Sociology 1000 Exam 2 Brekhus Mizzou With
Complete Solutions
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.
news media often argue that "everyone is at risk" of a particular social problem. How does
this false democratization of risk distort reality and hinder solutions to social problems? -
ANSWER news media often doesn't use numbers because they aren't as grabbing as dramatic
anecdotes. The dangers are portrayed as random and that everyone has the equal
opportunity of this happening to them. People believe and fear that these things will happen
Complete Solutions
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.
news media often argue that "everyone is at risk" of a particular social problem. How does
this false democratization of risk distort reality and hinder solutions to social problems? -
ANSWER news media often doesn't use numbers because they aren't as grabbing as dramatic
anecdotes. The dangers are portrayed as random and that everyone has the equal
opportunity of this happening to them. People believe and fear that these things will happen
