Question 1

Lamont believes in democracy and equality, and when asked to describe himself he cites his appreciation for people of all races and ethnic heritages. But at the same time, Lamont believes women should not be in the armed services and he avoids taking courses from female professors. In view of this, which statement best describes Lamont?

Accepted Answer

Lamont's beliefs about democracy and equality are in conflict with his belief that women should not be in the armed forces and his avoidance of female professors. This is an example of a value contradiction, where one's beliefs clash with one another.

Question 2

People from all walks of life, races, religions, and ethnic groups participate in the U.S. legislative process. In view of this, which term best describes American society?

Accepted Answer

The term "pluralistic" refers to a society in which various groups coexist and participate in the political process. This applies to the U.S. legislative process which includes people from diverse backgrounds and beliefs. "Polytheistic" refers to a belief in multiple gods, which is not relevant to the question. "Subcultures and countercultures" refers to smaller groups within society with their own unique beliefs and practices, but this does not necessarily reflect the broader participation in the legislative process. "Oligarchy" refers to a small group of individuals having power, which is not reflective of the widespread participation in the legislative process.

Question 3

Several years ago, the gay community applied for a permit to march in the St. Patrick Day's Parade in Boston. When denied, the gay community filed suit and won. Rather than permitting the gay community to march in the parade, the parade trustees cancelled the event. Sociologists would suggest this conflict in values between the trustees of the parade and the gay community would eventually lead to ________.

Accepted Answer

Conflict in values often leads to social change, and in this case, the denial of the permit and subsequent cancellation of the parade brought attention to gay rights and sparked conversations about acceptance and inclusion in traditional events. It is unlikely that this conflict would escalate to armed conflict or result in social integration leading to a bisexual society. The idea of consensus that gays are evil is not supported by sociological theory and would not likely be the outcome of this conflict.

Question 4

Americans glorify academic progress and material success. However, most students do not graduate with honors and most citizens are not wealthy. This condition characterizes the difference between ________ and ________.

Accepted Answer

The difference between the glorified ideal of academic and material success and the reality that most students do not graduate with honors and most citizens are not wealthy is the difference between ideal culture (what we aspire to) and real culture (what actually exists).

Question 5

Many fundamentalist Christians lobby for laws making same-sex marriage illegal. Gays and lesbians consider same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage as basic human rights. Which concept best describes the relationship between these fundamentalist Christians and the gay/lesbian community?

Accepted Answer

The concept that best describes the relationship between fundamentalist Christians who lobby against same-sex marriage and the gay/lesbian community is a culture war due to conflicting values. The two groups have opposing views on the fundamental rights and freedoms of human beings, which leads to a conflict of values between them.

Question 6

Most American high schools routinely schedule ceremonies to recognize the most talented student athletes and scholars. Such activities illustrate the importance that Americans place on which value, as defined by sociologist Robin Williams?

Accepted Answer

The scheduling of ceremonies to recognize talented student athletes and scholars demonstrates the value that Americans place on achievement and success, as defined by sociologist Robin Williams.

Question 7

Of the five interrelated core values emerging in American society, the one that is reflected in the "human potential" movement that focuses on "self help, relating, and personal development" is ________.

Accepted Answer

The "human potential" movement emphasizes self-fulfillment and personal development, which aligns with the core value of individualism and the belief in the potential for personal growth and achievement.

Question 8

Every December, many Jewish families celebrate Chanukah, the "festival of lights," during which special foods are served, rituals are practiced, and traditional activities take place that are unique to this faith. In this context, members of the Jewish faith would represent which concept?

Accepted Answer

The celebration of Chanukah is a part of the Jewish subculture, which has its own unique beliefs, traditions, and practices within the larger culture.

Question 9

When a group has a distinctive way of looking at life, but at the same time its values and norms reflect the dominant culture of its society, the group would be considered a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

A subculture is a group within a larger society that has its own distinct values and norms but still largely shares the dominant culture of the larger society. Countercultures, on the other hand, reject the values and norms of the dominant culture and aim to create their own independent culture. Cultural relativism and cultural diffusion refer to broader concepts of how cultures interact and evolve.

Question 10

Which of Williams' U.S. values is contradicts the other values of freedom, democracy, and equality?

Accepted Answer

Group superiority contradicts the values of freedom, democracy, and equality because it promotes the idea that certain groups are inherently better than others based on factors such as race, ethnicity, or religion. This goes against the principles of equal treatment and opportunity for all individuals.

Question 11

The sociologist who identified ten underlying core values of American society was ________.

Accepted Answer

Robin Williams identified ten underlying core values of American society, which included: equality, achievement and success, material comfort, activity and work, practicality and efficiency, progress, science, democracy and free enterprise, freedom, and racism and group superiority.

Question 12

Americans usually recognize hard work, education, and efficiency as desired qualities. Where one of these qualities is found, the other two also apply. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A value cluster refers to a set of values that tend to be found together in a society or culture. In this case, the value cluster includes hard work, education, and efficiency, which are all seen as desirable qualities in American culture.

Question 13

Sociologists have identified an emerging set of five interrelated values in American society. What are these emerging values?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists have identified an emerging set of five interrelated values in American society that include leisure, self-fulfillment, physical fitness, youthfulness, and environmental concern. These values reflect the growing emphasis on individualism and personal happiness, as well as a concern for the environment and health. While freedom and equality are also important values in American society, they are not included in this emerging set of values. Romantic love and spirituality may be valued by some individuals, but they are not as widely recognized as the values listed in choice B.

Question 14

The author added three values to the original list of ten core values that Robin Williams identified as the most common in American society. Which of the following is NOT one of the three values added?

Accepted Answer

Equality was one of the original ten core values identified by Robin Williams, not one of the three added later.

Question 15

The anthropologist who gathered data on hundreds of groups around the world to compare their customs, and then concluded that specific customs differed from one group to another, was ________.

Accepted Answer

The anthropologist who gathered data on hundreds of groups around the world to compare their customs and concluded that specific customs differed from one group to another was George Murdock. Benjamin Whorf was a linguist who proposed the theory of linguistic relativity, Edward Wilson was a biologist who studied sociobiology, and Edward Sapir was a linguist and anthropologist who also worked on the theory of linguistic relativity.

Question 16

All of the following statements are examples of countercultures, EXCEPT for which one?

Accepted Answer

Being a Chicago Cubs fan is not a counterculture. It is merely a fandom associated with a popular sports team. The other options involve groups or individuals who reject mainstream values and norms in some way.

Question 17

Good nutrition, medical care, comfortable housing, and a nice car are included in a classification of values in American society that sociologist Robin Williams would call ________.

Accepted Answer

The classification of values in American society that includes good nutrition, medical care, comfortable housing, and a nice car is material comfort. This is consistent with Robin Williams' typology of American values, where material comfort is one of the key values.

Question 18

From a sociological perspective, which statement best classifies 19th century Mormons and 21st century physicians?

Accepted Answer

The answer of From a sociological perspective, which statement best...

Question 19

Courtney raises champion sheep, Joe is a cab driver in New York, and Rufus is a member of the RAW family of professional wrestling. What do Courtney, Joe, and Rufus have in common?

Accepted Answer

Courtney, Joe, and Rufus are all engaged in activities that are not part of the mainstream or dominant culture, which makes them members of subcultures. Courtney's raising of champion sheep is a specialized hobby, Joe's profession as a cab driver in New York puts him in contact with a subculture of taxi drivers, and Rufus's profession as a professional wrestler makes him part of the professional wrestling subculture.

Question 20

At the Back to Nature Nudist Colony, Ernie and Morello take a walk every morning along the beach, totally nude. Within the colony, which statement best describes the behavior of Ernie and Morello?

Accepted Answer

Ernie and Morello are conforming to the folkways (customary behaviors) of their subculture, which values nudity and naturalism. In their specific community, walking nude on the beach is a norm and a common practice. Therefore, it is not a violation of any moral code or ethical principle of their society.

Quiz 2: Culture