Anthropology 1

The Human Terrain System has sought to embed anthropologists and other social scientists within military teams in Iraq and Afghanistan. Which of the following is NOT a reason anthropologists and the AAA Executive Board object to the use of anthropologists in the military? Anthropologists, by the nature of their discipline, are not permitted to interact with any military personnel The Human Terrain System conflicts with the ethical responsibility of anthropologists to disclose who they are Anthropologists in war zones have an ethical dilemma where their responsibilities to their military units may conflict with their obligations to the local people they study It is difficult to give informed consent in an active war zone without feeling coerced, thereby compromising "voluntary informed consent" in the AAA Code of Ethics Anthropologists may not be able to identify themselves as anthropologists, distinct from military personnel

Anthropologists, by the nature of their discipline, are not permitted to interact with any military personnel

Lewis Henry Morgan is well known for his work League of the Iroquois, considered anthropology's earliest ethnography. This and others of his works illustrate his view of unilinear evolutionism, which is that all societies are on some path toward civilization, but the exact paths vary only the better and more civilized societies could survive natural selection acts simultaneously on the biological and cultural aspects of human life there is one line or path through which all societies have to evolve, and this path involves specific stages that cannot be skipped, ending at the final stage of civilization cultural diversity was actually a sign of the slowing down of cultural evolution

there is one line or path which all societies have to evolve, and this path involves specific stages that cannot be skipped, ending at the final stage of civilization.

How are cultural rights different from human rights? Cultural rights are vested in groups, not in individuals The United Nations protects human rights but not cultural rights Cultural rights are more clear-cut than human rights The term cultural rights is a politically-correct synonym for human rights Human rights are real, whereas cultural rights are just perceived

Cultural rights are vested in groups, not in individuals

Which of the following is NOT true about culture? Culture guides the beliefs and behavior of the people exposed to it Culture is passed on genetically to future generations Culture is passed on from generation to generation Cultural forces consistently mold and shape human biology and behavior Culture is a key aspect of human adaptability and success

Culture is passed on genetically to future generations

Which of the following statements about theories is the most accurate? Theories refer to a covariation of variablesTheories are generalizations that are universally valid Theories state a uniform association between two variables Theories provide explanations for associations Theories are untested explanations for something

Theories provide explanations for associations

The American Anthropological Association has formally acknowledged a public service role by recognizing that anthropology has which two dimensions? applied anthropology and practicing anthropology private anthropology and public anthropology academic anthropology and applied anthropology ethnology and public ethnography cultural resource management and medical anthropology

academic anthropology and applied anthropology

What is the term for the kind of cultural change that results when two or more cultures have consistent firsthand contact? enculturation imperialism independent invention acculturation colonization

acculturation

Which of the following is NOT an example of participant observation? engaging in informal chit-chat administering interviews according to an interview schedule over the phone dancing at a ceremony buying a shroud for a village ancestor helping out at harvest time

administering interviews according to an interview schedule over the phone

The actions individuals take, both alone and in groups, in forming and transforming cultural identities are referred to as free will psychological individualism agency dynamic structuralism volition

agency

Which of the following is an example of independent invention, the process by which people in different societies have innovated and changed in similar but independent ways? acculturation globalization culture language agriculture

agriculture

Franz Boas is seen to be the "father of American anthropology" because he produced/directed the first Ph.D. in anthropology in the United States at Clark University when he was a member of the faculty there he taught the first generation of academic anthropologists at Columbia University who went on to set up departments at other universities all answers are correct he was a visible scholar who brought attention to the discipline

all answers are correct

Regarding human capacity for culture, anthropologists agree that Group of answer choicesalthough an individual's genetic endowment does not affect that person's ability to learn cultural traditions, it does affect his or her capacity to change culture creativelyalthough women and men both share the emotional and intellectual capacities for culture, at the population level there is less variability in these capacities among men than among womenboth mental abilities and mental disabilities are evenly distributed among individuals of all culturesalthough individuals differ in their emotional and intellectual capacities, all human populations have equivalent capacities for culturebecause human populations differ in their emotional and intellectual capacities, the ability to learn culture differs among societies

although individuals differ in their emotional and intellectual capacities, all human populations have equivalent capacities for culture

All of the following are evidence of the tendency to view culture as a process EXCEPT attention to agency in anthropological analysis interest in how acts of resistance can make and remake culture analysis that attempts to establish boundaries between cultures interest in public, collective, and individual dimensions of day-to-day life practice theory

analysis that attempts to establish boundaries between cultures

"What right do ethnographers have to represent a people or culture to which they don't belong?" This question illustrates the threat that the World Wide Web poses to anthropologists who are less and less needed to write about and publish accounts of cultural diversity the fact that anthropologists are, after all, colonial agents of the industrialized West the problem inherent in anthropology's overspecialization anthropology's crisis in representation—questions about the role of the ethnographer and the nature of ethnographic authority a lack of leadership in the American Anthropological Association

anthropology's crisis in representation—questions about the role of the ethnographer and the nature of ethnographic authority

Archaeologists studying sunken ships off the coast of Florida or analyzing the content of modern garbage are examples of how archaeology is going through an identity crisis, with its practitioners questioning the discipline's focus on studying prehistory archaeologists study the culture of historical and even living peoples archaeology is free from having to worry about the impact of its work on peopletraining in the use of research skills for extreme environments—such as landfills and the deep sea—are worth the time, resources, and risk for the sake of the anthropological knowledge gained archaeology is free from having to worry about the impact of its work on people Hollywood has popularized archaeology in recent movies, making it a popular college major

archaeologists study the culture of historical and even living peoples

As we see in the film "Off the Verandah," Bronislaw Malinowski never really was able to learn the language of the people he studied, the Trobriand Islanders, as attested by some of his field informants was almost killed by the chief's magic because he tried to keep some of the arm shells and the necklaces came to anthropology from another discipline - he already had a doctorate in philosophy with an emphasis on mathematics and the physical sciences when he started to study anthropology no answers are correct

came to anthropology from another discipline - he already had a doctorate in philosophy with an emphasis on mathematics and the physical sciences when he started to study anthropology

The Makah, a tribe that lives near the mouth of the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Olympic Peninsula, see themselves as whalers and continue to identify themselves spiritually with whales. Their ongoing struggle to maintain their traditional way of life, which involves whale hunting, demonstrates how contemporary law is useless in solving disputes with indigenous communities indigenous communities do not understand the threat their activities pose to endangered species some indigenous communities are able to isolate themselves from national and international politics despite continuous threat from outsiders contemporary indigenous groups have to grapple with multiple levels of culture, contestation, and political regulation animals do not have rights

contemporary indigenous groups have to grapple with multiple levels of culture, contestation, and political regulation

An anthropologist has just arrived at a new field site and feels overwhelmed with a creepy, profound feeling of alienation, of being without some of the most ordinary, trivial (and therefore basic) cues of his culture of origin. What term best describes what s/he is experiencing? culture shock diachrony agency paralysis synchrony configurationalism

culture shock

People have to eat, but culture teaches us what, when, and how to do so. This is an example of how "human nature" is a cultural construction, an idea we have in our minds that has nothing to do with true nature culture takes the natural biological urges we share with other animals and teaches us how to express them in particular ways individuals are powerless to alter the strong relationship between nature and culture biology dominates culture we are all just uncultured animals

culture takes the natural biological urges we share with other animals and teaches us how to express them in particular ways

For Franz Boas, as shown in "The Shackles of Tradition," what was the relationship between culture and environment? culture was determined directly by environment culture was not completely determined by environment it depended on if the culture in question was the Inuit or the Kwakiutl or the New Yorkers we don't' know - he never offered an opinion on the subject

culture was not completely determined by environment

Although rap music originated in the United States, it is now popular all over the world. Which of the following mechanisms of cultural change is responsible for this? enculturation diffusion acculturation colonization independent invention

diffusion

Many human traits reflect the fact that our primate ancestors lived in trees. These traits include all of the following EXCEPT substantial parental investment in a limited number of offspring depth and color vision learning ability based on a large brain echolocation, made possible by overlapping visual fields grasping ability

echolocation, made possible by overlapping visual fields

The tendency to view one's own culture as superior and to use one's own standards and values in judging others is called moral relativism ethnocentrism patriotism cultural relativism illiteracy

ethnocentrism

Which of the following research methods is a distinctive strategy within anthropology? the evolutionary perspective working with skilled respondents its practice of cross-cultural comparison the biological perspective ethnography

ethnography

Linguistic anthropology has securely dated the origin of hominid language relies heavily on the methods of phrenology includes cultural anthropology and paleoecology is a research strategy of biological anthropologists studying the emergence of language among nonhuman primates includes sociolinguistics, descriptive linguistics, and the study of the biological basis for speech

includes sociolinguistics, descriptive linguistics, and the study of the biological basis for speech

Anthropologists' early interest in Native North Americans is an important historical reason for the development of four-field anthropology in the United States was more important than interest in the relation between biology and culture in the development of US four-field anthropology is unique to European anthropology was replaced in the 1930s by the two-field approach proved early on that culture is a function of race

is an important historical reason for the development of four-field anthropology in the United States

Which of the following LEAST explains the existence of cultural generalities? cultural borrowing colonailism isolationism trade globalization

isolationism

In the film "Off the Verandah," we come to understand that magic has the following role(s): all answers are correct it is used in matters of sex and love the chief forbids the use of magic and to be an example he never uses it for purposes of revenge or to gain an advantage magic is of only minor concern to the Trobriand Islanders

it is used in matters of sex and love

What is the term for an expert on a particular aspect of native life? life-history approach specialist biased informant key cultural consultant etic informant representative sample

key cultural consultant

An important discovery made by cultural anthropologists is that language is of critical importance to learning and passing on culture it all depends on the language- some languages are beautiful and strong while others are destined to disappear this is a trick question - cultural anthropologists leave questions of language to linguistic anthropologists language and culture are two different things and must be studied independently

language is of critical importance to learning and passing on culture

Ethnographers typically combine emic and etic research strategies in their fieldwork. This means they are interested in applying both reflexive and salvage approaches genealogical and survey methods local- and scientist-oriented research approaches personal and impersonal research approaches local and bifocal research approaches

local- and scientist-oriented research approaches

All of the following are characteristic field techniques of the ethnographer EXCEPT longitudinal analysis of data sets gathered from state-sponsored statistical agencies in-depth interviewing, often leading to the collection of life histories direct, firsthand observation of behavior, including participant observation detailed work with key consultants problem-oriented research

longitudinal analysis of data sets gathered from state-sponsored statistical agencies

All of the following are characteristic field techniques of the ethnographer EXCEPT problem-oriented research direct, firsthand observation of behavior, including participant observation detailed work with key consultants in-depth interviewing, often leading to the collection of life histories longitudinal analysis of data sets gathered from state-sponsored statistical agencies

longitudinal analysis of data sets gathered from state-sponsored statistical agencies

Anthropologists have shown that greetings are basically the same in all cultures greetings are completely different across the world greetings can be shown to pertain to only one culture and to never change through time no answers are correct

no answers are correct

As we see in the film "The Shackles of Tradition," what could be said about Franz Boas's relationships with his informants? they were compromised because he was always asking them for money they were compromised because they were always asking him for money it was distant as he never learned their language no answers are correct

no answers are correct

The relatively recent creation of virtual worlds has attracted contemporary ethnographers to venture into online communities. Of the various techniques used to study these virtual worlds, which has been most important? life histories participant observation genealogical method interviews key consultants

participant observation

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic field technique of the ethnographer? life histories random sampling working with informants the genealogical method structured interviewing

random sampling

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic field technique of the ethnographer? life histories the genealogical method working with informants structured interviewing random sampling

random sampling

What historical method was NOT used in the research project on wine tourism? sampling the DNA of the grapes to trace their origins research in local newspapers archival research oral history research

sampling the DNA of the grapes to trace their origins

Why was it claimed that American author and poet Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) was important for research methods in anthropology? she majored in anthropology at Radcliffe College, then the women's college of all-male Harvard University no answers are correct she reminds us that all methods (and theory for that matter) is in answer to questions she wondered about the meaning of life and anthropologists interpret this as a charge to investigate other cultures to find out

she reminds us that all methods (and theory for that matter) is in answer to questions

Franz Boas is the undisputed father of four-field US anthropology. One of his most important and enduring contributions to anthropology was showing that human biology is plastic, and that biology (including race) does not determine culture expanding the local ethnographic focus to include a regional perspective the field's earliest example of multitimed and multisited ethnography stressing the relevance of independent invention in human cultural history providing evidence that both biology and culture are susceptible to evolutionary forces, thus providing a framework for the comparative method

showing that human biology is plastic, and that biology (including race) does not determine culture

In survey research, what is sampling? the collection of life histories of every member in a community a form of participant observation a collection reflecting the emic perspective the interviewing of a small number of key cultural consultants the collection of a study group from a larger population

the collection of a study group from a larger population

The research technique that uses diagrams and symbols to record kin connections is called DNA testing genealogical participant observation the genealogical method kin-based interviewing interpretive anthropology

the genealogical method

Which of the following is a cultural generality? the use of symbols exogamy the use of fire the nuclear family the incest taboo

the nuclear family

As we saw in the film "Off the Verandah," the kula is an important cultural institution in the life of the Trobriand Islanders. What is the kula? the trade in arms shells and necklaces with trading partners in other islands "Off the Verandah" was not about the Trobriand Islanders the trade in magical charms with trading partners in other islands - they are used to protect people against the magic used by the chief a ceremony where blankets and other items are given away, buried, or tossed into the sea

the trade in arms shells and necklaces with trading partners in other islands

Traditional ethnographic research focused on the single community or culture, which was treated as more or less isolated and unique in time and space; however, this is no longer true, nor has it ever really been true, a fact that renders classic ethnographies historical curiosities and not serious academic works there has been a shift within the discipline against the concept of culture and toward the individual as the only true, reliable unit of analysis the American Anthropological Association still requires its members to strive toward research focused on one single community there has been a shift within the discipline toward recognition of ongoing and inescapable flows of people, technology, images, and information all such single communities have already been studied, so anthropologists have very limited project choices

there has been a shift within the discipline against the concept of culture and toward the individual as the only true, reliable unit of analysis

Traditional ethnographic research focused on the single community or culture, which was treated as more or less isolated and unique in time and space; however, this is no longer true, nor has it ever really been true, a fact that renders classic ethnographies historical curiosities and not serious academic works all such single communities have already been studied, so anthropologists have very limited project choices there has been a shift within the discipline toward recognition of ongoing and inescapable flows of people, technology, images, and information there has been a shift within the discipline against the concept of culture and toward the individual as the only true, reliable unit of analysis the American Anthropological Association still requires its members to strive toward research focused on one single community

there has been a shift within the discipline toward recognition of ongoing and inescapable flows of people, technology, images, and information

Which is the key assumption in Claude Lévi-Strauss's structuralism? Human minds have certain universal characteristics that originate in common features of the Homo sapiens brain and lead people everywhere to think similarly regardless of their society or cultural background The human propensity to classify phenomena in certain ways is acquired through enculturation Cultural patterns determine the human propensity to classify things in certain ways There is a very specific role for human agency in culture, and the structure of cultural patterns determines that role All myths can be classified as either good or evil

Human minds have certain universal characteristics that originate in common features of the Homo sapiens brain and lead people everywhere to think similarly regardless of their society or cultural background

Which of the following statements about enculturation is NOT true? It is the exchange of cultural features that results when two or more groups come into consistent firsthand contact It results in internalization of a cultural tradition It occurs through a process of conscious and unconscious learning It may involve direct teaching It is the process by which culture is learned and transmitted across generations

It is the exchange of cultural features that results when two or more groups come into consistent firsthand contact

Which of the following statements about culture is NOT true? It is acquired by all humans, as members of society, through enculturation Everyone is cultured It is transmitted genetically It has an evolutionary basis It encompasses rule-governed, shared, symbol-based, learned behavior, as well as beliefs transmitted across the generations

It is transmitted genetically

The work of which of the following anthropologists illustrated a renewed interest in cultural change and even evolution (although of a very different sort than Tylor and Morgan had in mind)? Victor Turner Julian Steward Margaret Mead Ruth Benedict Max Gluckman

Julian Steward

Émile Durkheim's focus on social facts illustrates what assumption shared by many anthropologists? Culture is more of an idea in people's heads than a social reality Social phenomena studied by anthropologists require study methods that are different from those used by other social scientists Culture is primarily a psychological and individual phenomenon Social fact, just like any other fact, can be studied objectively Psychologists study individuals, but anthropologists study individuals as representative of something more: a collective phenomenon that is more than the sum of its parts

Psychologists study individuals, but anthropologists study individuals as representative of something more: a collective phenomenon that is more than the sum of its parts

How are the four subfields of US anthropology unified? The subfields really are not unified; their grouping into one discipline is a historical accident Each subfield studies human genetic variation through time and space Each subfield studies human variation through time and space Each subfield studies the human capacity for languageEach subfield studies human biological variability

Each subfield studies human variation through time and space

What did Bronislaw Malinowski mean when he referred to everyday cultural patterns as "the imponderabilia of native life and of typical behavior"? Everyday cultural patterns are full of senseless cultural "noise," and it is the anthropologist's job to get at the truly valuable behaviors that distinguish one culture from another Features of everyday culture are, at first, imponderable, but as the ethnographer builds rapport, their logic and functional value in society become clear Everyday cultural patterns are important but so numerous that their detailed description should not be included in the main body of an ethnographic study Features of culture such as distinctive smells, noises people make, how they cover their mouths when they eat, and how they gaze at each other are so fundamental that natives take them for granted but are there for the ethnographer to describe and make sense of Everyday cultural patterns of native life can best be studied by asking key informants to explain them

Features of culture such as distinctive smells, noises people make, how they cover their mouths when they eat, and how they gaze at each other are so fundamental that natives take them for granted but are there for the ethnographer to describe and make sense of them.