Anthropology Chapter: Concept of Culture

Questions and Answers

What is culture understood as in traditional societies?

A set of genetically transmitted traits

A set of evolutionary principles

A way of thinking unique to geographical locations

Shared principles and social heritage that make up people's way of life (correct)

How is culture transmitted?

Through written records

Through socialization process (correct)

Through verbal communication only

Through genetic inheritance

What is a characteristic of culture?

It is transmitted genetically

It is only found in complex industrial societies

It is unique to the human species (correct)

It is universally constant

What serves as a guide for human action in a society?

Moral force of culture Signup and view all the answers

What is a result of new items being added to culture?

Culture develops and changes Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of culture according to Ojetayo?

It is the way of thinking and behaviour shared by a substantial social grouping Signup and view all the answers

What is culture historically designed for?

For living Signup and view all the answers

What is true about culture in relation to time?

Culture develops and changes over time Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the term 'culture'?

From the Latin word 'colere', meaning 'to cultivate' Signup and view all the answers

According to Nigerian National Cultural Policy (1988), what does culture encompass?

The totality of the way of life evolved by a people in their attempt to meet the challenges in their environment Signup and view all the answers

Who provided the classic definition of culture in 1871?

E.B. Tylor Signup and view all the answers

What is culture considered to be fundamental to?

Human existence and human civilization Signup and view all the answers

What is culture dynamic in?

Socio-economic and religious ethos Signup and view all the answers

According to E.B. Tylor, what does culture include?

That complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society Signup and view all the answers

What is culture acquired through?

Growing up with and living among a particular group Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of culture in human societies?

It offers meaning, purpose, and value to the socio-economic, religious, political and aesthetic ethos of society Signup and view all the answers

What is a norm in a society?

A standard pattern of behavior that is accepted by a society Signup and view all the answers

What are formal norms?

Written rules that can lead to punishment if violated Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of sanctions in a society?

To reward or penalize individuals for following or defying social norms Signup and view all the answers

What are culture traits?

The building blocks of a particular culture Signup and view all the answers

What can affect the prevalence of cultural traits in a society?

Historical events Signup and view all the answers

How are cultural traits transmitted from one generation to the next?

Vertically from parents to children Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between values and sanctions in a society?

The most cherished values of a culture will be most heavily sanctioned Signup and view all the answers

What can be said about culture?

Culture varies from place to place and country to country Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why there is no natural connection between a symbol and what it represents?

Symbols are arbitrary and chosen by cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of culture that makes it different from technical or practical aspects of human behavior?

Culture emphasizes meaning and interpretation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the statement "Culture is integrated" mean?

All cultural elements are interconnected and influence each other. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a trait of a culture?

Material possessions Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of human adaptation through culture?

Culture enables humans to thrive in diverse environments. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of cultural adaptation?

Cultural adaptation can lead to environmental degradation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of values in a culture?

To guide individuals' actions and judgments. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider the interconnectedness of cultural elements when studying a culture?

It allows us to understand the complex relationships between different aspects of culture. Signup and view all the answers

Why is culture considered epistemological?

Culture provides a framework for understanding the world and our place in it. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary motivation for creating and maintaining culture?

To understand and navigate our environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between 'bad' events and cultural understanding?

Bad events can be understood and appreciated when they illustrate shared meaning. Signup and view all the answers

How does the text suggest that culture is a collaborative process?

Individuals share and discuss events, shaping and refining cultural understanding. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key premise of the Knowledge-Based Affect Theory (KBAT)?

Individuals create and maintain culture to enhance their sense of security in the world. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three basic dimensions of cultural production according to Loren Demerath?

Articulate, Typify, and Orient Signup and view all the answers

What are some potential applications of the sources of knowledge mentioned in the text?

Evaluating the impact of development projects on local communities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between culture and knowledge?

Knowledge is a component of culture, helping to shape our understanding of the world. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Concept of Culture

Culture has no universally acceptable definition
Derived from Latin word "colere," meaning "to cultivate"
Social behavior and norms found in human societies
Central concept in anthropology, encompassing phenomena transmitted through social learning
Considered fundamental to human existence and civilization

Definition of Culture

Nigerian National Cultural Policy (1988): totality of way of life evolved by a people to meet environmental challenges
E.B. Tylor (1871): complex whole including knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and capabilities acquired by man as a member of society
Culture is shared principles, social heritage that make up a people's way of life

Characteristics of Culture

Historically created and shared by all members of a society
Not genetically transmitted, but learnt and transmitted through socialization process
Universal, variable, and dynamic
Unique to human species
Has moral force, serving as a guide for human action
Works in the symbolic domain, emphasizing meaning rather than technical or practical rational side of human behavior
Integrated, with elements adjusted to or consistent with one another

Elements of Culture

Types of norms
Sanctions
Values
Culture trait
Culture complex
Culture pattern

Values

What is considered good, proper, and desirable, or bad, improper, or undesirable, in a culture
Influence people's behavior and serve as a benchmark for evaluating the actions of others

Norms

Standard pattern of behavior accepted by a society
May differ from society to society
Formal norms: written down and violation can lead to punishment
Informal norms: generally understood and followed by a society, but not recorded in black and white

Sanctions

Consist of rewards and penalties
Rewards for conducting norms, penalties for defying social norms
Positive sanctions: medals, gratitude, or praise
Negative sanctions: fines, threats, imprisonment, or unpleasant stares

Culture Traits

Smallest units of a culture
Building blocks of culture
Can be material or non-material
Have a form, use, function, and meaning
Several traits form a complex culture

Epistemology and Cosmology

Culture is epistemological, making human experience understandable
Makes humans feel they know their world and places
Enables humans to appreciate bad events if they illustrate a shared meaning
The desire to know the environment motivates humans to create and maintain culture

Sources of Knowledge for Culture

Traditional Knowledge
Historical Knowledge
Archaeological Knowledge
Scientific Knowledge
Local, National, and International Regulations
Community Consultations

Cultural Production

Three basic dimensions: articulate, typify, and orient
Enables humans to create and maintain culture as knowledge of the world
Knowledge-Based Affect Theory (KBAT) explains how individuals enhance their sense of security in the world by creating and maintaining culture.

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Description

This quiz covers the concept of culture, its definition, and significance in anthropology. It explores the perspectives of various scholars and the social behavior and norms associated with culture.