Social Sciences Flashcards

Which political scientist is best known for the theory that democracies can be categorized as 'majoritarian' or 'consensus' models?

Answer: Arend Lijphart

Arend Lijphart developed the majoritarian vs. consensus democracy distinction in his comparative work on democratic systems.

The 'invisible hand' concept in economics, introduced by Adam Smith, refers to:

Answer: The self-regulating nature of free markets through supply and demand

Adam Smith used the 'invisible hand' metaphor to describe how individual self-interest in free markets unintentionally promotes the general welfare of society.

Which sociological concept refers to the unwritten rules and expectations that govern social behavior?

Answer: Norms

Norms are the shared expectations and rules that guide behavior in society, encompassing both folkways (minor) and mores (major moral standards).

The Milgram obedience experiments primarily demonstrated that:

Answer: Ordinary people will obey authority figures even to cause harm to others

Stanley Milgram's experiments showed that a high percentage of participants would administer what they believed to be dangerous electric shocks when instructed by an authority figure.

Which economic system combines elements of both free market and government-controlled economies?

Answer: Mixed economy

A mixed economy incorporates both private enterprise and government intervention, as seen in most modern developed nations.

In anthropology, 'ethnocentrism' is defined as:

Answer: Judging other cultures by the standards of one's own culture

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's own culture as superior and to judge other cultures by the standards and values of one's own.

The Gini coefficient is used to measure:

Answer: Income inequality within a population

The Gini coefficient measures the distribution of income or wealth within a nation, where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 represents maximum inequality.