SOCIOLOGY 1000 EXAM 2 BREKHUS
MIZZOU CORRECT 100%
manifest function - ANSWER stated and directly intended function of a social practice or
cultural object
ex. engagement ring: getting married
latent function - ANSWER unstated (hidden) functions of a social practice or cultural
practice
ex. using a newspaper as a fly swatter
what are some principles of the McDonaldization of society? - ANSWER 1. efficiency
2. calculability
3. predictability
4. substitution of nonhuman technology for humans
5. the irrationality of hyperrationaly rational systems develop new irrationalities
what are Jihad and McWorld? - ANSWER Jihad: the retribalization of large swaths of
humanity by war & ethnic/religious balkanization & conflict
McWorld: an overreaching homogenous uniformity that destroys local culture, tradition
& community. one mcworld tied together by one value-capital
what are their similarities? - ANSWER both are anti-democratic and dont want to be
controlled by the government or a higher power
what types of events do news medias focus on? - ANSWER the rare, exciting news
stories that grab our attention & take it way too far
how does this contribute to distorted perceptions of risk and danger? - ANSWER it
makes us think that bad things happen all the time, in reality most mundane things are
more dangerous than we think. heart attacks are more likely than homocide, water is
more dangerous than guns
what substitutes for statistics in the portrayal of social problems? - ANSWER dramatic
anecdotes & scenarios substitute for facts. this contributes to fear because it does not
portray the small number of things and that is rare, rather than the larger picture of the
one thing that has happened
what is the individualization of social problems? - ANSWER 1. Bad people is an
insufficient explanation
2. People matter but so do conditions, structures and policies.
3. The great crime drop was a complex combo of factors not a drop in bad people.
MIZZOU CORRECT 100%
manifest function - ANSWER stated and directly intended function of a social practice or
cultural object
ex. engagement ring: getting married
latent function - ANSWER unstated (hidden) functions of a social practice or cultural
practice
ex. using a newspaper as a fly swatter
what are some principles of the McDonaldization of society? - ANSWER 1. efficiency
2. calculability
3. predictability
4. substitution of nonhuman technology for humans
5. the irrationality of hyperrationaly rational systems develop new irrationalities
what are Jihad and McWorld? - ANSWER Jihad: the retribalization of large swaths of
humanity by war & ethnic/religious balkanization & conflict
McWorld: an overreaching homogenous uniformity that destroys local culture, tradition
& community. one mcworld tied together by one value-capital
what are their similarities? - ANSWER both are anti-democratic and dont want to be
controlled by the government or a higher power
what types of events do news medias focus on? - ANSWER the rare, exciting news
stories that grab our attention & take it way too far
how does this contribute to distorted perceptions of risk and danger? - ANSWER it
makes us think that bad things happen all the time, in reality most mundane things are
more dangerous than we think. heart attacks are more likely than homocide, water is
more dangerous than guns
what substitutes for statistics in the portrayal of social problems? - ANSWER dramatic
anecdotes & scenarios substitute for facts. this contributes to fear because it does not
portray the small number of things and that is rare, rather than the larger picture of the
one thing that has happened
what is the individualization of social problems? - ANSWER 1. Bad people is an
insufficient explanation
2. People matter but so do conditions, structures and policies.
3. The great crime drop was a complex combo of factors not a drop in bad people.
