Question 1

Pablo studies clothing choices in subcultural groups. He is investigating:

Accepted Answer

Material culture refers to the physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture, including clothing choices.

Question 2

Simone de Beauvoir once famously asserted that "one is not born a woman, but becomes one," to suggest that women are created by cultural forces. How might sociobiologists respond to this?

Accepted Answer

Sociobiologists would argue that while culture does play a role in shaping gender roles, there are also biological factors that contribute to the development of gender. This includes hormonal differences between males and females, as well as evolutionary adaptations for reproduction and childcare. Therefore, sociobiologists would argue that one's biology does contribute to the creation of one's gender identity, and that de Beauvoir's claim is incomplete without acknowledging this.

Question 3

According to the textbook, the sociological study of culture began with which theorist?

Accepted Answer

Émile Durkheim is considered the founding figure in the sociological study of culture. He argued that culture is not just the sum of individual behaviors, but rather a social phenomenon that shapes and constrains individual behavior.

Question 4

Johann is from the United Kingdom. He sees that women in Afghanistan are often expected to wear head scarves, but women in the United Kingdom are not. He concludes, then, that women in Afghanistan would be freer if their culture were more like that of the United Kingdom. How might sociologists likely critique Johann's position?

Accepted Answer

Johann's position is based on a Western-centric perspective that assumes the superiority of the United Kingdom's culture and values. Sociologists would argue that cultural practices and beliefs cannot be judged as objectively better or worse than others, but rather are shaped by historical, political, economic, and social factors. Moreover, sociologists would emphasize the need to understand the cultural context and meaning behind the practice of wearing headscarves in Afghanistan, rather than imposing Western values on them. In general, social scientists strive to remain value-neutral in their research and analysis, rather than making normative judgments.

Question 5

________ refers to the application of biological principles to explain the social activities of animals, including human beings.

Accepted Answer

Sociobiology is the application of biological principles to explain the social activities of animals, including human beings. It suggests that certain behaviors and social structures are rooted in our biology and have developed through the process of evolution.

Question 6

When Yale administrators cautioned students to be thoughtful and sensitive in their choice of Halloween costume, their concern was that cultural elements used in some costumes can reduce cultural groups to demeaning stereotypes. This concern is about the issue of:

Accepted Answer

The concern of Yale administrators about cultural elements used in Halloween costumes reducing cultural groups to demeaning stereotypes is related to the issue of cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements from one culture by members of another culture, often without respect or understanding of the culture from which they are taking elements. In this scenario, the concern is that costumes may appropriate cultural elements in a way that is insensitive and disrespectful to the culture being represented, reducing their culture to a caricature or stereotype.

Question 7

________ refer to abstract ideals in a given society.

Accepted Answer

Values refer to the abstract ideals in a given society, such as honesty, hard work, and respect for authority. Norms refer to the rules and expectations that guide behavior in a given society, while material goods refer to physical items that people use and value. Folkways are the traditional customs and habits of a society.

Question 8

Carolina studies mainstream American culture. One of her colleagues notices that she consistently ignores material objects, such as food, clothing, and art. Why might her studies be criticized?

Accepted Answer

Material objects such as food, clothing, and art are crucial aspects of culture that influence how people live their lives, and therefore should not be ignored in cultural studies.

Question 9

An American begins to take an interest in the culture of India and starts wearing saris and bindis in public. Another American likes to wear elaborate feathered headdresses to music festivals. These individuals are engaging in what social scientists call:

Accepted Answer

The individual wearing saris and bindis in public is appropriating aspects of Indian culture for their own personal use, without regard for the cultural significance and context behind those items. Similarly, the individual wearing feathered headdresses is appropriating aspects of Native American culture without understanding their significance and cultural context. Cultural appropriation is a concept in which people from dominant cultures adopt aspects of marginalized cultures without understanding or respecting their cultural significance or history.

Question 10

Laura attends a prestigious university on a full scholarship. Most of her classmates come from upper class backgrounds. Her own family has trouble making ends meet, and they encourage her to do well in school. They believe that if she works hard, she will be able to escape poverty and achieve the same economic stability as that of her fellow classmates. This belief in the merit of individual achievement is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

The belief in the merit of individual achievement is a value, as it relates to the principles or standards that a person or society holds to be important or desirable.

Question 11

________ refer(s) to the physical objects that individuals in society create. These objects, in turn, influence how we live.

Accepted Answer

Material goods refer to the physical objects created by individuals in society, such as tools, buildings, and technology. These objects can greatly influence how we live our lives and shape our culture.

Question 12

Lucy wants to study American culture. Why might sociologists be critical of such a study?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists might be critical of a study of American culture because there is no single American culture, but rather a contested terrain of mainstream culture and many subcultures. This means that any study of "American culture" would have to take into account the diversity and complexity of cultural practices, values, and beliefs across different groups and regions within the United States. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to make generalizations about American culture as a whole.

Question 13

Kendrick studies which human behaviors might be innate and which might be learned through social processes. His studies contribute most to which sociological debate?

Accepted Answer

Kendrick's studies on whether human behavior is innate or learned through social processes contribute most to the nature vs. nurture sociological debate, which considers whether human behavior is primarily shaped by biology or environment.

Question 14

Mihir notes that altruism seems innate to humans rather than learned. He uses that knowledge to criticize the idea that humans are naturally selfish. Mihir is taking note of:

Accepted Answer

Mihir is referring to the innate behavior of humans, which points towards instinct rather than learned behavior. Therefore, the best choice is D, instinct. A, B, and C are not relevant in this context.

Question 15

The textbook defines a(n) ________ as a system of interrelationships that connects individuals.

Accepted Answer

The definition provided in the question best matches the concept of a society, which involves a complex web of relationships and interactions between individuals living in a particular geographical region or cultural group. Commodity refers to a raw material or good that can be bought or sold, workplace is a location where people engage in employment, and ecosystem refers to the interdependent relationship between living organisms and their environment.

Question 16

________ are widely agreed-upon principles or rules people are expected to observe; they represent the dos and don'ts of social life.

Accepted Answer

Norms are the social rules and expectations that guide human behavior and interactions in a society. They reflect what is considered acceptable or unacceptable behavior and can range from formal laws and regulations to informal customs and traditions. Norms help to maintain social order and cohesion by providing a shared understanding of how people should act in different situations.

Question 17

Alice stole a bit of money from her friend Rosa to buy groceries. Rosa finds out and angrily chastises Alice for her behavior. What does this exchange demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

The exchange between Alice and Rosa demonstrates the reinforcement of social norms. Rosa is chastising Alice for her behavior, indicating that there is a shared expectation or norm that stealing from friends is not acceptable. This reinforces the importance of following these shared norms and helps to maintain social order.

Question 18

________ occur(s) when members of one cultural group borrow elements of another group's culture.

Accepted Answer

Cultural appropriation occurs when members of one cultural group borrow elements of another group's culture without proper understanding or respect for the culture's significance. This can be controversial and can contribute to cultural misunderstandings and the oppression of minority cultures.

Question 19

Candace is doing a comparative study to compare different societies' expectations of how husbands should treat their in-laws. Candace will be analyzing:

Accepted Answer

Candace is studying societal expectations of behavior, which fall under the category of norms. Values refer to the beliefs held by a society, while material goods and instinct do not relate to the study of societal expectations.

Question 20

Mario is researching how genetic factors influence human behaviors. His research would best be described as:

Accepted Answer

Mario's research, which focuses on genetic factors and their influence on human behaviors, aligns with the field of sociobiology. Sociobiology aims to explain and understand social behavior, including human behavior, in terms of evolutionary and biological factors such as genetics.

Quiz 2: Culture and Society