Question 1

A __________ is a group that strongly rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks an alternative lifestyle.

Accepted Answer

A counterculture is a group that rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks an alternative lifestyle. Subculture refers to a smaller cultural group within a larger dominant culture, but not necessarily one that rejects dominant norms. Contraculture and secondary culture are not recognized sociological terms.

Question 2

When anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon first confronted the Yanomamӧ tribe of South America, he became nauseated at the sight of their customs and social environment. This is an example of ___________.

Accepted Answer

The nausea experienced by Napoleon Chagnon when confronted with the Yanomamӧ tribe's customs and social environment is an example of culture shock, which is the disorientation that people experience when they encounter a culture that is significantly different from their own.

Question 3

A __________ is a currently valued style of behavior, thinking, or appearance that is longer lasting and more widespread than a fad.

Accepted Answer

A fashion refers to a longer-lasting and more widespread trend in behavior, thinking, or appearance compared to a fad, which is short-lived and often confined to a particular group or time period. Fashion trends can persist for several years and can have a significant impact on the culture and society at large.

Question 4

Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski suggested that culture helps people meet their basic needs. Which of these is not one of the categories of needs identified by Malinowski?

Accepted Answer

Malinowski identified three categories of needs: instrumental needs (such as law and education), biological needs (such as food and procreation), and integrative needs (such as religion and art). Expressive needs are not one of the categories identified by Malinowski.

Question 5

Although some people see a globalized culture emerging, others fear that Western culture is dominating everywhere. This Westernization is a form of __________.

Accepted Answer

Cultural imperialism refers to the dominance of one culture over another, often through media or economic influence. Westernization is a type of cultural imperialism where Western values and norms are spread and adopted around the world.

Question 6

Today, most Old Order Amish live in __________, where they practice their religious beliefs and remain a relatively closed social network.

Accepted Answer

The majority of Old Order Amish in the United States live in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, where they maintain their traditional religious practices and a tight-knit social community.

Question 7

Which of these statements about subcultures is false?

Accepted Answer

The statement that only a small percentage of people belong to a subculture within the United States is false. In fact, subcultures are quite common and prevalent in society.

Question 8

During Olympic Games, competition and a spirit of nationalism and patriotism encourage people to think of their own nation as "the best." This is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of positive ethnocentrism, where people believe their own nation is superior to others in certain aspects, in this case, in sports and athletic achievements during the Olympic Games.

Question 9

Current interest in Lady Gaga and the Kardashians is an example of a __________.

Accepted Answer

Lady Gaga and the Kardashians are both celebrities, who are considered personalities. Therefore, the current interest in them is an example of a personality fad, where people are fascinated with their lives, fashion, and activities.

Question 10

Sociologists use the term __________ for the disorientation that people feel when they encounter cultures radically different from their own that challenge their own taken-for-granted assumptions about life.

Accepted Answer

Culture shock is the term used by sociologists to describe the disorientation people feel when they encounter cultures that are radically different from their own, and that challenge their own taken-for-granted assumptions about life.

Question 11

Sociologists use the term __________ for the practice of judging all other cultures by one's own culture, assuming that one's own way of life is superior to all others.

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism refers to the practice of judging all other cultures by one's own culture, assuming that one's own way of life is superior to all others. Option A, authoritarianism, refers to a political system in which a single governing body has total control over citizens' lives. Option C, cultural relativism, is the opposite of ethnocentrism, characterized by the belief that all cultures are equally valid and that each cultural practice should be evaluated on its own terms. Option D, self-centeredness, refers to an individual's focus on themselves and their own needs and desires.

Question 12

Groups such as the beatniks of the 1950s, the drug enthusiasts of the 1970s, and members of religious cults reject some or many of culture's basic norms and values. These groups are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Countercultures are groups that reject some or many of culture's basic norms and values. They often have their own distinct norms and values which are in opposition to those of the dominant culture.

Answer: A, D
 Subcultures share many of the same values and norms of the dominant culture but also have some of their own unique values and norms. Contracultures completely reject the values and norms of the dominant culture and have their own opposing values and norms. Secondary cultures is not a commonly used term in sociology.

Question 13

Until recently, only schoolchildren played soccer in the United States. Now, it has become a popular sport, perhaps in part because of immigrants from Latin America and other areas of the world where soccer is widely played. Soccer is an example of __________ in sports.

Accepted Answer

Soccer's growing popularity in the United States reflects a trend or fashion in sports, influenced by cultural exchange and globalization.

Question 14

The term __________ refers to the belief that the behaviors and customs of any society must be viewed and analyzed by the culture's own standards.

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism is the belief that no culture is superior or inferior to any other culture and that the behaviors, customs, and beliefs of a culture should be understood and analyzed within the context of that culture's own standards. This means that one should not make judgments about another culture from the perspective of one's own culture (ethnocentrism) or impose one's own cultural standards onto another culture.

Question 15

Members of the upper classes must be trained to appreciate and participate in high culture. This knowledge, called __________, is symbolic of being upper class, and excludes members of lower classes.

Accepted Answer

The concept of "cultural capital" refers to the knowledge and skills that are necessary to participate in high culture, such as classical music, fine art, and literature. This knowledge is often seen as a symbol of status and exclusivity, and is more likely to be possessed by members of the upper classes. The other options, fashion, high culture, and cultural imperialism, do not accurately capture this concept.

Question 16

A __________ is a temporary but widely copied activity followed enthusiastically by large numbers of people. Most are short-lived novelties.

Accepted Answer

A fad is a temporary but widely copied activity followed enthusiastically by large numbers of people. Most fads are short-lived novelties. A fashion is a prevailing style or custom, typically in clothing, while a popular culture form refers to a more permanent and lasting aspect of a culture such as music, movies, or art. Collective behavior refers to the spontaneous and unstructured behavior of a group of people.

Question 17

A potential danger of applying __________ is that taken to its extreme it may be used to justify practices that violate human rights.

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism is the idea that a person's beliefs and behaviors should be understood in the context of their own culture rather than judged by the standards and values of another culture. While this can help promote understanding and tolerance between cultures, it can also be taken to an extreme where it is used to justify harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, that violate basic human rights.

Question 18

__________ culture consists of classical music, opera, ballet, live theater, and other activities usually patronized by audiences who have the time, money, and knowledge assumed to be necessary for its appreciation.

Accepted Answer

This type of culture is generally referred to as "high culture." It is associated with high levels of artistic and intellectual achievement and is usually reserved for those with the education, resources, and interest in more refined forms of expression. The other options, ideal and real, are not necessarily applicable or opposite concepts to high culture. Popular culture (Option D) refers to widely accepted cultural creations and trends that appeal to the masses.

Question 19

"The Order," a white supremacist group, is opposed to most of the values shared by a majority of mainstream Americans. The Order has purchased weapons with the purpose of going after its enemies. This group is an example of a __________.

Accepted Answer

The Order, being a white supremacist group that opposes mainstream values and has purchased weapons to go after its enemies, is an example of a counterculture. It actively opposes and seeks to subvert the dominant culture, which is a defining characteristic of countercultures.

Question 20

__________ consists of activities, products, and services, such as rock concerts, spectator sports, movies, and television soap operas and situation comedies, that are assumed to appeal primarily to members of the middle and working classes.

Accepted Answer

Popular culture refers to cultural products and activities that are popular among the general population, particularly among the middle and working classes. This includes things like music, sports, movies, and television shows, which are often mass-produced and widely distributed through various media channels. Nonmaterial culture refers to intangible cultural elements like values, beliefs, and norms, while material culture refers to physical objects and artifacts produced by a society. High culture refers to cultural products and activities that are considered to be of high artistic or intellectual value, often associated with the elite or upper classes.

Quiz 2: Culture