Question 1

Adoption is an example of

Accepted Answer

Adoption is an example of fictive kinship, which refers to relationships among individuals that are considered akin to kinship ties but do not involve biological or marital connections.

Question 2

Which of these statements about the incest taboo is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The primary explanation for the incest taboo is not solely biomedical knowledge but also includes social, cultural, and evolutionary factors. While biomedical concerns (such as the risk of genetic defects in offspring) are part of the rationale in some societies, the taboo is more broadly based on social norms, cultural practices, and the maintenance of family and social structures.

Question 3

Neolocal residence rules are found most commonly among which people groups?

Accepted Answer

Neolocal residence rules, where a newly married couple establishes their own residence separate from both sets of parents, are most commonly found among industrialized peoples. This is largely due to the economic and social structures that support independence and mobility in industrialized societies.

Question 4

Cross-culturally, marriage

Accepted Answer

Marriage practices vary widely across different cultures, and in many societies, marriages are arranged or heavily influenced by families, communities, or social norms, rather than being primarily based on individual choice or romantic love.

Question 5

Each of these explains why it is difficult to formulate a cross-culturally valid definition of marriage EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because the existence of polygyny and polyandry as dominant forms of marriage in some societies does not inherently make it difficult to formulate a cross-culturally valid definition of marriage. These are simply variations in the form of marriage, whereas the other options (A, B, C) describe fundamental differences in marital arrangements and concepts that challenge the creation of a universal definition.

Question 6

Which of these statements about marriage is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

While marriage is often intended to last a lifetime, the statement that it is always expected to do so is false. Cultural norms and personal expectations around the permanence of marriage vary widely across different societies and individuals.

Question 7

In most societies, marriage is important because

Accepted Answer

Marriage establishes social structures that support the upbringing and welfare of children, creating a stable environment for their development.

Question 8

Rules that prohibit marriage within a person's own group are called

Accepted Answer

Exogamous rules require individuals to marry outside their own social group, clan, or tribe, which is the opposite of endogamous rules that mandate marrying within one's own group.

Question 9

____ means that a person is required to marry within his or her own social group.

Accepted Answer

Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific social group, caste, or ethnicity, rejecting those from others as unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships.

Question 10

What do castes in India provide an example of?

Accepted Answer

Castes in India are an example of endogamous groups, meaning that marriage is typically restricted to members of the same social group or caste.

Question 11

The statistical data showing the increase of approval of same-sex relationships indicates that

Accepted Answer

The increase in approval of same-sex relationships reflects the dynamic nature of marriage systems and culture, indicating that societal norms and values evolve over time.

Question 12

What is the term for a marriage in which one man has multiple wives?

Accepted Answer

Polygyny refers to a marriage system where a man is married to more than one wife simultaneously. It is a form of polygamy, which encompasses any form of marriage in which a person has more than one spouse.

Question 13

The term for a marriage in which one woman has multiple husbands is

Accepted Answer

Polyandry refers to a form of marriage where a woman has more than one husband at the same time.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about polygyny is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Polygyny, while practiced in some cultures, is not necessarily the dominant form of marriage even within societies where it is a cultural norm. Monogamy or other forms of marriage can also be prevalent or preferred, depending on various social, economic, and cultural factors.

Question 15

What is the term for a marriage in which one man marries women who are sisters?

Accepted Answer

Sororal polygyny refers to a form of marriage in which a man is married to two or more sisters at the same time. It is a specific type of polygyny, which is a marital arrangement where a man has multiple wives.

Question 16

What seems to be the best explanation for the practice of polyandrous marriage?

Accepted Answer

Polyandrous marriage, where a woman has multiple husbands, is often practiced to keep family land holdings together. This system prevents the division of land among heirs, which could lead to the fragmentation of estates and a reduction in the economic viability of family farms.

Question 17

Which of these statements about polyandrous marriage is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The statement that responsibility for the wife and children is shared equally by all the brothers/husbands in polyandrous marriages is not always true. The distribution of responsibility can vary significantly depending on the specific cultural, economic, and individual circumstances of the marriage.

Question 18

In the United States, many people marry, divorce, and re-marry. The term for this is

Accepted Answer

Serial monogamy refers to the practice of being married to one person at a time but having multiple such marriages over the course of one's life, often through divorce and remarriage. This contrasts with polygamy, where one has multiple spouses simultaneously, and plural marriage, a form of polygamy.

Question 19

Among the Yanomamo, "sisters" or female relatives are exchanged between groups. This example illustrates which function of marriage?

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates the function of creating new social relationships for allies and trade. By exchanging "sisters" or female relatives between groups, the Yanomamo are able to forge alliances, establish trade relationships, and strengthen social bonds between different groups.

Question 20

Traditionally, the Yanomamo of South America

Accepted Answer

The Yanomamo traditionally formed marriage alliances with other villages for political purposes, strengthening ties and alliances between different groups within their society.

Quiz 9: Marriages and Families