Exam 2: Culture and Society

In a couple of sentences, please explain the concept of multiculturalism and why it matters for sociology as a study of social groups.

Danny is examining U.S. culture for the possibility that different immigrant communities in the United States maintain more or less separate cultures but might still manage to participate equally in economic and political life. His study focuses on which concept?

Alice stole a bit of money from her friend Rosa to buy groceries. Rosa finds out and angrily chastises Alice for her behavior. What does this exchange demonstrate?

Laura attends a prestigious university on a full scholarship. Most of her classmates come from upper class backgrounds. Her own family has trouble making ends meet, and they encourage her to do well in school. They believe that if she works hard, she will be able to escape poverty and achieve the same economic stability as that of her fellow classmates. This belief in the merit of individual achievement is an example of a:

Anthropological linguist Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Lee Whorf argued that the language we use influences our perceptions of the world. This is known as the:

Lucy wants to study American culture. Why might sociologists be critical of such a study?

________ is a sense of identification with one's people that is expressed through a common set of strongly held beliefs. Sometimes these include the belief that the people of a particular nation have historical or God-given rights that supersede those of other people.

In two to three sentences, please define the concept of cultural universals and describe what they can tell us about human societies.

In Ireland, the number of Irish speakers significantly decreased during British Colonialism. Now, although most Irish people speak English, they are required to learn Irish in schools and Irish is the country's first official language. What does the push to reintroduce Irish as the country's predominant language reflect?

________ refers to the application of biological principles to explain the social activities of animals, including human beings.

________ refer(s) to the physical objects that individuals in society create. These objects, in turn, influence how we live.

Groups like the Taliban and ISIL enforce strict, traditional rules about modest dress and the prohibition of alcohol, in part to resist the spreading influence of Western culture. This response at the local cultural level is an example of:

Mario is researching how genetic factors influence human behaviors. His research would best be described as:

Hector is doing research on a tribe called the Malagasians. This group organizes itself in highly participatory ways, moves around frequently, and affords older people respect within the group. This group could be described as:

According to the textbook, the sociological study of culture began with which theorist?

How does instinct differ from culture, and why is the distinction important to sociologists? Please answer in three to five sentences.

Many languages may have an equivalent to the color yellow, but an object that may be classified as yellow in one language may not be described so in another. This is an example of:

Mihir notes that altruism seems innate to humans rather than learned. He uses that knowledge to criticize the idea that humans are naturally selfish. Mihir is taking note of:

The term ________ does not refer only to people from different cultural backgrounds or to those who speak different languages within a larger society. It can also refer to any segment of the population that is distinguishable from the rest of society by its cultural patterns.

The textbook defines a(n) ________ as a system of interrelationships that connects individuals.