Social Interaction - Practice Problems 🗣

Problem 1: Definition of Status

• Status: Positions in society used to classify individuals
• Three types of statuses:
  • Ascribed Status: Given involuntarily (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, family background)
  • Achieved Status: Gained as a result of personal efforts or choices (e.g., being a doctor)
  • Master Status: Status by which a person is most identified
• Correct Definition: Answer C - Position in society used to classify an individual
• Role: Set of beliefs, values, and norms that define the expectations of a certain status in a social situation

Problem 2: College Graduate Status

• Becoming a college graduate is an Achieved Status: Acquired through personal efforts
• Ascribed Status: Involuntarily given (e.g., race, gender, family background)
• Master Status: Influences all aspects of life (e.g., profession like doctor or lawyer)
• Correct Answer: Answer B - Achieved Status

Problem 3: Bureaucracy as an Example

• Bureaucracy: A specific type of organization aimed at performing complex tasks efficiently
• Immediate Networks and Primary Groups: Characterized by strong, intimate bonds
• Reference Groups: Groups to which we compare ourselves
• Correct Answer: Answer C - Organization

Problem 4: Characteristics of Bureaucracy

• Six Characteristics of Bureaucracy:
  1. Paid officials on a fixed salary
  2. Non-elected officials with rights and privileges
  3. Regular salary increases/promotions based on exams or milestones
  4. Officials enter by holding an advanced degree/training
  5. Responsibilities, obligations, privileges, and work procedures are rigidly defined
  6. Responsibility for meeting office obligations
• Correct Answer: Answer D - Election by constituents (not a characteristic of bureaucracy)

Problem 5: Forms of Verbal Communication

• Verbal Communication: Uses words (spoken, written, or signed)
• Nonverbal Communication: Uses gestures, body language, facial expressions, etc.
• Correct Answer: Answer C - Written text (a form of verbal communication)

Problem 6: Impression Management Strategy - Aligning Actions

• Impression Management: Maintenance of a Public Image
• Aligning Actions: Use of excuses to account for questionable behavior
  • Provides socially acceptable reasons to explain unexpected behavior
• Correct Answer: Answer C

Problem 7: Altercasting

• Altercasting: Imposing an identity onto another person
  • Example: