Which term refers to the set of expectations about how someone with a given status should behave?

Which term refers to the set of expectations about how someone with a given status should behave?

• A. Social status
• B. Achieved status
• C. Social roles
• D. Master status

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is that social roles define the expected behaviors attached to a given status. In sociology, a status is the position someone occupies in society, and the role linked to that status includes the rights, duties, and norms guiding how the person should act. For example, a student is expected to attend classes, complete assignments, and follow classroom rules; a parent is expected to care for and guide their child. This focus on the expected behavior makes social roles the best fit for the description. The other terms describe different aspects: social status is the position itself, achieved status is a position earned through actions, and master status is the dominant status that shapes one’s identity but does not by itself specify the full set of behavioral expectations.

The idea being tested is that social roles define the expected behaviors attached to a given status. In sociology, a status is the position someone occupies in society, and the role linked to that status includes the rights, duties, and norms guiding how the person should act. For example, a student is expected to attend classes, complete assignments, and follow classroom rules; a parent is expected to care for and guide their child. This focus on the expected behavior makes social roles the best fit for the description. The other terms describe different aspects: social status is the position itself, achieved status is a position earned through actions, and master status is the dominant status that shapes one’s identity but does not by itself specify the full set of behavioral expectations.