Which sociologist is associated with the concept of a 'culture of dependency' contributing to poverty and rising single-parent households?

• A. William Julius Wilson
• B. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
• C. Karl Marx
• D. Emile Durkheim

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how family structure and cultural expectations can influence poverty and the rise of single-parent households. Daniel Patrick Moynihan argued in the 1960s that in some communities, a pattern of family life and attitudes—often described as a “culture of dependency”—could undermine economic mobility. He believed that widespread single-parent households and reliance on welfare could become self-perpetuating, contributing to poverty beyond other economic factors. This view linked the stability of the family with broader social and economic outcomes, suggesting cultural norms shape later life chances.

This perspective stands apart from others in sociology. William Julius Wilson, for example, emphasizes structural factors—like job loss, segregation, and neighborhood conditions—as the main drivers of urban poverty, rather than cultural patterns. Karl Marx centers on class and the capitalist system's effects on exploitation and economic organization. Emile Durkheim focuses on how social integration and collective norms maintain societal order. So Moynihan’s cultural-influences explanation is the best fit for describing a culture of dependency tied to poverty and rising single-parent households.