Question

Because of his incredibly accelerated study program, Professor Zuchov has the unique privilege of being a 17-year-old university professor. Sociologically, this is an example of:

1) role strain
2) social imperative
3) impression management
4) status inconsistency

Answer 1

Professor Zuchov exemplifies status inconsistency, where his young age does not align with the societal expectations of a university professor's status.

Step-by-step explanation:

Because of his incredibly accelerated study program, Professor Zuchov, a 17-year-old university professor, exemplifies status inconsistency. This term describes a situation where an individual's various social statuses (age, occupation, education, etc.) do not align with the typical expectations of society. While one would expect a professor to be older due to the length of education and experience normally required, Professor Zuchov defies these expectations by achieving such a status at a very young age.

In sociology, statuses are either ascribed, those you do not select like 'son' or 'elderly person', or achieved, which are obtained by choice like 'high school dropout' or 'self-made millionaire'. A status such as 'student' also has a complex role-set attached to it. Sociologically, status inconsistency refers to the lack of consistency in an individual's rank across different social categories such as age, education, and occupation, which can lead to tension and societal perception issues.