Question 1

The most powerful transmitter of culture is probably __________.

Accepted Answer

Language is the most powerful transmitter of culture because it is the primary means through which cultural information is conveyed, shared, and preserved. Language is used to communicate ideas, values, beliefs, and traditions, and it is the foundation of social interaction and identity formation. While the elders, school system, and parents all play important roles in transmitting cultural knowledge and values, language is the most fundamental and pervasive medium of culture.

Question 2

Individuals have __________, but groups share __________.

Accepted Answer

Individuals exhibit behavior, while groups collectively share and contribute to a culture.

Question 3

Which important tenet of anthropology was first championed by Franz Boas to challenge the attitude that Western culture was inherently superior to others?

Accepted Answer

Franz Boas championed cultural relativism, which is the idea that all cultures should be understood and evaluated based on their own values and beliefs, rather than through the lens of Western culture. This challenged the ethnocentric view that Western culture was superior to all others. Boas believed in the importance of studying cultures objectively and without bias, which has become a core principle in anthropology.

Question 4

What is the conceptual opposite of ethnocentrism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the conceptual opposite of ethnocentrism?
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Question 5

Which of the following is true of conformity studies across culture?

Accepted Answer

While the degree of conformity may vary across cultures, the majority of studies still show a conformity effect.

Question 6

What is the modal response for a cultural rule?

Accepted Answer

The modal response refers to the most frequently encountered response in a given set of data or observations.

Question 7

The tendency to judge other cultures without trying to grasp the reasons behind their customs is what anthropologists refer to as __________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's own culture as superior to others and to judge other cultures based on one's own cultural standards, without considering the reasons and values behind their customs.

Answer: C
 Cultural relativism is the opposite of ethnocentrism, and involves understanding and evaluating other cultures in their own terms, without imposing one's own cultural norms and values. This approach recognizes that no culture is inherently better or worse than another; rather, each culture should be understood and assessed on its own terms, in the context of its history, values, and beliefs.

Answers: B, D
 Acculturation refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural practices and values of another culture, often as a result of prolonged contact or colonization. Diffusion, on the other hand, refers to the spread of cultural practices or innovations from one culture to another, often through trade, migration, or other forms of contact. Neither of these concepts directly relates to the tendency to judge other cultures without understanding their customs, as described by ethnocentrism.

Question 8

Which of the following is a basic pattern of diffusion?

Accepted Answer

Intermediate contact is a basic pattern of diffusion, which involves the spread of ideas or innovations through direct or indirect contact between neighboring regions or cultures.

Question 9

How does the everyday usage of the term "culture" differ from its academic definition?

Accepted Answer

The everyday usage of "culture" often implies a set of refined behaviors, knowledge, and tastes that individuals can acquire or aspire to, suggesting a desirable quality. In contrast, academic definitions of culture encompass the broader range of learned behaviors, beliefs, and norms shared by a group of people, not limited to what is considered refined or desirable.

Question 10

Ethnocentrism both hinders our understanding of other peoples' cultures and __________.

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture is superior to others, and this attitude can prevent individuals from understanding, appreciating, and respecting other cultures. However, it also has the potential to make individuals more aware of their own cultural traditions and practices, which can help them gain a deeper understanding of their own identity and heritage.

Question 11

When a member of a group diverges from acceptable standards, or norms, of social behavior, he/she may be ridiculed, arrested, or otherwise pressured into conformity through what Emile Durkheim referred to as __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a member of a group diverges...

Question 12

What are the ultimate sources of all cultural change?

Accepted Answer

Discovery and invention are the ultimate sources of all cultural change. Discovery involves finding something that already exists, while invention is the creation of something new. Both processes introduce new elements into a culture, leading to change.

Question 13

Which of the following is a major source of new culture?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a major...

Question 14

Because a word or phrase can represent what it stands for, whether or not that thing is present, we say that language is __________.

Accepted Answer

The definition given ("Because a word or phrase can represent what it stands for, whether or not that thing is present") describes the symbolic nature of language.

Question 15

Emile Durkheim stressed that culture is something __________ us exerting a strong __________ power on us.

Accepted Answer

Durkheim argued that culture is external to individuals and exerts a coercive power over them, shaping their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Thus, cultural norms and values are not simply individual choices, but social constraints that regulate human action and conduct.

Question 16

Anthropologists, as well as other social scientists, feel that culture is __________.

Accepted Answer

Anthropologists and other social scientists believe that culture is learned and shared, meaning it is not inherited and is transmitted within a group or society through socialization and education. It is a significant factor in shaping human behavior and beliefs.

Question 17

An adaptive custom is one that __________.

Accepted Answer

An adaptive custom is one that enhances survival and reproduction, meaning it is beneficial to a particular society's way of life and helps them thrive. A custom that changes with cultural fluctuations may not necessarily be adaptive, while a custom that persists over several generations and was learned from other cultures does not necessarily guarantee adaptivity.

Question 18

The ideal cultural traits of a society __________.

Accepted Answer

The ideal cultural traits of a society consist of the ideas people have about how they ought to behave. These traits are often based on values and beliefs that are considered important or desirable by members of the society. However, not everyone in a society will necessarily follow these ideals, and there may be variation in how they are interpreted and expressed by different individuals and groups.

Question 19

The fact that monkeys and apes can learn new behaviors from each other __________.

Accepted Answer

The ability to learn new behaviors from each other is one of the defining characteristics of culture. Therefore, this behavior in monkeys and apes suggests that they have a form of culture.

Question 20

A __________ is a group of people who occupy a particular territory and speak a common language.

Accepted Answer

A society is defined as a group of people who live in a particular territory and share a common culture and language. While culture, family, and subculture are all related concepts, they do not necessarily involve the territorial aspect that is specified in the question.

Quiz 2: Culture and Culture Change