Question 1

A reflex is an unlearned, biologically determined behavior pattern common to all members of a species that predictably occurs whenever certain environmental conditions exist.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A reflex is an unlearned, biologically determined...

Question 2

There is a growing movement in the U.S. to encourage people to prepare their food from scratch for a healthier lifestyle. This is called the slow food movement.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the slow food movement.

Question 3

Values do not dictate which behaviors are appropriate and which ones are not, but they provide us with the criteria by which we evaluate people, objects, and events.

Accepted Answer

Values provide us with a standard for evaluating things but do not necessarily dictate appropriate behaviors.

Question 4

Sanctions are informal norms or everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture.

Accepted Answer

Sanctions are actually formal or informal ways of enforcing norms or rules within a society or culture. Violating sanctions can result in various consequences, ranging from mild disapproval to legal punishment.

Question 5

Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of material culture.

Accepted Answer

Language, beliefs, values, family patterns, and political systems are examples of non-material culture. Rules of behavior could be considered either material or non-material depending on how they are expressed and transmitted (e.g. written laws vs. cultural norms). Material culture generally refers to physical objects and artifacts that are created and used by a society, such as tools, clothing, buildings, and art.

Question 6

Culture is essential for our individual survival and our communication with other people. We must learn about culture through interaction, observation, and imitation in order to participate as members of the group.

Accepted Answer

Culture shapes our behavior, beliefs, and values which are critical for functioning in society. Without learning about culture, we may face challenges in communicating with others and adapting to social norms. Interacting, observing and imitating others is how we learn about culture and develop our own cultural identity.

Question 7

Prescriptive norms state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable. For example, norms based on custom direct us to open a door for a person carrying a heavy load.

Accepted Answer

Prescriptive norms provide guidelines on how individuals should behave in specific situations, such as opening a door for someone carrying a heavy load as a sign of politeness and respect. They indicate what behavior is expected of us in society, helping us to function harmoniously and maintain social order.

Question 8

The Durkheim-Whorf theory has suggested that language expresses our thoughts and perceptions but has little influence on our perception of reality.

Accepted Answer

The Durkheim-Whorf theory, also known as linguistic relativity hypothesis, suggests that language not only expresses our thoughts and perceptions but also influences our perception of reality.

Question 9

The United States is referred to as a heterogeneous society, meaning that it includes people who are dissimilar in regard to social characteristics such as religion, income, or race/ethnicity.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the United States as a heterogeneous society.

Question 10

Even though the specifics of individual cultures vary widely, all cultures have four common material cultural components: symbols, language, values, and norms.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Even though the specifics of individual cultures...

Question 11

Whereas folkways are more informal, mores are more strongly held.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Folkways are informal norms that are less strictly enforced and have less severe consequences if violated. Mores, on the other hand, are highly valued and strongly held norms that have more severe consequences if violated.

Question 12

Taboos are mores so strong that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive and even unmentionable. In the United States, incest, or sexual or marital relations between certain categories of kin, is regarded as a taboo.

Accepted Answer

Incest is indeed regarded as a taboo in the United States.

Question 13

Anthropologist George Murdock compiled a list of cultural universals and divided them into four categories: appearance (bodily adornment and hairstyles), activities (sports and games), social institutions (family and religion), and customary practices (cooking and hospitality).

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Anthropologist George Murdock did compile a list of cultural universals and divided them into those four categories: appearance, activities, social institutions, and customary practices.

Question 14

Material culture consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share. Through technology, these raw materials are transformed into usable items (ranging from books and computers to guns and tanks).

Accepted Answer

Material culture refers to physical or tangible creations made, used, and shared by members of a society, which include various types of technology used to transform raw materials into usable items.

Question 15

A language-based predisposition to think about women in sexual terms reinforces the notion that women are sexual objects. Women are often described by terms such as fox, broad, babe, or doll, which ascribe childlike or even petlike characteristics to them.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The use of objectifying language contributes to the societal perception of women as sexual objects rather than fully realized individuals. Terms like "fox," "babe," and "doll" reduce women to stereotypes and can be harmful.

Question 16

According to Williams, two of our core American values are equality and religiosity.

Accepted Answer

Williams identified core American values such as equal opportunity and achievement, but religiosity is not specifically listed as one of them.

Question 17

Verbal (spoken) language and nonverbal (written or gestured) language help us describe reality. One of our most important human attributes is the ability to use language to share our experiences, feelings, and knowledge with others.

Accepted Answer

Verbal and nonverbal language are important tools for communication and sharing information with others.

Question 18

Sociologists stress that a gap always exists between ideal culture and real culture in a society. Ideal culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow; whereas, real culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold.

Accepted Answer

Sociologists stress that a gap always exists between real culture and ideal culture in a society. Real culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow, whereas ideal culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people in a society claim to hold.

Question 19

From a functionalist perspective, language is a source of power and social control; language perpetuates inequalities between people and between groups because words are used to "keep people in their place."

Accepted Answer

The statement describes a conflict perspective, not a functionalist one. Functionalism views language as a means of social cohesion and stability, not as a tool for power and inequality.

Question 20

According to sociologist William Ogburn, cultural diffusion occurs when material cultural changes faster than nonmaterial culture, thus creating a gap between the two cultural components.

Accepted Answer

Cultural diffusion refers to the spread of cultural elements from one society to another, not the gap between material and nonmaterial culture. The concept of material culture changing faster than nonmaterial culture is known as cultural lag.

Quiz 2: Culture.