Q&A Hero

Q: Annette Weiner: a. conducted a restudy of the Trobriand Islands. b. researched social life among the Nuer of Africa. c. studied the effects of colonialism in Puerto Rico. d. examined sexuality in Samoa. e. became an expert on Native Americans.

Q: Margaret Mead: a. conducted a restudy of the Trobriand Islands. b. researched social life among the Nuer of Africa. c. studied the effects of colonialism in Puerto Rico. d. examined sexuality in Samoa. e. became an expert on Native Americans.

Q: Lewis Henry Morgan: a. conducted a restudy of the Trobriand Islands. b. researched social life among the Nuer of Africa. c. studied the effects of colonialism in Puerto Rico. d. examined sexuality in Samoa. e. became an expert on Native Americans.

Q: Margaret Mead's talent for blending fieldwork with dynamic writing about gender roles provided her with the authority and opportunity to become an important ________ anthropologist. a. synchronic b. experimental c. evolutionary d. public e. reflexive

Q: Edward Evan Evans-Pritchard's approach to anthropology has been criticized for being: a. ahistorical. b. experimental. c. reflexive. d. evolutionary. e. interpretive.

Q: ________ is the cornerstone of the research conducted by contemporary cultural anthropologists. a. Participant observation b. Archival research c. Statistical analysis d. Synchronic study e. Unilineal evolution

Q: Bronislaw Malinowski (1884"1942) advocated that ethnographers develop which skill during their fieldwork? a. statistical b. local language c. GIS d. demographic e. computer

Q: Franz Boas' attempts to document Native American cultures that were devastated by the westward expansion of settlers are called: a. salvage ethnography. b. rapid assessment. c. forced enculturation. d. participant observation. e. colonial anthropology.

Q: Franz Boas (1858"1942) is credited with developing which of the following anthropological perspectives? a. unilineal evolution b. ethnocentrism c. cultural relativism d. comparative ethnology e. participant observation

Q: ________ anthropology is based on secondhand accounts of missionaries and merchants. a. Salvage b. Public c. Postmodern d. Participatory e. Armchair

Q: The author writes that the roots of cultural anthropology and ethnographic fieldwork lie in: a. biological models. b. philosophical debates. c. demographic trends. d. colonial encounters. e. aboratory experiments.

Q: Nancy Scheper-Hughes' research among mothers in Alto do Cruzeiro, Brazil, allowed her to identify ________ of culture. a. absence b. ethnocentrism c. patterns d. disarray e. censure

Q: ________ is the sense of disorientation caused by the overwhelmingly new and unfamiliar people and experiences encountered during fieldwork. a. Ethnographic dissonance b. Culture shock c. Anthropological competence d. Fieldwork block e. Cognitive map

Q: Making the strange seem more familiar is an overarching goal of: a. key interviews. b. structured surveys. c. ethnographic fieldwork. d. salvage ethnography. e. experimental hypotheses.

Q: The author suggests that anthropology is unique among other disciplines such as economics or history because our perspective begins with: a. statistics. b. space. c. people. d. records. e. trends.

Q: Homogenization is just one of the effects of globalization on cultures around the world. Define homogenization and give at least three examples of it. Are there aspects from other cultures that you now incorporate into your own culture? If so, please provide at least two examples. Do you think that globalization will indeed cause the homogenization of world cultures in the future? Why or why not?

Q: The advertising industry is key in arousing human desires for goods and services, which engenders the culture of consumerism. How does the power of advertising compare to the power of hegemony in influencing what people consider to be the "norm" in their cultural experiences? Are there any interconnections between the culture of consumerism and political organization in society today? Is there any evidence that suggests that advertising is also used as a tool in politics to support and to institute hegemonic ideologies of certain groups who hold power within societies? Please provide concrete examples with each of your answers.

Q: The notion of a culture of consumerism is distinct from the concept of culture more generally. Do you think that the culture of consumerism affects culture more generally in some way, and if so, how? What are some benefits and drawbacks of the culture of consumerism in society today? Do you think it will affect the future of societies, and if so, in what explicit ways?

Q: The culture of consumerism in the United States and globally has intensified, especially during the last fifty years. What constitutes a culture of consumerism and how does it relate to the concept of culture more generally? What are three examples of how the culture of consumerism affects culture in general in the United States? Does it affect cultures worldwide, and if so, how?

Q: Former Harvard University president and economist Lawrence Summers commented in a 2005 speech that his school and others similar to it likely had more men in science and math faculties than women because men's brains were better suited for success in these areas. Does Summers's statement reflect a nature or nurture perspective of human experience? Based on what you have read in Chapter 2 of your textbook, is Summers correct in his statement? What may be some of the reasons why there is a gender discrepancy in science and math faculties in U.S. colleges and universities? What role does culture play in such gender discrepancies?

Q: Evolutionary psychologists generally argue that our genetic makeup determines who we are and how we behave, while anthropologists argue otherwise. What do anthropologists argue regarding the nature versus nurture debate surrounding who we are and how we behave? What evidence do anthropologists have to substantiate their argument? Which argument do you find more convincing, that of evolutionary psychologists or anthropologists, and why?

Q: What is human agency and how does it relate to culture and power? Define human agency and provide examples of how individuals engage in it. Next, discuss how human agency may be used to challenge various aspects of culture and power, providing a minimum of two examples for each. What do you believe are some of the implications of human agency on culture and society in general?

Q: Antonio Gramsci (1891"1937) described hegemony as one of two primary aspects of power. Define hegemony and provide a minimum of two concrete examples of how it serves as a form of power. What is the second aspect of power that Gramsci described and how does it differ from hegemony? Which of the two aspects of power do you believe is likely to be more effective and why?

Q: Using an interpretivist approach, anthropologist Clifford Geertz (1926"2006) argues that seemingly straightforward actions such as winking have deep cultural meanings. Describe what constitutes an interpretivist approach. Next, provide your own example of a cultural action that you think conveys deep cultural meaning. What do you believe the action symbolizes culturally? How do you know that the action conveys deep cultural meaning and how did you learn its meaning? Would an individual need to be a member of the particular society in order to understand the deep cultural meaning of the action, or would anyone be able to interpret it correctly? Discuss why or why not.

Q: Early anthropologists suggested that all cultures would naturally evolve through the same sequence of stages regardless of location or historical experience. What was this concept called and who were three of its early proponents? What were the three primary stages that all cultures pass through according to this anthropological approach? In your opinion, what are some implications that an approach such as this could have on how societies are perceived around the world?

Q: Focusing on early anthropology, define the approaches of historical particularism and structural functionalism. Who developed these approaches and what do these approaches examine when working to learn about other cultures? How did these two approaches differ from the preceding approach of unilineal cultural evolution?

Q: In your own words, define the term ethnocentrism and provide a concrete example that illustrates the concept. Then discuss how ethnocentrism is related to cultural relativism and why anthropologists must concern themselves with ethnocentrism when conducting cross-cultural research. Conclude by offering some suggestions for concrete ways in which anthropologists can counter ethnocentrism in mainstream society today.

Q: Mental maps of reality constitute one of the four elements that anthropologists often consider when conducting cross-cultural research. Define mental maps of reality and discuss the two important functions that mental maps of reality play regarding culture. Provide a concrete example for each of the two functions. Conclude by discussing why anthropologists should consider a group of people's mental maps of reality when trying to understand their culture.

Q: Chapter 2 begins with a brief vignette regarding the cultural misunderstanding surrounding a kiss. Describe an example of a cultural misunderstanding that you have experienced in your own life and discuss the ways in which differing cultural norms, values, symbols, and mental maps of reality likely contributed to the misunderstanding that occurred. Conclude by discussing whether you took action to address the misunderstanding and what knowledge may have helped you in determining the appropriate response.

Q: The export of television shows worldwide and the knowledge of other cultures that is subsequently disseminated to even remote areas of the world are an example of which of the following concepts? a. functionalism b. relativism c. cosmopolitanism d. capitalism e. nationalism

Q: A global outlook that is emerging in response to increasing globalization and that involves linking cultural practices, norms, and values across great distances to even the most remote areas of the world is termed: a. capitalism. b. cosmopolitanism. c. relativism. d. structuralism. e. functionalism.

Q: The process of diminishing the diversity of the world's cultures as a result of foreign influences inundating local practices, products, and ways of thinking is considered: a. colonization. b. missionization. c. homogenization. d. industrialization. e. democratization.

Q: Which of the following processes is intensifying the exchange and diffusion of people, ideas, and goods worldwide, creating more interaction and engagement among cultures? a. industrialization b. neoliberalization c. relativism d. globalization e. hegemony

Q: Which of the following statements is true? a. Cultures have always been influenced by the flow of people, ideas, and goods, whether through migration, trade, or invasion. b. The flow of people, ideas, and goods through migration, trade, or invasion is a relatively new cultural phenomenon. c. Cultures are only influenced by the flow of people through invasion. d. The flow of people, ideas, and goods by any means is not known to influence culture. e. Cultures are only influenced by the flow of goods through trade.

Q: Three key interrelated effects of globalization on local cultures include a two-way transference of culture through migration, increased cosmopolitanism, and: a. structuralism. b. relativism. c. consumerism. d. hegemony. e. homogenization.

Q: A key group that the credit card industry in the United States explicitly targets is: a. high school teenagers. b. service industry employees. c. blue-collar workers. d. retired teachers. e. college students.

Q: The advent of computers and deregulation of banking in the 1970s caused which of the following financial tools to burst on the scene in the United States, transforming the financial environment? a. online banking b. home equity loans c. traveler's checks d. credit cards e. student loans

Q: Which of the following is a powerful enculturation tool that teaches us how to be "successful" in consumer culture? a. advertising b. lending c. relativism d. cosmopolitism e. agency

Q: Which of the following industries is key in arousing our desires for goods and services? a. banking b. economics c. advertising d. manufacturing e. service

Q: Commonplace norms, values, beliefs, practices, and institutions that cultivate the desire to acquire consumer goods to enhance one's lifestyle constitute a culture of: a. cosmopolitanism. b. materialism. c. hegemony. d. power. e. consumerism.

Q: According to Max Weber (1864"1920), thrift, modesty, moderation, frugality, and self-denial constitute which of the following? a. Western globalization b. Protestant ethic c. industrial materialism d. cultural consumerism e. hegemonic ideology

Q: Which of the following statements is false? a. Culture is changed, contested, and negotiated. b. Culture commonly emerges out of the blue and remains fixed over time. c. Consumer culture was created as part of twentieth-century global capitalism. d. There are deep interconnections between culture and power. e. Culture is both learned and taught.

Q: Which group of scholars generally contends that who we are, how we think and behave, and how we organize our societies are a product of evolution and thus are hardwired in our DNA? a. chemical engineers b. cultural anthropologists c. evolutionary psychologists d. psychological sociologists e. public epidemiologists

Q: Individuals and groups have the power to contest cultural norms, values, mental maps of reality, symbols, institutions, and structures of power, which is a potential known as: a. individualism. b. power. c. coercion. d. agency. e. hegemony.

Q: ________ influences what people consider unthinkable or undoable thoughts, which leads to the establishment of "natural truths" among a group of people. a. The hegemony of ideas b. Biological need c. Cultural relativism d. Unilineal cultural evolution e. Structural functionalism

Q: Which of the following is defined as the ability to create consent and agreement within a population by unconsciously shaping what people think is normal, natural, and possible? a. consumerism b. materialism c. coercion d. cosmopolitanism e. hegemony

Q: Antonio Gramsci (1891"1937) described two aspects of power that included material power and: a. hegemony. b. coercion. c. influence. d. prestige. e. wealth.

Q: Culture is more than a set of ideas or patterns of behavior shared by a group of people because it also includes which of the following general mechanisms created by people to promote and maintain their core values? a. religious preferences b. powerful influences c. platonic ideas d. coercive powers e. powerful institutions

Q: The uneven distribution of resources and privileges, often along lines of gender, racial or ethnic group, class, age, family, religion, sexuality, or legal status, is termed: a. racism. b. stratification. c. coercion. d. hegemony. e. cosmopolitanism.

Q: Which of the following anthropologists argued that power must be viewed as an aspect of all human relationships? a. Margaret Mead b. Henry Morgan c. Eric Wolf d. Clifford Geertz e. Franz Boas

Q: Which of the following is defined as the ability or potential to bring about change through action or influenceeither one's own or that of a group or institution? a. influence b. force c. coercion d. power e. hegemony

Q: Clifford Geertz (1926"2006), who urged anthropologists to explore culture primarily as a symbolic system, is a key figure in which of the following anthropological approaches? a. interpretivist b. functionalist c. structural d. particularist e. historical

Q: Bronislaw Malinowski (1884"1942) employed an early form of ________in his anthropological research conducted in the Trobriand Islands. a. structural functionalism b. evolutionism c. interpretivism d. particularism e. historicism

Q: Which of the following is defined as the anthropological approach that views society as consisting of various parts that fit together with each part having its unique function within the larger structure? a. functional culturalism b. cultural structuralism c. structural functionalism d. functional structuralism e. cultural functionalism

Q: The borrowing of cultural traits and patterns from other cultures is a concept in anthropology known as: a. stratification. b. unilinealism. c. evolution. d. innovation. e. diffusion.

Q: ________argued that every cultural action is more than the action itself in that it is also a symbol of deeper meaning, which is considered an interpretivist approach in anthropology. a. Ruth Benedict (1887"1948) b. Clifford Geertz (1926"2006) c. Bronislaw Malinowski (1884"1924) d. Margaret Mead (1901"1979) e. Franz Boas (1858"1942)

Q: Anthropologist Margaret Mead (1901"1979) is best known for her research regarding the seeming sexual freedom and experimentation of young women in: a. Tonga. b. Fiji. c. Cambodia. d. Papua New Guinea. e. Samoa.

Q: Margaret Mead (1901"1979) was a student of Franz Boas, and her research suggested the powerful role of ________ in shaping behavior, especially behavior that has powerful biological origins. a. biology b. enculturation c. unilineal cultural evolution d. structural functionalism e. immigration

Q: Which of the following individuals was a student of Boas and explored the ways in which cultural traits and entire cultures are uniquely patterned and integrated? a. Henry Morgan b. Bronislaw Malinowski c. E.E. Evans-Pritchard d. Ruth Benedict e. Clifford Geertz

Q: Franz Boas (1858"1942) rejected unilineal cultural evolution, advocating for which of the following approaches instead? a. structural functionalism b. cultural interpretivism c. historical particularism d. cultural meaning e. evolutionary enculturation

Q: ________is both a definition and a key theoretical framework for anthropologists attempting to understand humans and their interactions.a. Culture b. Ethnography c. Ethnocentrismd. Cultural relativisme. Common sense

Q: Early anthropologists suggested that all cultures would naturally evolve through the same sequence of stages, a concept known as: a. American historical particularism. b. British structural functionalism. c. American cultural meaning. d. American cultural interpretivism. e. unilineal cultural evolution.

Q: Which of the following individuals was among the earliest anthropologists who sought to organize vast quantities of data about the diversity of world cultures that were being accumulated via colonial and missionary enterprises? a. Henry Morgan b. Franz Boas c. Margaret Mead d. Clifford Geertz e. Bronislaw Malinowski

Q: Edward Burnett Tylor (1832"1917) is credited with crafting the first definition of which of the following concepts utilized in anthropology? a. hegemony b. cultural relativism c. ethnocentrism d. culture e. enculturation

Q: The concept of culture has been central to anthropology only since the 1870s, when ________crafted its first formal definition. a. Franz Boas b. Edward Burnett Tylor c. Bronislaw Malinowski d. Margaret Mead e. Charles Darwin

Q: In order to engage in cultural relativism as a research strategy, anthropologists must: a. ignore their own sense of right and wrong, and disregard international standards of human rights. b. attempt to understand a group's beliefs and practices within their own cultural context. c. reject their own culture entirely. d. evaluate the norms, values, beliefs, and practices of other cultures against their own culture. e. memorize the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.

Q: Anthropologists seek to counter ethnocentrism by: a. objectively, accurately, and sensitively representing the diversity of human life and culture. b. seeking to explain cultural difference as scientifically or biologically natural. c. advocating against globalization. d. spreading American norms and values to the populations they study. e. critiquing the norms and values of other cultures against the standards of their home cultures.

Q: Which of the following is defined as the belief that one's own culture or way of life is normal, natural, or even superior to other cultures? a. altruism b. unilateralism c. relativism d. egocentrism e. ethnocentrism

Q: An anthropologist's suspension of judgment while attempting to understand a group's beliefs and practices within their own cultural context is termed: a. relative altruism. b. cultural relativism. c. relative culturalism. d. contextual relativism. e. altruistic culturalism.

Q: Which of the following statements about mental maps of reality is false? a. Mental maps of reality consist of ideas or rules about how people should behave in particular situations or toward certain other people. b. They help us navigate our experiences by organizing sensory data. c. Mental maps of reality can be challenged and redrawn. d. An example of a mental map of reality is the concept of time. e. Mental maps classify reality and assign meaning to what has been classified.

Q: Spatial comfort zones, such as standing too close to a member of another culture, are examples of which of the following? a. symbolic actions b. value actions c. covert actions d. spatial actions e. normative actions

Q: Which of the following is defined as fundamental ideas about what is important, what makes a good life, and what is true, right, and beautiful? a. beliefs b. norms c. symbols d. values e. meanings

Q: Ideas or rules about how people should behave in particular situations or toward certain other people are considered: a. symbols. b. meanings. c. norms. d. values. e. beliefs.

Q: Which of the following is one of the four elements that an anthropologist considers in attempting to understand the complex workings of a culture? a. genetics b. politics c. economics d. discourses e. symbols

Q: Culture is a shared experience that is: a. static in that it remains identical, consistent, and uncontested over time. b. constantly contested, negotiated, and changing. c. genetically inherited. d. completely unique to humans. e. universally shared by humankind.

Q: Humans learn culture from people and cultural institutions that surround them: a. in early childhood only. b. over their entire lives. c. only in specialized institutions such as schools and museums. d. from late childhood to early adolescence. e. from infancy through early adulthood.

Q: Which of the following is defined as the process of learning culture? a. particularism b. hegemony c. relativism d. enculturation e. stratification

Q: Culture is a system of knowledge, beliefs, patterns of behavior, artifacts, and: a. institutions. b. ideas. c. politics. d. religions. e. languages.

Q: Which of the following statements is true? a. Humans genetically inherit culture via natural biological processes. b. The process of learning culture is unique to humans. c. Culture can only be learned through the teaching of cultural institutions. d. Humans learn culture throughout their lives. e. Humans only learn culture during the period from late infancy through adolescence.

Q: One aspect of globalization is uneven development. Explain what this means and how it affects the world. Provide an example from the class.