Culture is known to be
both learned and taught
Bernice spends time each day reading online news reports from several different news agencies around the world. As a result, she becomes aware of multiple ideas and perspectives and incorporates them into her own outlook and actions. This is an example of
cosmopolitanism
The text suggests that, as individuals, we all have the power, the potential, to challenge the reality we live in, to push back against imposed norms and values. That potential is known as
agency.
Anthropologists examine human experience by studying shared meanings, belief systems and cultural knowledge. As the "kiss" example, outlined at the beginning of the chapter, demonstrates, anthropology also recognizes that culture is
not fixed in stone or accepted by everyone.
agency
The potential power of individuals and groups to contest cultural norms, values, mental maps of reality, symbols, institutions, and structures of power.
structural functionalism
A conceptual framework positing that each element of society serves a particular function to keep the entire system in equilibrium.
hegemony
The ability of a dominant group to create consent and agreement within a population without the use or threat of force.
stratification
The uneven distribution of resources and privileges among participants in a group or culture.
culture
A system of knowledge, beliefs, patterns of behavior, artifacts, and institutions that are created, learned, and shared by a group of people.
cosmopolitanism
A global outlook emerging in response to increasing globalization.
enculturation
The process of learning culture.
unilineal cultural evolution
The theory proposed by nineteenth-century anthropologists that all cultures naturally evolve through the same sequence of stages from simple to complex.
norms
Ideas or rules about how people should behave in particular situations or toward certain other people
symbol
Anything that signifies something else.
historical particularism
The idea, attributed to Franz Boas, that cultures develop in specific ways because of their unique histories.
mental maps of reality
Cultural classifications of what kinds of people and things exist, and the assignment of meaning to those classifications.
interpretivist approach
A conceptual framework that sees culture primarily as a symbolic system of deep meaning.
power
The ability or potential to bring about change through action or influence.
thick description
A research strategy that combines detailed description of cultural activity with an analysis of the layers of deep cultural meaning in which those activities are embedded.
values
Fundamental beliefs about what is important, true, or beautiful, and what makes a good life.
What allows modern immigrants to participate in a transnational migration experience?
Improvements in communications and transportation technologies allow immigrants to maintain regular contact with their homeland.
Why are anthropologists concerned about the effects of homogenization on cultures around the world?
The increasing effect of homogenization diminishes the diversity of the world's cultures.
Is a culture a static construct or a dynamic one? (Does it always stay the same or does it regularly change?)
dynamic
What did Max Weber argue was the relationship between the Protestant ethic and capitalism?
The Protestant ethic�thrift, modesty, moderation, frugality, and self-denial�encouraged and promoted capitalist economic systems, thus allowing capitalism to thrive where it had previously failed.
Advances in transportation technology via seafaring allowed Europeans to travel farther and faster, thus seeing more of the diversity of the world's people. This resulted in the creation of the concept of different "races" of humans. This concept of race
mental map of reality
The appearance of McDonald's in China and the way that it homogenizes Chinese culture, the influx of Mexican refugees in southern California, and the degree to which Mexican culture itself impinges on the cultural landscape of southern California are both
global outlook we call cosmopolitanism.
Bertram marries someone from outside his cultural group. Which anthropological term best applies to this situation?
exogamy
The handshake as a form of greeting in the United States is an example of a:
cultural symbol.
Societies are not omnipotent. Individuals within a society do have the ability to challenge existing norms and values, and to effect change in the mental maps of reality and the structures of power. This is known as
agency.
We often consider the idea of power as being the ability to change using direct force. It can also mean, however, that we exert ____ to effect change?
influence
Which of the following terms refers to the process of learning culture?
enculturation
Why might an anthropologist consider the fans of a sports team a culture?
The fans share a set of beliefs and behaviors about their team.
The belief that culture is held together by a series of important elements such as economy, education, religion, kinship, and politics that all serve to maintain societal equilibrium is known as:
structural functionalism.
Bertha likes to eat dinner at 5 p.m. She travels to Italy and decides she doesn't like the country because restaurants tend to open for dinner at 7 p.m. or later. Bertha is practicing:
ethnocentrism
Contemporary debates about privacy in American society post 9/11 are fundamentally debates about which of the following?
cultural values
Bernice spends time each day reading online news reports from several different news agencies around the world. As a result, she becomes aware of multiple ideas and perspectives, incorporating these into her own outlook and actions. This is an example of
cosmopolitanism
The belief that cultural patterns are determined by our genetic makeup is best described using which term?
nature
The suggestion that all cultures progress through a similar set of stages is no longer accepted in contemporary anthropology. This theory was known as:
unilineal cultural evolution
The attacks of 9/11 led to serious problems in American-Muslim relations, even among those Muslims who were born and raised in America. In any balanced attempt to examine the motives for the attacks, it is necessary to practice cultural relativism, which
suspend judgment and consider Muslims in their own cultural context.
Franz Boas believed that cultures develop in different ways because of the unique and complex sets of issues and situations that members of the cultural group face over time. This way of understanding cultural differences came to be known as:
historical particularism
Americans tend to drive on the right side of the road. This is an example of a:
cultural norm.
Which of the following theoretical perspectives sees culture as a symbolic system of deep meaning?
the interpretivist approach
Culture is something that is shared and learned, traits that are
unique among animal species.
While material power such as coercion and brute force were tools used by the Nazi regime, the creation of cultural agreement about the supposed dangers of populations such as the Jews, Roma, and others was what ultimately allowed the horrors of the Holoca
hegemony.
There is evidence that minority residents of Anytown have reduced access to resources such as strong schools, libraries, and recreational centers than their majority counterparts. This is an example of:
stratification.
You arrive at a red, eight-sided sign when driving your car, and know that the sign is suggesting that you stop
symbol
Some, but not all, cultures participate in daylight savings time.
mental map of reality
There are rules governing when to kiss someone.
norm
Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of American society.
value