Exam 3: Culture

Language is a source of power and social control; language perpetuates inequalities between people and between groups because words are used to "keep people in their place".

__________ is/are a set of symbols that expresses ideas and enables people to think and communicate with one another.

Not all norms are of equal importance; __________ are written down and involve specific punishments for violators.Laws are the most common type; they have been codified and may be enforced by sanctions.

Functionalist theorist Karl Marx stated that ideas are cultural creations of a society's most powerful members.Thus,it is possible for political,economic,and social leaders to use cultural imperialism to maintain their positions of dominance in a society.

In a six square-block tract of downtown Boston,it is possible to purchase a bagel with cream cheese,dine on raw fish in a sushi bar,or grab a slice of pizza from a street vendor.This variety of food choices illustrates the process of:

The Sapir-Whorf theory has suggested that language expresses our thoughts and perceptions but has little influence on our perception of reality.

Sociologists stress that a gap always exists between ideal culture and real culture in a society.Ideal culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people actually follow; whereas real culture refers to the values and standards of behavior that people in a society profess to hold.

Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski suggested that culture helps people meet their needs.Which of the following is NOT one of the categories that he identified?

Values provide ideals of beliefs about behavior but do not state explicitly how we should behave.__________ are established rules of behavior or standards of conduct.

A __________ is a category of people who share distinguishing attributes,beliefs,values,and/or norms that set them apart in some significant manner from the dominant culture.

Sneezing after breathing pepper through the nose is an example of a(n) __________,which is an unlearned,biologically determined,and involuntary response to some physical stimuli.

According to sociologist Robin Williams,we cherish the core value of _________,which is conveyed by the idea that Americans believe that people are responsible for their own success or failure.

As illustrated in the opening story of Chapter 3,it is possible for food to serve as a symbolic representation of culture.

__________ consist(s) of customs and practices that occur across all societies.

Define subculture and counterculture.Provide modern examples of each.

According to sociologist Robin Williams,a belief in the idea that "the American way of life" is best illustrates the core value of ____________.

Describe how language may create and reinforce our perceptions about sex and gender by transmitting preconceived ideas about the superiority one category of people over another.

Contrast ideal culture and real culture and provide examples of each.

Verbal (spoken) language and nonverbal (written or gestured) language help us describe reality.One of our most important human attributes is the ability to use language to share our experiences,feelings,and knowledge with others.

A __________ is a temporary but widely copied activity followed enthusiastically by large numbers of people.Most are short-lived novelties.