According to Piven and Cloward, What Is the Subtle Social

question 7

Multiple Choice

According to Piven and Cloward, what is the subtle social function of having a category of people in a society who are always on welfare?

• A) Welfare receipients are looked down on, so those who accept low wages feel satisfied with their own social position.
• B) Because social programs grow or contract depending on the economy, having a group always on welfare keeps the programs from disappearing completely.
• C) Welfare recipients may be too lazy to hold a job, but welfare keeps them out of jail, which would have a higher cost to society.
• D) Welfare provides a safety net for those who cannot find work, especially single mothers and the disabled.

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Definitions:

Social Roots

The foundational social influences and contexts from which individuals' behaviors, beliefs, and identities originate.

Cognitive Roots

Fundamental aspects or underlying elements of cognitive processes, such as perception, memory, and reasoning.

Emotional Roots

The underlying emotional causes or bases for behaviors, thoughts, or feelings, often linked to past experiences.

Just-World Phenomenon

The cognitive bias to believe that the world is fundamentally fair, leading people to rationalize an unjust situation as deserved by the victim.