer

Norms are rules or standards that govern the behavior of a society.
Key Takeaway: Social norms are expected behavior patterns and actions that a group or society deems to be appropriate. It is important to note that although social norms can include patterns of action, speech, and appearance; these can be either explicit or implicit. Failure to comply with social norms can lead to exclusion from the social group or, in some cases, severe punishment.

Question 2

Most sociologists would argue that gender role differences and actions are largely a result of ___________.

Accepted Answer

Most sociologists would argue that gender role differences and actions are largely a result of socialization.
Key Takeaway: The process by which we learn to become members of society is called "socialization." Basically, you can just remember to think of it as the process of learning to be social. Typically, it is believed that socialization is based upon interactions between human beings, though it is not completely decided what, exactly, makes a human socialized. Sociologists differ in their opinion of what is learned or mimicked as an individual undergoes the process.

Question 3

What is the process through which we are basically trained to be members of society or to participate in some kind of social grouping?

Accepted Answer

Socialization is the process through which we are basically trained to be members of society or to participate in some kind of social grouping.
Key Takeaway: The process by which we learn to become members of society is called "socialization." Basically, you can just remember to think of it as the process of learning to be social. Typically, it is believed that socialization is based upon interactions between human beings, though it is not completely decided what, exactly, makes a human socialized. Sociologists differ in their opinion of what is learned or mimicked as an individual undergoes the process.

Question 4

Which of the following social psychologists formulated the idea of the "looking-glass self"?

Accepted Answer

Charles Horton Cooley formulated the idea of the "looking-glass self."
Key Takeaway: Cooley argued that there are three stages in how we form our identity, which, collectively, he referred to as the "looking-glass self." In this theory, Cooley stated that humans always imagine how they are perceived by other humans, we actively observe how others react to us to see if we are perceived the same way we imagine ourselves, and we construct an identity based upon the reactions and judgments of others, essentially from the "looking glass" of others in society.

Question 5

What consists of the things in which people attach meaning, like books, burial sites, clothing, art, homes, and cars?

Accepted Answer

Material culture is made up of the things in which people attach meaning, like books, burial sites, clothing, art, homes, and cars.
Key Takeaway: Generally speaking, culture is comprised of both material and nonmaterial culture. Material culture is defined in the answer above. Nonmaterial culture is made up of abstract tings that humans create to describe, explain, or clarify human existence (like rules, languages, customs, religions, and political systems).

Question 6

What is the term for the introduction of symbolic value or meaning to either real or imaginary bloodties?

Accepted Answer

Kinship is the term for the introduction of symbolic value or meaning to either real or imaginary bloodties.
Key Takeaway: Unity based upon reproductive groups is found in all animal groups, predating man. But kinship is a uniquely human creation. Kinship is one of the most basic principles in which individuals can be sorted into roles, categories, or social groups. Kinship can be based upon historical community ties, family descent, marriage, or culture.

Question 7

Which of the following types of government is one in which there are generally no limits to the authority of the leaders?

Accepted Answer

A Totalitarian government is one in which there are generally no limits to the authority of the leaders.
Key Takeaway: In a Totalitarian regime, the state, usually totally under control of a single political person or group, has no limits to its authority. The state works to gain total control over every aspect of both private and public life, using means such as state-controlled media, restriction of speech, and utilization of government-sanctioned terrorism.

Question 8

Mike and Fae recently got married and decided to move near Fae's parents. What is the correct term to describe this situation?

Accepted Answer

The correct term to describe this situation is matrilocal residence.
Key Takeaway: Matrilocality, or matrilocal residence, occurs when a married couple decides to live near or with the wife's parents. Patrilocality, or patrilocal residence, occurs when the couple decides to live near the groom's family.

Question 9

What percent of women are affected by some form of sexual harassment over the course of their professional lives?

Accepted Answer

It is estimated that roughly 70 percent of women are affected by some form of sexual harassment over the course of their professional lives.
Key Takeaway: Sexual harassment is any kind of bullying, coercion, or intimidation, with the promise of rewards (often monetary or work related) in exchange for sexual behaviors. In many cases, sexual harassment is illegal, but it often goes unreported. It is estimated that nearly 70 percent of women are affected by some type of sexual harassment over the course of their professional lives.

Question 10

What is the general definition of "gemeinschaft"?

Accepted Answer

The general definition of "gemeinschaft" is a small community based upon united belief in common ancestry and/or tradition.
Key Takeaway: It was Ferdinand Tonnies who first differentiated between community (gemeinschaft) and society (gesellschaft). Gemeinschaft referred to small communities based upon united belief in common ancestry and/or tradition. On the opposite spectrum, gesellschaft refers to voluntary, contractual relationships of short duration, formed to achieve specific goals (society).

Question 11

Among the following, who thought that Karl Marx emphasized class too much and instead, looked at the various struggles between groups like employers and unions?

Accepted Answer

Ralf Dahrendorf thought that Karl Marx emphasized class too much and instead, looked at the various struggles between groups like employers and unions.
Key Takeaway: Ralf Dahrendorf was a German sociologist who was a leading expert on class divisions within modern society. Although Dahrendorf studied class divisions, he believed that huge changes had occurred since Marx looked at society and that Marx's theories were too simplistic. Dahrendorf looked at various struggles between groups like employers and unions and how they interplayed with class in modern society.

Question 12

Which of the following quotes can be attributed to Parkinson's Law?

Accepted Answer

"Work expands to fill the time available for its completion" can be attributed to Parkinson's Law.
Key Takeaway: Parkinson's Law was the first sentence of an essay published in The Economist in 1955, attributed to Cyril Parkinson. The sentence, "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion," basically meant that people tend to take as long to complete a task as time available.

Question 13

Which of the following types of individuals may continue to accept their goals while constantly seeking new ways to attain these goals?

Accepted Answer

The "innovator" may continue to work toward their goals while constantly seeking new ways to attain these goals.
Key Takeaway: In sociological theory, there are several types of individuals who, in various ways, attempt to bridge the gap between where they reside on the social spectrum and a means of gaining success and wealth. The types of individuals are: the "conformist," the "rebellious," the "retreat," the "innovator," and the "ritualist." The "innovator" tends to continue to work toward their stated goals, while constantly seeking new ways to attain those goals.

Question 14

Where are secondary industries, like lumber mills and fish canneries, where manufacturing is highly dependent upon a single natural resource likely to be located?

Accepted Answer

Secondary industries, like lumber mills and fish canneries, where manufacturing is highly dependent upon a single natural resource, are likely to be centralized close to the locations of the natural resources in question.
Key Takeaway: The secondary sector of the economy includes manufacturing and construction industries, basically industries that create a finished, usable product. This sector generally takes the output of the goods harvested by the primary sector and manufactures finished goods from them for sale or export.

Question 15

Who first distinguished between primary groups and secondary groups?

Accepted Answer

Charles Horton Cooley first distinguished between primary groups and secondary groups.
Key Takeaway: Charles Horton Cooley was an American sociologist who is best known for his concept of the looking glass self. Cooley argued that there are three stages in how we form our identity, which, collectively, he referred to as the "looking-glass self." In this theory, Cooley stated that humans always imagine how they are perceived by other humans, we actively observe how others react to us to see if we are perceived the same way we imagine ourselves, and we construct an identity based upon the reactions and judgments of others, essentially from the "looking glass" of others in society.

Question 16

The phrase "hard work is less important than luck" could be associated with the idea of meritocracy.

Accepted Answer

"Hard work is less important than luck" would not be associated with the idea of meritocracy.
Key Takeaway: A meritocracy is an ideology in which appointments and positions are assigned based upon an individual's abilities, experiences, or intelligence. Hence, in the example above, hard work would be much more important than luck. Through hard work, morals, intelligence, etc., a person has the ability to change their social situation and status.

Question 17

Which of the following is the societal status with which an individual most identifies?

Accepted Answer

The master status is the societal status with which an individual most identifies.
Key Takeaway: An individual's master status is the status that an individual most identifies with in their own society. In every case, the master status-whether it is either achieved or ascribed-always overshadows all other social positions and is typically the most important part of an individual's identity. Usually, the master status consists of things like: age, education, being a parent, ethnicity or race, sex, or religion.

Question 18

Which group moved to the suburbs first?

Accepted Answer

Wealthy populations were the first to move to the suburbs.
Key Takeaway: A suburb typically refers to residential communities that lie within community distance of a city. Suburbs typically have lower population density, more green space, an abundance of flat land, and are associated with commuting. Wealthy populations were the first to move to the suburbs, with the first suburbs cropping up outside of New York City after World War II in response to rapid population growth.

Question 19

The density size of a person's social networks has been shown to be positively health promoting, both physically and mentally.

Accepted Answer

The density and size of a person's social networks has been shown to be positively health promoting, both physically and mentally.
Key Takeaway: A social network is a structure made up of individuals who share a common relationship with the central person. It is true that the size and density of a person's social networks has been shown to be positively health promoting, both mentally and physically. It should be noted, however, that studies that show this have largely been focused upon live social networks. It is yet unclear that this can be expanded to include online social networks. In other words, a person will not necessarily be happier for having more friends on facebook.

Question 20

What is the correct term for loyalty toward a person's nation-state?

Accepted Answer

The correct term for loyalty toward a person's nation-state is nationalism.
Key Takeaway: Nationalism refers to a person's loyalty toward the nation in which they reside. Typically, these individuals identify strongly with the political state and other individuals within the state.

Quiz 37: Praxis II Sociology