The widespread adoption of mask-wearing in the United States and other non-Asian countries in the face of the coronavirus pandemic is an example of how __________ can bring about social change.

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When evaluating why widespread mask-wearing emerged in the United States and other non-Asian countries during the coronavirus pandemic, we should consider the mechanism by which social change occurs.
Option 1: 'conflict between social actors' would emphasize competition or opposition between groups as the driver of change. While clashes over policies or norms can influence behavior, the broad adoption of mask-wearing aligns more closely with the dissemination of information and new ideas than with direct conflict as the main catalyst here.
Option 2: 'new ideas and information' points to the diffusion of knowledge, public health guidance, and evolving understandings of transmission that shifted norms and practices. This framing best captures how behavior changed as people learned about masks’ potential to reduce spread and as policies and messaging adapted accordingly.
Option 3: 'changes in cultural identities' refers to deeper, long-term shifts in how groups see themselves or their roles. While cultural shifts can accompany pandemics, the immediate uptake of mask-wearing is more directly explained by updated information and recommendations rather than a wholesale redefinition of cultural identity.
Option 4: 'alternative social movements' implies organized campaigns or movements seeking to change society through activism. The widespread mask adoption in this context arose largely from public health information and normative guidance rather than from an organized movement advocating for masks as a central cause.
In summary, the most fitting explanation for the phenomenon is the introduction and spread of new information and ideas about transmission and protection, which influenced people to adopt mask-wearing as a normative practice. The other options describe plausible mechanisms of social change in different contexts, but they do not best capture the immediate driver behind this specific behavior change.

SOC 110-003 Quiz 18

The widespread adoption of mask-wearing in the United States and other non-Asian countries in the face of the coronavirus pandemic is an example of how __________ can bring about social change.

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