Deck 8: Does the Individual Really Make a Difference: an Introduction to Social Change

Question 1

The author argues that one individual's influence over another is

A)impossible.
B)never positive.
C)difficult to measure.
D)all of these

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The example of Mikhail Gorbachev seems to support the idea that

A)individuals cannot make a difference.
B)some individuals make a difference when they are revolutionary enough.
C)individuals outside of the system are more likely to influence social change.
D)individuals who make a difference have a strong power base.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The ability of one person to influence another may be

A)exaggerated.
B)restricted by the social context.
C)facilitated by social conditions.
D)all of these

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Society is especially difficult for the individual to change largely because

A)it has no social patterns.
B)its social patterns have a very long history.
C)social structures are very disorganized and diffuse.
D)other individuals are trying to change it at the same time.

Question 5

Individuals are able to affect social change primarily if

A)their cause is morally right.
B)they have social power.
C)they do not care what other think of them.
D)they are religious.

Question 6

Most of the influence we have on other individuals is probably _____.

A)unintentional
B)intentional
C)positive
D)confusing

Question 7

In general, which is true about individual influence?

A)it is easier to influence an individual than an organization.
B)it is easier to influence an organization than an individual.
C)individuals and organizations are equally difficult to influence.
D)it is impossible to influence both individuals and organizations.

Question 8

Emile Durkheim emphasized that social patterns

A)are in the mind of the individual.
B)are insignificant compared with individual will.
C)are important but short-lived.
D)are forces that control the individual.

Question 9

Which of the following possible outcomes when social movements attempt to change society is least likely?

A)they may not be successful
B)their action may result in unintended social change
C)they may bring about precisely the change they were working for
D)they may bring about some change in the direction they desire

Question 10

It is difficult for an individual to influence an organization because

A)organizations are so chaotic.
B)organizations are impossible to change.
C)social patterns have developed over time.
D)social patterns are weak.

Question 11

The author argues that in any relationship the influence

A)is two-way
B)is negotiated
C)may be negative as well as positive.
D)all of these

Question 12

In any relationship, it is important to understand that

A)one person will always be more powerful than others.
B)people are usually trying to exploit each other.
C)successful influence will always bring closer ties.
D)any influence is two-way.

Question 13

The ability of an individual make a difference in his or her life is a question of ______.

A)freedom
B)social change
C)equality
D)morality

Question 14

The author argues that we act within a social context.This means that our problems are linked to

A)our lack of ambition.
B)laziness.
C)social problems.
D)our physical wellbeing.

Question 15

The author states that successful influence of one individual over others is

A)exaggerated.
B)usually impossible.
C)much greater than what most people believe.
D)almost always negative.

Question 16

Mikhail Gorbachev made a significant difference in the Soviet Union primarily because

A)he was a revolutionary who worked outside the system.
B)he used his powerful position within the government to institute change.
C)he used force to control the extent and scope of change.
D)he controlled the media and was able to throw out those in powerful positions.

Question 17

It is the sociological view that social change is

A)never significant.
B)continuous and inevitable.
C)rarely effects history.
D)most often the result of war between societies.

Question 18

The author argues that one person's influence over another is usually exaggerated because

A)people forget most of what they are taught.
B)people are experiencing influence from many sources at the same time.
C)any influence that results may be unintentional more than intentional.
D)all of these

Question 19

Society is most likely to change through the efforts of which of the following?

A)social movements
B)the individual
C)elected leadership
D)the violent revolution

Question 20

The author argues that the influence of one individual on another is

A)easily measured.
B)almost always intentional and positive.
C)dependent on attractiveness.
D)very difficult to determine.

Question 21

Karl Marx saw real social change arising primarily from

A)class conflict.
B)the efforts of the masses.
C)the leadership of public officials.
D)rationalization.

Question 22

Sociologists generally regard social conflict as

A)unimportant for social change.
B)destructive for society.
C)more important than individual acts.
D)all of these

Question 23

A ___________________ is change that arises from the actions of many individuals who deal with their everyday situations, act in a similar direction, and produce a cumulative effect on society.

A)social trend
B)personal trend
C)group trend
D)None of these.

Question 24

Normally, social trends are the result of many actors who

A)are intentionally trying to produce change.
B)have an impact because of their political positions in society.
C)are not primarily interested in producing social change.
D)are revolutionary in their orientation toward society.

Question 25

Adolf Hitler is an example of an individual who

A)was very powerful but who made little difference in society.
B)was a revolutionary figure who worked for change outside of the government.
C)was able to make a difference in society without the support of any group, organization, or even society.
D)made a difference in society partly because the social circumstances favored it.

Question 26

Individuals and groups tend not to generate change on the scale that do

A)social movements
B)organizations
C)charismatic leaders
D)All of these.

Question 27

Explain why it is more difficult for an individual to have influence on a social organization than it is on another person.

Question 28

The change from the ideas in traditional society to ideas in modern society that value efficiency is a concept Weber termed

A)modernization
B)rationalization
C)egomania
D)None of these.

Question 29

Define power and explain the relationship between social power and social change.What is the most effective source of power in terms of social change?

Question 30

According to the author, sociology's view of social change is best considered ______.

A)realistic
B)optimistic
C)apathetic
D)revolutionary

Question 31

Dramatic social change is difficult because

A)the elite class resists change.
B)social patterns tend to persist.
C)people are too lazy to maintain a social movement.
D)All of these.

Question 32

"The rationalization of life" refers to the fact that increasingly, society is becoming

A)more moral.
B)efficient and organized.
C)more traditional.
D)more open to change.

Question 33

The author comes to the general conclusion that the average individual has

A)little impact on society.
B)moderate impact on society.
C)no impact on society.
D)None of these.

Question 34

When it comes to social change, social trends are

A)not very important in the long run.
B)temporary fads.
C)forces that work against it.
D)very powerful causes.

Question 35

Which of the following is the most important trend in modern society, according to Weber?

A)rationalization
B)increased educational opportunities
C)family values
D)a return to religion

Question 36

Max Weber regarded social conflict between which of the following as the most significant force for social change?

A)Between revolutionaries and tradition.
B)Between upper and lower classes.
C)Between the religious and the anti-religious.
D)Between the powerless and the powerful.

Question 37

Explain how influence may be unintentional.How easy is it for a person to control the amount and type of influence they have?

Question 38

Describe the effect of social conditions on whether or not an individual or new idea may be influential.

Question 39

Why is it difficult to determine how much influence one person has had on another? List and explain several reasons.

Question 40

Which of the following has the greatest effect on whether or not new ideas have an impact on society?

A)whether the social situation favors it
B)the power base of the person who introduces it
C)whether it involves technology
D)if it is a good idea

Question 41

Define rationalization and explain the impact it has had as a trend in modern society.

Question 42

What is the essential sociological view of social change? Describe as least three of the five principles discussed in the text.

Question 43

Explain why the author concludes that social patterns are so difficult to change and why individuals can actually have little impact on social change.

Question 44

Describe ways that computer technology and the internet have changed the way we live.Describe how your life would be different without these technologies.

Question 45

Discuss the sociological view of social conflict and conflict in relationship to social change.

Question 46

Explain what a social trend is and how effective social trends are at creating social change.

Question 47

List and explain the four possible outcomes for a social movement working for change.