Question 1

Cultural diffusion is used to describe groups that are opposed to changes in their technology or material culture.

Accepted Answer

Cultural diffusion refers to the spread of ideas, beliefs, and customs from one culture to another. It does not necessarily involve opposition to changes in technology or material culture. In fact, cultural diffusion often leads to the adoption of new technologies and practices by a society.

Question 2

A person receiving a positive sanction would be expected to maintain the behavior that he or she exhibited when receiving the sanction.

Accepted Answer

Positive sanctions are intended to encourage and reinforce desirable behavior, so the recipient is expected to continue that behavior in order to receive more positive feedback.

Question 3

When the Mormons first established their settlement in Utah,they would have been classified a counterculture because of their belief in polygyny.

Accepted Answer

Polygyny, which is the practice of having multiple wives, was not accepted in mainstream American culture at the time, making the Mormons who practiced it a counterculture.

Question 4

Cultural lag refers to a situation in which elements of nonmaterial culture (such as norms and values)change,but elements of material culture (such as technology)do not.

Accepted Answer

Cultural lag refers to the period of maladjustment when the non-material culture is still struggling to adapt to new material conditions, meaning it's typically the material culture (like technology) that changes first, and the non-material culture (such as norms and values) that lags behind.

Question 5

Groups are more prone to changing their material culture before they change their nonmaterial culture.

Accepted Answer

Material culture refers to the physical objects, buildings, and technology of a society, whereas nonmaterial culture includes its beliefs, values, and customs. Since material culture is more tangible and visible, it is often easier for groups to change it than their nonmaterial culture which is deeply ingrained in their beliefs and values. Therefore, groups tend to adapt to new technologies, fashion, and architecture before they change their beliefs, values, and social norms.

Question 6

Language allows culture to develop by freeing people to move beyond their immediate experiences.

Accepted Answer

Language provides a means of communication and expression that transcends individual experiences, allowing people to share and create new ideas, beliefs, and practices. Through language, cultural traditions, values, and norms can be communicated and preserved across generations, facilitating the development and evolution of culture over time.

Question 7

For an American to understand and appreciate the traditional famadihana in Madagascar,he or she would need to practice cultural relativism when considering the description given by the author.

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism means understanding and appreciating different cultures without judging them based on one's own cultural beliefs and values. Therefore, to appreciate and understand the traditional famadihana in Madagascar, an American would need to practice cultural relativism and avoid imposing their own beliefs on the practice.

Question 8

Because America is made up of many different groups,it is classified as being a pluralistic society.

Accepted Answer

America is composed of various diverse groups such as different races, ethnicities, religions, cultures, etc. As a result, it is considered a pluralistic society.

Question 9

Sociologists agree it is important that we consistently practice cultural relativism in viewing other cultural practices.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sociologists agree it is important that we...

Question 10

A person who professes a belief in freedom and equality but also demonstrates behavior that is sexist and racist is involved in a value contradiction.

Accepted Answer

A value contradiction occurs when a person's actions or beliefs contradict their stated values. If someone claims to believe in freedom and equality but exhibits behavior that is sexist and racist, they are contradicting their own beliefs and values.

Question 11

Viewing bullfighting from its history,its folklore,its ideas of bravery,and its concepts about sex roles is an example of cultural relativism.

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism is the perspective that cultures should be understood and evaluated based on their own values and beliefs, rather than compared to the values and beliefs of another culture. Viewing bullfighting in this way would involve understanding and evaluating it within the context of its own cultural history, folklore, ideas about bravery, and concepts of sex roles, rather than judging it based on the values and beliefs of a different culture.

Question 12

When on "moral holiday," norms are expected to be broken.

Accepted Answer

When on a moral holiday, individuals may engage in behaviors that are not typically accepted or condoned by social norms.

Question 13

Culture becomes the lens through which we perceive and evaluate what is going on around us.

Accepted Answer

Culture shapes our beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors, which in turn influence how we interpret and judge events, situations, and people. The way we think, feel, and act is deeply rooted in our cultural background and experiences, and it affects our attitudes, expectations, and interactions with others. Therefore, culture serves as a filter or a framework that shapes our perceptions and evaluations of the world.

Question 14

By definition,subcultures are a threat to the mainstream culture.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Subcultures may have different beliefs, practices, and values than the mainstream culture, but they do not necessarily pose a threat to it. In fact, subcultures can enrich and diversify a culture, and may even influence and change certain aspects of the mainstream culture.

Question 15

A group's way of thinking,including its beliefs,values,and other assumptions about the world,is classified as material culture.

Accepted Answer

Material culture refers to physical objects and artifacts created and used by a group, while beliefs, values, and assumptions about the world fall under non-material culture.

Question 16

Ethnocentrism is purely a negative trait with no redeeming qualities.

Accepted Answer

While ethnocentrism can certainly lead to negative behaviors such as prejudice and discrimination, it is also a natural part of human identity formation and can promote a sense of cultural pride and community. Additionally, recognizing and valuing one's own cultural traditions and practices can be an important foundation for intercultural dialogue and understanding. It is only when ethnocentrism becomes extreme or oppressive that it becomes purely negative.

Question 17

Culture wars not only identify differences in values and norms,but they may also result in violence and strife among members of the same society.

Accepted Answer

Culture wars often involve intense conflicts between opposing groups with deeply held beliefs, which can sometimes escalate into violent clashes. This has been seen in various societies throughout history, including issues related to race, religion, and politics.

Question 18

The Ten Commandments,the U.S. Constitution,and the penal code of a major city are all examples of folkways.

Accepted Answer

The Ten Commandments are religious commandments, the U.S. Constitution is a legal document, and the penal code of a major city is a set of laws. Folkways are the customs and behaviors that are considered appropriate and acceptable in a particular society, but are not necessarily enforced by laws.

Question 19

According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis,language is nothing more than common sense expressed in words and gestures.

Accepted Answer

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis does not suggest that language is simply common sense expressed in words and gestures. Instead, it proposes that the structure and rules of language shape and influence the way that individuals think and perceive the world around them.

Question 20

There is nothing "natural" about material or nonmaterial culture.

Accepted Answer

Both material and nonmaterial culture are created and shaped by human beings, and are therefore not naturally occurring phenomena. They are products of human social and cultural evolution.

Quiz 2: Culture