Questions: A local politician is pushing for stricter regulations on social media usage, arguing that excessive use is harmful to young people's mental health and moral development. Based on Becker's concept of moral entrepreneurs, how would you interpret the politician's role in this situation? The politician is only reacting to pressure from social groups without personal interest in the issue. The politician is engaging in deviant behavior by attempting to control others' actions. The politician is acting as a moral entrepreneur by trying to define excessive social media use as a social problem and pushing for new rules to control it. The politician is trying to enforce existing laws more strictly rather than creating new moral standards. Question 10 2 pts An advocacy group successfully lobbies for a law that bans plastic straws to protect the environment, even though the actual environmental impact of plastic straws is debated. How does this reflect Becker's concept of moral crusades? The group is demonstrating a fact-based, rational approach to social change. The group is demonstrating the futility of trying to influence societal norms. The group is acting as rule enforcers, maintaining existing environmental regulations. The group is using the concept of a moral crusade to address a complex issue by creating a simple, morally charged symbol (plastic straws) for a broader environmental concern.

The answer is: The politician is acting as a moral entrepreneur by trying to define excessive social media use as a social problem and pushing for new rules to control it.

Explanation:

1. The politician is only reacting to pressure from social groups without personal interest in the issue.

   • This option is incorrect because Becker's concept of moral entrepreneurs involves individuals or groups actively working to create or enforce new norms and rules, often driven by personal or ideological motivations. Simply reacting to pressure does not align with the proactive nature of moral entrepreneurship.

2. The politician is engaging in deviant behavior by attempting to control others' actions.

   • This option is incorrect because Becker's concept of moral entrepreneurs does not categorize their actions as deviant. Instead, it views them as individuals who seek to change societal norms and rules, often believing they are acting in the public's best interest.

3. The politician is acting as a moral entrepreneur by trying to define excessive social media use as a social problem and pushing for new rules to control it.

   • This option is correct. According to Howard S. Becker, moral entrepreneurs are individuals or groups who campaign to establish new norms and laws based on their own moral beliefs. In this case, the politician is attempting to frame excessive social media use as a social problem and is advocating for stricter regulations, which fits the definition of a moral entrepreneur.

4. The politician is trying to enforce existing laws more strictly rather than creating new moral standards.

   • This option is incorrect because the scenario describes the politician pushing for new regulations, not merely enforcing existing ones. Becker's concept of moral entrepreneurs involves the creation of new norms and standards, not just the enforcement of existing ones.

The answer is: The group is using the concept of a moral crusade to address a complex issue by creating a simple, morally charged symbol (plastic straws) for a broader environmental concern.

Explanation:

1. The group is demonstrating a fact-based, rational approach to social change.

   • This option is incorrect because the question states that the environmental impact of plastic straws is debated, implying that the group's actions are not solely based on indisputable facts but rather on a symbolic representation of a larger issue.

2. The group is demonstrating the futility of trying to influence societal norms.

   • This option is incorrect because the group's successful lobbying indicates that they have indeed influenced societal norms, at least to the extent of getting a law passed.

3. The group is acting as rule enforcers, maintaining existing environmental regulations.

   • This option is incorrect because the group is not maintaining existing regulations but rather advocating for new ones, which aligns more with the concept of a moral crusade.

4. The group is using the concept of a moral crusade to address a complex issue by creating a simple, morally charged symbol (plastic straws) for a broader environmental concern.

   • This option is correct. Becker's concept of moral crusades involves individuals or groups who campaign to change societal norms by framing issues in a morally charged way. In this case, the advocacy group has chosen plastic straws as a symbol to represent broader environmental concerns, simplifying a complex issue to garner public and legislative support.