ch 3

Disparaging attitudes towards polygamy (a marriage that includes more than two people) in the United States may be a form of

ethnocentrism.

Fixed patterns of behavior that have genetic origins and appear in all normal animals in a given species are

instincts.

Which of the following statements BEST summarizes the general sociological approach to the nature/nurture debate as described in this chapter?

Although genetics and biology play a role in human behavior, they manifest in an astounding variety of ways, based on complex interactions with the social environment

According to your text, which of the following is true of the majority of countries that constitute the global south?

They were formerly under colonial rule.

Which of the following statements about individualism BEST exemplifies the relationship between norms and values?

Americans often believe strongly in individualism, which is exemplified by a mainstream belief that it is normal and healthy for those who are 18 or older to move out of their parents' house.

__________ is the process by which different cultures are absorbed into a mainstream culture.

Assimilation

Why does Ann Swidler's formulation of a culture as a "tool kit" help form a more nuanced approach to understanding human culture?

It allows for the incorporation of human agency into ideas about how culture operates and is created.

Why does semiotics provide an important contribution to the study of culture?

It provides conceptual tools by which we can understand the symbolic meanings of material culture

Which of the following statements might be derived from the linguistic relativity hypothesis?

Learning a different language can be a very good way of understanding the culture and experiences of the group by which that language was developed.

__________ consists of the physical objects that a society creates that influence the ways in which people live

Material culture

What is the main difference between pastoral societies and agrarian societies?

Pastoral societies relied mainly on domesticated animals, while agrarian societies relied on agriculture.

Sofia lives in a small town in rural Kansas where few other Mexican families live. Because she can find little connection to her cultural roots in her town, she joins an online community dedicated to sharing Mexican cultural heritage. Here she meets many other Mexicans, some living in the United States, others in Mexico, and still others in different parts of the world. Participation in this online community strengthens her bonds to, and understanding of, her cultural heritage, which becomes a large part of her identity over time. What might a sociologist conclude from Sofia's experience?

The reordering of time and space prompted by globalization may be as likely to strengthen individual cultures as it is to create a single, global culture.

According to some of the studies cited at the beginning of this chapter, which of the following is true of the effect of social media use on American young adults?

The use of social media can have a detrimental effect on self-esteem and emotional well-being over time.

What is the relationship between colonialism and global inequalities in industrial development?

The wealth obtained from colonized areas, often in the form of raw natural resources, was funneled back to the home countries of colonial powers instead of being invested in the development of the colonized areas.

Which of the following statements applies to hunting and gathering societies?

There is less inequality in such societies than in any other type of human society discussed.

Which of the following is the BEST definition of a nation-state?

a political community with clearly defined geographical borders and a shared culture

What is colonialism?

a process whereby Western nations established their rule in parts of the world away from their home territories

Cultural relativism is the

practice of judging a society by its own standards.

Reza spent all his high school years hanging out with a group of kids who often cut classes to hang out and smoke in a far corner of the school parking lot. After he accepted an invitation to go to the prom with a girl outside of his circle of friends, he found some graffiti in the spot his friends hung out that said, "Reza is a conformist punk." This could be considered an example of __________ within that student subculture.

social control

Culture can be defined as

the values, norms, and material objects characteristic of a particular group.