Exam 2: Culture

Some nations, such as Sweden, are referred to as __________, which means that they include people who share a common culture and who are typically from similar social, religious, political, and economic backgrounds.

Define culture shock, ethnocentrism, and cultural relativism, and explain the relationship among these three concepts.

Current interest in Lady Gaga and the Kardashians is an example of a __________.

Americans are more individualistic than people in Western European countries.

Discuss how culture may be both a stabilizing force and a source of conflict in societies.

A __________ is a group that strongly rejects dominant societal values and norms and seeks an alternative lifestyle.

Define the difference among instincts, reflexes, and drives.

Examples of __________ include a sneeze after breathing some pepper in through your nose or the blinking your eye when a speck of dust gets in it.

Discuss cultural change and distinguish among discovery, invention, and diffusion as sources of cultural change. For each source of change, explain what it generally consists of and give an example.

Which of these is not one of the ten core American values identified by sociologist Robin Williams?​

Which of these statements is the best description of the role of culture in human life?​

__________ norms state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable. For example, persons making a certain amount of money are expected to file a tax return and pay any taxes they owe.

Which of these statements about cultural universals is false?​

In every society a gap exists between the values that people profess to hold and their actual behavior, which may not be consistent with those values.

A __________ is a currently valued style of behavior, thinking, or appearance that is longer lasting and more widespread than a fad.

The United States is considered a heterogeneous society, meaning that it includes people who are dissimilar in regard to social characteristics such as religion, income, or race/ethnicity.

Members of the upper classes must be trained to appreciate and participate in high culture. This knowledge, called __________, is symbolic of being upper class, and excludes members of lower classes.

Which of these statements about symbols is true?​

"The Order," a white supremacist group, is opposed to most of the values shared by a majority of mainstream Americans. The Order has purchased weapons with the purpose of going after its enemies. This group is an example of a __________.

Anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski suggested that culture helps people meet their basic needs. Which of these is not one of the categories of needs identified by Malinowski?