Deck 2: Culture

Question 1

Edward Burnett Tylor (1832-1917) is credited with crafting the first definition of which of the following concepts utilized in anthropology?

A) ethnography
B) cultural relativism
C) ethnocentrism
D) culture

Answer 1

culture

Question 2

The work of many nonanthropologists through the nineteenth century suggested what theoretical idea about human life that anthropologists applied to culture?

A) historical particularism
B) structural functionalism
C) unilineal cultural evolution
D) cultural interpretivism

Answer 2

unilineal cultural evolution

Question 3

Which of the following is one of the four elements that an anthropologist considers in attempting to understand the complex workings of a culture?

A) symbols
B) individualism
C) ethnicity
D) discourses

Answer 3

symbols

Question 4

Which student of Boas explored the unique patterns and integration of cultural traits and entire cultures?

A) Margaret Mead
B) Bronislaw Malinowski
C) E. E. Evans-Pritchard
D) Ruth Benedict
E) E. Evans-Pritchard

Question 5

What is one key aspect in how we understand the idea of culture?

A) Humans inherit culture from their parents.
B) The process of culture is unique to humans.
C) Culture can only be learned through exposure to cultural institutions.
D) Humans learn culture throughout their lives.

Question 6

Family gatherings that honor particular moments in our lives-weddings, special holidays, and so forth-are often sources of tension when different family members want to "change things up." As a facet of culture and how we learn it, this reminds us that culture is a shared experience. It also reminds us that culture is:

A) static in that it remains identical, consistent, and uncontested over time.
B) constantly contested, negotiated, and changing.
C) genetically inherited.
D) unique to humans.

Question 7

Margaret Mead's (1901-1979) fieldwork in Samoa was controversial in part because she examined sexual freedom, and considered sex to be a matter of ________.

A) biology
B) enculturation
C) cultural relativism
D) structural functionalism

Question 8

Anthropologists seek to counter ethnocentrism by:

A) objectively, accurately, and sensitively representing the diversity of human life and culture.
B) explaining cultural difference as scientifically or biologically natural.
C) developing clear explanations about American norms and values for the populations they study.
D) accurately critiquing the norms and values of other cultures against the standards of their home cultures.

Question 9

In many European and Latin American cultures, people commonly greet one another with a kiss on the cheek. In the United States, people may be more likely to greet one another with a hug or a handshake. An anthropologist would call these ________ actions.

A) symbolic
B) spatial
C) value
D) normative

Question 10

The concept of culture is a very recent idea and was actually developed without the benefit of any fieldwork whatsoever by:

A) Franz Boas's work in the Pacific Northwest.
B) Edward Burnett Tylor's work in his home.
C) Charles Darwin's work in the Galapagos Islands.
D) Bronislaw Malinowski's work in the Trobriand Islands.

Question 11

Humans learn culture from the people and cultural institutions that surround them. When does this occur?

A) predominantly in early childhood
B) during their entire lives
C) primarily in cultural institutions such as schools and churches
D) generally from infancy through early adulthood

Question 12

Anthropologists studying female circumcision might personally be horrified by the practice, but must also be able to suspend their own personal judgment in order to understand the beliefs and practices of others within their cultural context. What is this known as?

A) relative altruism
B) cultural relativism
C) relative culturalism
D) contextual relativism

Question 13

The description of the McDonald's Happy Meal in the text provides an example of how cultural norms and attitudes are found in everyday life. In deconstructing the Happy Meal, which of these facets of culture and human life would an anthropologist be likely to view as ethnocentric?

A) child rearing practices in the United States
B) the way edible foods are packaged
C) production cost of a Happy Meal
D) the existence of only two genders

Question 14

Which of the following individuals was among the earliest anthropologists who sought to organize vast quantities of data about the diversity of world cultures that were being accumulated via colonial and missionary enterprises?

A) Lewis Henry Morgan
B) Franz Boas
C) Bronislaw Malinowski
D) Margaret Mead

Question 15

Sitting in your anthropology class helps you learn about culture through formal instruction. What informal learning process helps you learn culture from family, friends, and the media?

A) unconscious instruction
B) contestation
C) relativism
D) enculturation

Question 16

Franz Boas (1858-1942) rejected unilineal cultural evolution, instead suggesting that different cultures arise as the result of very different causes, and will vary widely. What do we call his approach?

A) structural functionalism
B) cultural interpretivism
C) historical particularism
D) unilineal cultural evolution

Question 17

Culture as a system includes knowledge, beliefs, patterns of behavior, and artifacts. It also must include which of the following?

A) institutions
B) ideas
C) languages
D) religions

Question 18

Anthropologists attempting to understand humans and their interactions engage with the idea of ________ as both a definition and theoretical framework.

A) culture
B) ethnography
C) ethnocentrism
D) cultural relativism

Question 19

Ideas or rules about how people should behave in particular situations or toward certain other people are considered ________.

A) beliefs
B) meanings
C) norms
D) values

Question 20

In the course of participant observation, anthropologists are often called on to do things that they might not ordinarily do. What allows them to develop a keen understanding of beliefs and practices of others as they conduct fieldwork?

A) ethnographic practice
B) cultural relativism
C) cultural reflexivity
D) cultural ethnology

Question 21

Anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901-1979) is best known for her research on sexual freedom and experimentation by young women in Samoa. Which aspect of culture among American women did Mead so powerfully contrast?

A) personality types
B) repressed sexuality
C) biology
D) cultural patterns

Question 22

Early British anthropological researchers believed they could isolate and scientifically study the structure and function of what?

A) culture
B) gender
C) ethnicity
D) society

Question 23

What does anthropologist Eric Wolf believe to be inherent in all relationships?

A) belief system
B) power dynamics
C) stratification
D) human agency

Question 24

Social scientists are increasingly attempting to understand how, when, and why mass murders occur. Which area of study would allow researchers to understand which environmental factors activate genetic predispositions toward violent behavior?

A) Human Genome Project
B) cultural anthropology
C) epigenetics
D) interpretivist approach

Question 25

Recent research has revealed the existence of a kind of "second body" within all humans, one that may be a crucial part of how we interact with our own bodies and others. What is this called?

A) genetic community
B) human microbiome
C) micro-organic evolution
D) human environment

Question 26

Clifford Geertz (1926-2006), who urged anthropologists to explore culture primarily as a symbolic system, felt that symbols were largely responsible for meaning. This meant that symbols and their meanings required a great deal of ________.

A) interpretation
B) rejection
C) collective understanding
D) specificity

Question 27

What do anthropologists call the uneven distribution of resources and privileges, often along lines of gender, racial or ethnic group, class, age, family, religion, sexuality, or legal status?

A) racism
B) stratification
C) coercion
D) hegemony

Question 28

Many early anthropologists drew from biology to support their work. They believed that society, like the human body, was composed of interconnected parts, with each part having a:

A) unique structure.
B) shared intelligence.
C) specific function.
D) biological structure.

Question 29

In his research conducted in the Trobriand Islands, Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942) employed an early form of what type of anthropological theory?

A) structural functionalism
B) unilineal evolutionism
C) interpretivism
D) historical particularism

Question 30

Evolutionary psychologists argue that how we think and behave is hardwired in our DNA. This has led to ideas about differences in men and women as fundamental-men as hunters, women as gatherers. What is the central argument that anthropologists have used to critique this idea?

A) The importance of genetic inheritance is significantly overstated.
B) There is no material evidence to support the DNA concept.
C) Too many examples of gender role reversal exist.
D) The existence of more than two genders contradicts their argument.

Question 31

The development of simple stone tools by early hominids led to the ability to procure meat more efficiently. This led to increased amounts of protein in their diet. Many scholars believe that this shift in diet was a significant part of how our ancient ancestors adapted so quickly to a varied set of environments, and how they were able to begin cultural development. This demonstrates the intimate connection between ________.

A) evolution and technology
B) language and culture
C) nature and nurture
D) biology and psychology

Question 32

Which of the following is defined as the ability or potential to bring about change through action or influence?

A) stratification
B) hegemony
C) coercion
D) power

Question 33

Rather than studying changes in organisms caused by alterations of the genetic code itself, epigenetics examines changes caused by:

A) environmental factors that switch genes on and off.
B) gendered predispositions toward certain behavior.
C) hormonal imbalances.
D) shifts in white blood cell counts.

Question 34

In her book Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street, Karen Ho uses ethnography to explore the ways in which Wall Street bankers are socialized into the temporal life of the market. An examination of the meaning of time among Wall Street bankers is an example of ________.

A) thick description
B) ethnocentrism
C) epigenetics
D) participant observation

Question 35

Clifford Geertz argued that every cultural action is more than the action itself. It is also a symbol of deeper meaning, subject to interpretation. What key idea in anthropology did this important theoretical idea help promote?

A) Facial expression is a key aspect of understanding other cultures.
B) Symbols are a crucial means of understanding other cultures.
C) Balinese culture holds the key to how we might understand other cultures.
D) Meticulous field notes are the most effective way to understand other cultures.

Question 36

Anthropologists have been successful in uncovering evidence of vast trade networks done entirely on foot throughout the entire continent of North America that long preceded the arrival of Europeans. This movement and exchange of material goods and cultural pieces supports which of the following concepts?

A) stratification
B) diffusion
C) evolution
D) innovation

Question 37

Culture is more than a set of ideas or patterns of behavior shared by a group of people because it also includes general mechanisms created by people to promote and maintain their core values. The recent changes in same-sex marriage laws reflect what kind of mechanism?

A) religious preferences
B) powerful institutions
C) a justice system
D) coercive powers

Question 38

Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) described two aspects of power. One included material power. What characterized the other aspect described by Gramsci?

A) the ability to create consent and agreement
B) the stratification of wealth and power
C) societal influence and status
D) the existence of prestige and class

Question 39

Which of the following is defined as the ability to create consent and agreement within a population, sometimes unconsciously, by shaping what people think is normal, natural, and possible?

A) consumerism
B) coercion
C) materialism
D) hegemony

Question 40

We often find ourselves seeing something as a "natural truth" and viewing any alternative as unthinkable. What is this an expression of?

A) the hegemony of ideas
B) the power of institutions
C) cultural stratification
D) human agency

Question 41

Early anthropologists suggested that all cultures would naturally evolve through the same sequence of stages, regardless of location or historical experience. What was this concept called and who were three of its early proponents? What were the three primary stages that all cultures pass through, according to this anthropological approach? In your opinion, what are some implications that an approach such as this could have on how societies are perceived around the world?

Question 42

A global outlook is emerging in response to increasing globalization linking cultural practices, norms, and values across great distances, even to the most remote areas of the world. What do anthropologists call this?

A) capitalism
B) cosmopolitanism
C) homogenization
D) migration

Question 43

Which of the following processes is intensifying the exchange and diffusion of people, ideas, and goods worldwide, creating more interaction and engagement among cultures?

A) industrialization
B) neoliberalization
C) financialization
D) globalization

Question 44

When someone gets sick, this may not simply represent a deficiency in the person's immune system, but a shift in his or her ________.

A) microbiome
B) cell count
C) genes
D) thyroid gland

Question 45

The advent of computers and deregulation of banking in the 1970s initiated major changes in our financial environment. What was one of the biggest changes?

A) online banking
B) credit cards
C) home equity loans
D) easy student loans

Question 46

What is the idea that humans are continually evolving and adapting, both on the species level and within the individual lifespan?

A) epigenetics
B) radical evolution
C) cultural relativism
D) human becomings

Question 47

Until now, studies of human evolution have focused on ________ percent of our cells that we typically call human.

A) 10
B) 40
C) 70
D) 90

Question 48

Current estimates suggest that children in the United States view almost 40,000 commercials a year. All of this is accomplished by advertising, which helps us learn how to:

A) be successful as consumers.
B) best manage our personal finances.
C) have more friends.
D) manage our material desires.

Question 49

In 2015, what was the average level of credit card debt per household?

A) $10,083
B) $15,355
C) $20,225
D) $31,342

Question 50

Recognition that our genes are themselves highly susceptible to environmental factors is a body of research called ________.

A) epigenetics
B) environmentalism
C) micro-organics
D) Mendelian genetics

Question 51

About fifteen years ago, Walmart opened a store in Germany. Ten years later, it pulled out of the country. As the text shows, some corporations, like McDonalds, have succeeded in other countries. What do critics fear that the expansion of these stores will do?

A) cosmopolitanize
B) monopolize
C) dominate
D) homogenize

Question 52

Focusing on early anthropology, define the approaches of historical particularism and structural functionalism. Who developed these approaches and what do these approaches examine when working to learn about other cultures? How did these two approaches differ from the preceding approach of unilineal cultural evolution?

Question 53

The difficulty of establishing clear links between genes and behavior has led to the recognition that culture is not part of our DNA. What are we born with that allows us to create culture?

A) the ability to reshape our genetic self to match our surroundings
B) an innate language and tool-making skills that transcend biology
C) the ability to learn any culture we are born or move into
D) an ability to change according to biological and environmental conditions

Question 54

In your own words, define the term ethnocentrism and provide a concrete example that illustrates the concept. Then discuss how ethnocentrism is related to cultural relativism and why anthropologists must concern themselves with ethnocentrism when conducting cross-cultural research. Conclude by offering some suggestions for concrete ways in which anthropologists can counter ethnocentrism in mainstream society today.

Question 55

Mental maps of reality constitute one of the four elements that anthropologists often consider when conducting cross-cultural research. Define mental maps of reality and discuss the two important functions that mental maps of reality play regarding culture. Provide a concrete example for each of the two functions. Conclude by discussing why anthropologists should consider a group of people's mental maps of reality when trying to understand their culture.

Question 56

Cultures are influenced by many different factors, including a constant flow of ideas, goods, and people. What is one of the major ways that people influence culture?

A) migration
B) globalization
C) invasion
D) financial power

Question 57

What do we call the process that diminishes the diversity of the world's cultures as a result of foreign influences that inundate local practices, products, and ways of thinking?

A) colonization
B) democratization
C) homogenization
D) industrialization

Question 58

The export of television shows worldwide and the knowledge of other cultures that is subsequently disseminated to even remote areas of the world are examples of which of the following concepts?

A) advertising
B) nationalism
C) cosmopolitanism
D) propagandization

Question 59

Chapter 2 begins with a brief discussion of how something as simple as a Happy Meal can illuminate many aspects of culture. Describe an example of a cultural encounter that you have experienced in your own life and discuss the ways in which it may have expanded or challenged your own ideas about cultural norms, values, symbols, and mental maps of reality. Conclude by discussing what you might have done or learned from that encounter.

Question 60

The credit card industry in the United States is able to extend credit to nearly anyone, even if they are unable to repay the credit card debt. In which population group is this is especially noticeable?

A) high school teenagers
B) college students
C) white-collar workers
D) men

Question 61

Homogenization is just one of the effects of globalization on cultures around the world. Define homogenization and give at least three examples of it. Are there aspects from other cultures that you now incorporate into your own culture? If so, please provide at least two examples. Do you think that globalization will indeed cause the homogenization of world cultures in the future? Why or why not?

Question 62

Former Harvard University president and economist Lawrence Summers commented in a 2005 speech that his school and others similar to it likely had more men in science and math faculties than women because men's brains were better suited for success in these areas. Do Summers's beliefs reflect a nature or nurture perspective of human experience? Based on what you have read in Chapter 2, what may be some of the reasons why there is a gender discrepancy in science and math faculties in U.S. colleges and universities? What role does culture play in such gender discrepancies?

Question 63

Define human agency and how it relates to culture and power. Provide examples of how individuals engage in human agency. Next, discuss how human agency may be used to challenge various aspects of culture and power, providing a minimum of two examples for each. What do you believe are some of the implications of human agency on culture and society in general?

Question 64

The notion of a culture of consumerism is distinct from the concept of culture more generally. Do you think that the culture of consumerism affects culture more generally in some way, and if so, how? What are some benefits and drawbacks of the culture of consumerism in society today? Do you think it will affect the future of societies, and if so, in what explicit ways?

Question 65

Evolutionary psychologists generally argue that our genetic makeup determines who we are and how we behave, while most anthropologists argue otherwise. What do anthropologists argue regarding the nature versus nurture debate surrounding who we are and how we behave? What evidence do anthropologists have to substantiate their argument?

Question 66

The advertising industry is key in igniting human desires for goods and services, which fuels the culture of consumerism. How does the power of advertising compare to the power of hegemony in influencing what people consider to be the "norm" in their cultural experiences? Are there any interconnections between the culture of consumerism and political organization in society today? Is there any evidence that suggests advertising is also used as a tool in politics to support and to institute hegemonic ideologies of certain groups who hold power within societies? Please provide concrete examples with each of your answers.

Question 67

The culture of consumerism in the United States and globally has intensified, especially during the last 50 years. What constitutes a culture of consumerism and how does it relate to the concept of culture more generally? What are three examples of how the culture of consumerism affects culture in general in the United States? Does it affect cultures worldwide, and if so, how?

Question 68

Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) described hegemony as one of two primary aspects of power. Define hegemony and provide at least two concrete examples of how it serves as a form of power. What is the second aspect of power that Gramsci described and how does it differ from hegemony? Which of the two aspects of power do you believe is likely to be more effective and why?

Question 69

Using an interpretivist approach, anthropologist Clifford Geertz (1926-2006) argues that seemingly straightforward actions such as winking have deep cultural meanings. Describe what constitutes an interpretivist approach. Next, provide your own example of a cultural action that you think conveys deep cultural meaning. What do you believe the action symbolizes culturally? How do you know that the action conveys deep cultural meaning and how did you learn its meaning? Would an individual need to be a member of the particular society in order to understand the deep cultural meaning of the action, or would anyone be able to interpret it correctly? Discuss why or why not.

Question 70

Globalization has led to an unprecedented rate of change worldwide. Barely 100 years ago, anthropologists traveled to remote places to study other people whose lifestyles are now all but extinct. How has globalization changed the ethnographic research of anthropologists? What aspects of culture might an anthropologist study to produce meaningful, useful results?