CHAPTER 5: SOCIALIZATION

~ taken from the CD that accompanies Macionis, J.J. (2008). Sociology (12th ed.). Pearson

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. The tragic case of Anna, the isolated girl studied by Kingsley Davis, shows that:
a. humans have most of the same instincts found in other animal species.
b. without social experience, a child is incapable of thought or meaningful
action.
c. personality is present in humans at birth.
d. many human instincts disappear after the first few years of life.

2. What concept refers to the lifelong social experience by which human beings develop
their potential and learn culture?
a. socialization
b. personality
c. human nature
d. behaviorism

3. What concept refers to a person's fairly consistent pattern of acting, thinking, and
feeling?
a. socialization
b. behavior
c. human nature
d. personality

4. The social sciences, including sociology, make the claim that:

a. humans have instincts that guide our lives.
b. biological forces underlie human culture.
c. as humans, to nurture is our nature.
d. Darwin’s model of biological evolution explains patterns of human culture.

5. Which theory developed by the psychologist John B. Watson claims human behavior
is not instinctive but learned within a social environment?
a. behaviorism
b. biological psychology
c. evolutionary psychology
d. naturalism

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6. In the nature versus nurture debate, sociologists claim that:
a. nature is far more important than nurture.
b. nurture is far more important than nature.
c. nature and nurture have equal importance.
d. neither nature nor nurture creates the essence of our humanity.

7. The Harlow experiments to discover the effects of social isolation on rhesus monkeys
showed that:
a. monkeys isolated for six months were highly fearful when returned to others
of their kind.
b. isolated monkeys able to cuddle artificial mothers developed normally.
c. even several days of social isolation permanently damaged infant monkeys.
d. All of the above are correct.

8. Based on both the Harlows’ research with rhesus monkeys and the case of Anna, the
isolated child, one might reasonably conclude that:
a. the two species react differently to social isolation.
b. both monkeys and humans "bounce back" from long-term isolation.
c. even a few days of social isolation permanently damages both monkeys and
humans.
d. long-term social isolation leads to permanent developmental damage in both
monkeys and humans.

9. If you were to put together the lesson learned from the cases of Anna, Isabelle, and
Genie, you would correctly conclude that:
a. social experience plays a crucial part in forming human personality.
b. both social experience and the presence of the birth mother are crucial to early
development.
c. the effect of long-term social isolation can be overcome in a relatively short
time.
d. All of the above are correct.

10. Our basic drives or needs as humans are reflected in Freud's concept of:
a. superego.
b. ego.
c. id.
d. generalized other.

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11. In Freud's model of personality, which element of the personality represents a
person’s efforts to balance the demands of society and innate pleasure-seeking drives?
a. id
b. ego
c. superego
d. generalized other

12. In Freud's model of personality, what represents the presence of culture within the
individual?
a. id
b. ego
c. superego
d. thanatos

13. Applying Freud's thinking to a sociological analysis of personality development, you

would conclude that:
a. human behavior is basically random.
b. humans have basic, self-centered drives that must be controlled by learning the
ways of society.
c. societies encourage people to become self-centered.
d. humans can never become cultural creatures.

14. Jean Piaget's focus was on:

a. how children develop their motor skills.
b. how children are stimulated by their environment.
c. the role of heredity in shaping human behavior.
d. cognition, or how people think and understand.

15. According to Piaget, in what stage of human development do individuals experience

the world only through sensory contact?
a. sensorimotor stage
b. preoperational stage
c. concrete operational stage
d. formal operational stage

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CHAPTER 6: SOCIAL INTERACTION IN EVERYDAY LIFE
~ taken from the CD that accompanies Macionis, J.J. (2008). Sociology (12th ed.). Pearson.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Harold and Sybil are lost while driving to some friends' house. Harold will not stop to
ask for directions as Sybil wants him to. This chapter-opening story illustrates the
pattern that:
a. social interaction is actually mostly random.
b. men and women may have disagreements about who should drive.
c. men avoid asking for directions because it makes them dependent on someone
else.
d. men are more interested in connectedness than women are.

2. The process by which people act and react in relation to others is called:
a. social connectedness.
b. social construction.
c. social dynamics.
d. social interaction.

3. Which of the following concepts defines who and what we are in relation to others?
a. role
b. status
c. role set
d. presentation of self

4. At a given time you occupy a number of statuses. These statuses make up your:
a. master status.
b. role set.
c. achieved statuses.
d. status set.

5. What concept refers to a social position that is received at birth or involuntarily

assumed later in life?
a. passive role
b. master status
c. ascribed status
d. achieved status

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6. Which concept refers to a social position that is assumed voluntarily and that reflects
a significant measure of personal ability and effort?
a. active role
b. master status
c. ascribed status
d. achieved status

7. Which concept refers to a status that has special importance for social identity, often
shaping a person's entire life?
a. social status
b. master status
c. ascribed status
d. achieved status

8. Julie is a police officer who finds that, wherever she goes in her small town, people
seem to think of her as a cop. Julie is experiencing the effects of which of the
following?
a. role exit
b. master status
c. ascribed status
d. status conflict

9. Akbar is an honors student. In sociological terms, being an honors student is an

example of which of the following?
a. role conflict
b. master status
c. ascribed status
d. achieved status

10. Which item in the following list might serve as a master status?
a. occupation
b. physical or mental disability
c. race or color
d. All of the above are correct.

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11. Sociologists use what concept to refer to behavior people expect of someone who
holds a particular status?
a. role
b. master status
c. status set
d. role set

12. A role set refers to:

a. all the roles found in a society.
b. a number of roles attached to a single status.
c. all the roles that are similar in function.
d. a number of roles within any particular organization.

13. What is the concept that refers to the conflict among roles corresponding to two or
more statuses?
a. role conflict
b. role strain
c. role set
d. role exit

14. Shawna is an excellent artist but, as a mother, finds she cannot devote enough time to
her family. She is experiencing:
a. role conflict.
b. role strain.
c. role ambiguity.
d. role exit.

15. Which concept refers to the tension among roles connected to a single status?
a. role conflict
b. role strain
c. role ambiguity
d. role exit