alleryStart learning →The Thomas theorem says a person's behavior can be driven by what?
AThe facts of the situation
BThe laws of their country
CTheir own view of reality
DThe size of their income
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Their own view of reality
1. The theorem states that situations defined as real are real in their consequences.
2. So behavior follows a person's own construction of reality, not the objective facts.
3. A teenager labeled a bum may grow into the label even if it never fitted.
4. Objective circumstances still exist, but they are not what drives the behavior here.
_Source: OpenStax Introduction to Sociology 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 3 "Culture", Ch 4 "Society and Social Interaction" and Ch 5 "Socialization", section 4.3 Social Constructions of Reality_
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