Question 1

Which New Guinea society is the kula ring part of?

Accepted Answer

The kula ring is a cultural practice found among the Trobriand Islanders in Papua New Guinea.

Question 2

Which of the following statements best summarizes the findings of Margaret Mead concerning the nature versus nurture debate?

Accepted Answer

Margaret Mead's research concluded that gender roles and behaviors are primarily determined by culture rather than biology. She found that teenage girls in Samoan society had different ideas of sexual morality compared to the United States, challenging the idea that gendered divisions of labor are natural or biological. Mead also found that cultural expectations and norms vary widely across societies, indicating that nature has a limited impact on personality and behavior.

Question 3

Who receives the name at a potlatch?

Accepted Answer

At a potlatch, the person who contributes the most wealth (such as resources, goods, and money) is often seen as the most generous and respected member of the community. As a result, that person is often given a special name or title in recognition of their contributions. This person might also be asked to serve as a leader or role model for others in the community.

Question 4

Which of these is NOT an outcome of enculturation in Canadian society?

Accepted Answer

Enculturation refers to the process of learning the cultural norms and values of a society. While singing the national anthem, the promotion of Canadian-ness through hockey, and graduating from a Canadian public school are all examples of how cultural norms and values are transmitted in Canadian society, learning a sociocentric view of identity through the media is not specifically an outcome of enculturation in Canadian society. A sociocentric view of identity, which prioritizes group identity over individual identity, is not a concept that is uniquely or specifically promoted as part of Canadian cultural norms and values through enculturation processes.

Question 5

What is the term coined by Benedict Anderson to describe the concept that nations obtain a sense of shared identity despite having so many people that they cannot all possibly meet?

Accepted Answer

Benedict Anderson coined the term "imagined community" to describe the concept that nations obtain a sense of shared identity despite having so many people that they cannot all possibly meet. He argued that the nation is a socially constructed entity and that national identity is a product of the collective imagination of its citizens.

Question 6

What view of the person places a high value on individualism and self-reliance?

Accepted Answer

The view of the person that places a high value on individualism and self-reliance is egocentric. This view prioritizes individual needs, goals, and abilities over the needs and goals of the group or society as a whole.

Question 7

What principle characterizes Marcel Mauss's theory about gift-giving?

Accepted Answer

Marcel Mauss's theory about gift-giving is characterized by the principle of reciprocity, which suggests that gift exchange creates social ties between individuals and communities, and that gift-giving requires the recipient to reciprocate with a gift of equal value.

Question 8

What does naming a child accomplish among the Umbundu in Angola?

Accepted Answer

Naming a child among the Umbundu serves to perpetuate a wide kinship web by connecting the child to their ancestors and extended family. It also reflects the values, beliefs, and aspirations of the community, strengthening their collective identity. The name chosen for the child reflects the circumstances of their birth, the time of day or year, their manner of arrival, and the family's aspirations for them.

Question 9

What does Keigo essentially do?

Accepted Answer

Keigo, or honorific speech in Japanese, is used to express respect and politeness, and it inherently establishes or acknowledges the relative social or professional standing between the speaker and the listener.

Question 10

What concept is central to the vocabulary of the Japanese language?

Accepted Answer

The concept of status is central to the vocabulary of the Japanese language, influencing the use of honorifics and the way people address each other, reflecting their relative social positions.

Question 11

Why do Japanese advertisers frequently use clowns or children to make imperative commands like "Drink Coke" in advertisements?

Accepted Answer

Japanese society places importance on politeness and indirect communication, so using clowns or children allows advertisers to make direct commands in a way that is perceived as less aggressive or authoritative.

Question 12

What is the best reason that anthropologists are often "adopted" by a family?

Accepted Answer

Being "adopted" by a family assigns the anthropologist a social identity they would not have otherwise, allowing them to integrate into the community and gain insights into local culture and beliefs. It also provides a support system and access to resources that the anthropologist may not have otherwise had. It is not typically based on pity or the need for domestic assistance. However, it is possible that the family may expect some benefits or favors in return.

Question 13

Which of these is associated with a holistic sense of self?

Accepted Answer

A holistic sense of self involves recognizing the interconnectedness of one's identity with one's social position, group, or environment, rather than viewing oneself as a separate, autonomous entity.

Question 14

Why does anthropologist David Gilmore believe that initiation rituals for males are more commonplace than those for females,and generally involve more arduous tests in most societies?

Accepted Answer

David Gilmore believes that initiation rituals for males are more arduous because men must make a greater effort to differentiate themselves from their mothers. This is because in most societies, women remain within their natal household and are closely associated with their mothers throughout their lives, while men are expected to leave and join a new household. Initiation rituals for males help them separate from their mothers and form a distinct male identity.

Question 15

What did young Muslim women in Canada report to Homa Hoodfar as the reason they wore the veil?

Accepted Answer

Young Muslim women in Canada reported to Homa Hoodfar that wearing the veil saved them from having to explain their behaviour, as it was a personal choice rather than a result of coercion or oppression.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of living in a society that valorizes the "gene" and links identities with nature?

Accepted Answer

If a society valorizes the "gene" and links identities with nature, it would not discount the role of biology in shaping human behaviours, which makes option B incorrect. Options A, C, and D are all consequences of such a society. The reduction of diversity of human behaviours to biology (option A) implies that people are perceived as being determined solely by their genes, which leads to the belief that there are inherent differences between groups of people. Discounting the role of culture in shaping identities (option C) eliminates the importance of social and environmental factors that contribute to human flourishing. Lastly, discounting the role of culture in shaping individual behaviour (option D) removes the ability of individuals to shape their lives autonomously.

Question 17

According to van Gennep,what kind of rituals marks a person's transition from one identity to another?

Accepted Answer

Van Gennep used the term "rites of passage" to describe rituals that marked a person's transition from one identity to another, such as from adolescence to adulthood or from being single to being married.

Question 18

What is the symbolic purpose of the potlatch?

Accepted Answer

The potlatch is a ceremonial event among Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, where the host distributes wealth and gifts to guests, thereby publicly validating and reinforcing social status and hierarchy.

Question 19

Where would be an appropriate place for the Japanese to distinguish themselves from others and develop their autonomy?

Accepted Answer

In Japanese culture, individuality and standing out from the group is often discouraged. Therefore, the best place for Japanese individuals to develop their autonomy and distinguish themselves from others would be when they are alone, by themselves. This allows for personal reflection and the opportunity to explore their own identity without the influence or pressure of societal norms.

Question 20

When the Ndembu boys who are being initiated into manhood stay in the forest to be circumcised,what stage of van Gennep's discussion of rites of passage are they in?

Accepted Answer

The Ndembu boys staying in the forest to be circumcised are in the transition stage of van Gennep's discussion of rites of passage. This stage is characterized by a period of liminality, a state of being neither here nor there, where the initiates are stripped of their previous identity and status and are prepared for their new role in society. This period of transition is often marked by rituals, tests, or trials that challenge the initiates both physically and mentally, as they are initiated into their new roles as adults.

Quiz 5: The Cultural Construction of Identity