SOC 132 MIDTERM SIGMON QUESTIONS
Social Psychology - Answer -The attempt to understand and explain how the thought,
feeling, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied
presence of others
3 Faces of Social Psychology - Answer -1. Symbolic Interactionism
2. Group Processes
3. Social Structure & Personality
3 Tenets of Symbolic Interactionism - Answer -1. We act toward things on the basis of
their meanings
2. Meanings are not inherent but are negotiated in interaction with others
3. Meanings can be modified and changed through interaction
According to social exchange theorists, what is the purpose of social interaction and the
utility of social relationships? - Answer -Humans interact with one another and enter
into social relationships for the purpose of exchanging things of value.
The utility of social relationships is that these relationships are primarily based on the
exchange of goods and services among people.
According to social exchange theorists, what is the basis of power? - Answer -One's
ability to secure desired rewards from other sources
3 Principles of Social Structure and Personality - Answer -1. Components Principle:
The ability to identify the elements or components of society most likely to affect a given
attitude, behavior, race, class, gender
2. Proximity Principle: The environments and social relationships associated with this
component
3. Psychology Principle: How attitudes, values, and beliefs are influenced by these
environments
Why is 'cognitive theory' an approach associated with psychological social psychology?
- Answer -Because it emphasizes that the link between stimulus and response is not
direct.
Rather, an individual's cognitive processes intervene between external stimuli and
behavioral responses
, The basic premise of cognitive theory is that mental activities of the individual [e.g.,
perception, memory, judgment, problem solving, decision making] are important
determinants of social behavior.
According to 'dual-process theory,' in what two ways do people process information? -
Answer -1. Automatic: relies on use of heuristics (cognitive shortcuts that aid in
information processing) Heuristics classify people into a category using salient features
(what to expect and how to treat them)
2. Deliberate: Occurs when we decide to keep processing. More conscious and
deliberate. Takes place when we seek out a more accurate judgement than what is
provided through unconscious processing alone.
What is 'socialization'? - Answer -The ways in which individuals learn and re-create
skills, knowledge, values, motives, and roles appropriate to their positions in a group or
society
According to the 'developmental perspective,' socialization depends on what natural
processes? - Answer -physical and psychological maturation which are biologically
determined
How do 'social learning theorists' account for socialization? - Answer -as dependent on
the presence of cultural influences
How does the 'interpretive perspective' approach the process of socialization? - Answer
-socialization is a process of interpretive reproduction
How does the 'social structural perspective' approach the process of socialization? -
Answer -Emphasizes the influence of social structure
Socialization is organized according to the sequence of roles that newcomers to society
ordinarily pass through
What are the four components of the socialization process and how do they relate to
one another? - Answer -1. An Agent: Someone who serves as a source for what is
being learned
2. A Learning Process
3. A Target: A person who is being socialized
4. An Outcome: Something that is being learned
What is 'primary' socialization? - Answer -Occurs during childhood - The target is
characterized by vulnerability, dependency, and restricted agency
Social Psychology - Answer -The attempt to understand and explain how the thought,
feeling, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied
presence of others
3 Faces of Social Psychology - Answer -1. Symbolic Interactionism
2. Group Processes
3. Social Structure & Personality
3 Tenets of Symbolic Interactionism - Answer -1. We act toward things on the basis of
their meanings
2. Meanings are not inherent but are negotiated in interaction with others
3. Meanings can be modified and changed through interaction
According to social exchange theorists, what is the purpose of social interaction and the
utility of social relationships? - Answer -Humans interact with one another and enter
into social relationships for the purpose of exchanging things of value.
The utility of social relationships is that these relationships are primarily based on the
exchange of goods and services among people.
According to social exchange theorists, what is the basis of power? - Answer -One's
ability to secure desired rewards from other sources
3 Principles of Social Structure and Personality - Answer -1. Components Principle:
The ability to identify the elements or components of society most likely to affect a given
attitude, behavior, race, class, gender
2. Proximity Principle: The environments and social relationships associated with this
component
3. Psychology Principle: How attitudes, values, and beliefs are influenced by these
environments
Why is 'cognitive theory' an approach associated with psychological social psychology?
- Answer -Because it emphasizes that the link between stimulus and response is not
direct.
Rather, an individual's cognitive processes intervene between external stimuli and
behavioral responses
, The basic premise of cognitive theory is that mental activities of the individual [e.g.,
perception, memory, judgment, problem solving, decision making] are important
determinants of social behavior.
According to 'dual-process theory,' in what two ways do people process information? -
Answer -1. Automatic: relies on use of heuristics (cognitive shortcuts that aid in
information processing) Heuristics classify people into a category using salient features
(what to expect and how to treat them)
2. Deliberate: Occurs when we decide to keep processing. More conscious and
deliberate. Takes place when we seek out a more accurate judgement than what is
provided through unconscious processing alone.
What is 'socialization'? - Answer -The ways in which individuals learn and re-create
skills, knowledge, values, motives, and roles appropriate to their positions in a group or
society
According to the 'developmental perspective,' socialization depends on what natural
processes? - Answer -physical and psychological maturation which are biologically
determined
How do 'social learning theorists' account for socialization? - Answer -as dependent on
the presence of cultural influences
How does the 'interpretive perspective' approach the process of socialization? - Answer
-socialization is a process of interpretive reproduction
How does the 'social structural perspective' approach the process of socialization? -
Answer -Emphasizes the influence of social structure
Socialization is organized according to the sequence of roles that newcomers to society
ordinarily pass through
What are the four components of the socialization process and how do they relate to
one another? - Answer -1. An Agent: Someone who serves as a source for what is
being learned
2. A Learning Process
3. A Target: A person who is being socialized
4. An Outcome: Something that is being learned
What is 'primary' socialization? - Answer -Occurs during childhood - The target is
characterized by vulnerability, dependency, and restricted agency
