Cultural Practices and Subsistence Strategies

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of liminality in rites of passage?

It is when individuals fully transition into their new roles.

It involves a formal, stylized practice.

It marks the final stage of life.

It is a marginal or in-between phase. (correct)

Which of the following is a defining feature of sacred rituals?

They do not have a repetitive nature.

They are grounded in a sacred belief system. (correct)

They are spontaneous and unique to each individual.

They are informal and lack structure.

Which of the following is an example of a rite of intensification?

Birthday celebrations

Funerals (correct)

Graduation ceremonies

Wedding rituals

What does syncretism refer to in cultural changes?

The blending of selective elements from different cultural systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of sorcery or witchcraft?

It is believed to manipulate supernatural forces potentially against one's will. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is mentioned as an internal pressure for culture change?

Religious factions Signup and view all the answers

What change did the Nyae Nyae Ju'/Hoansi experience in the 1980s-1990s?

A return to bush n!ores and farming. Signup and view all the answers

What role does magic play in cultural practices?

It is a means to accomplish specific aims through supernatural forces. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of transhumance?

Movement of livestock herds to follow seasonal grazing conditions Signup and view all the answers

What does the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis emphasize?

Language affects how individuals perceive and think about the world Signup and view all the answers

Which of these statements about pastoralism is true?

It relies primarily on domesticated herd animals. Signup and view all the answers

How do the Ju/'hoansi people ensure future food supply through their social practices?

Through codes of reciprocity and social norms of generosity Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes horticulture as a method of farming?

Dependent solely on rainfall and simple hand tools Signup and view all the answers

What is a leveling mechanism in a society?

An obligation for redistributing resources to prevent wealth concentration Signup and view all the answers

What does participant observation involve?

Living with a community and engaging in their daily activities Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the hxaro exchange system in Ju/'hoansi culture?

To circulate goods and maintain social relationships Signup and view all the answers

What is conspicuous consumption primarily associated with?

The display of wealth for social prestige Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the process by which culture is transmitted from one generation to another?

Enculturation Signup and view all the answers

What practice involves judging another culture by its own standards?

Cultural relativism Signup and view all the answers

Which type of agriculture is characterized by the use of irrigation and fertilizers?

Intensive agriculture Signup and view all the answers

What marked the transition of human societies from foraging to food production?

The Neolithic Revolution Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defines matrilocal societies?

Couples live with the wife's family Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of bilateral descent?

Descent and inheritance through both parental lines Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a chiefdom?

A society led by a ruler who uses charisma to govern Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of sociolinguistics?

Studying the interaction of language with social contexts Signup and view all the answers

What refers to a social class where membership is fixed by birth?

Closed class societies Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'race' refer to in anthropological context?

A group distinguished by physical traits and genetic characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What defines stratified societies?

Permanent hierarchies that limit access to wealth and power Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of egalitarian societies?

Ju/Hoansi communities Signup and view all the answers

What is double descent?

Inheritance from both matrilineal and patrilineal lines Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Culture-Bound Theories

Theories incorporating comparative research across cultures to explain behaviours.

Creole Languages

Languages combining elements of two or more languages, becoming a population's mother tongue.

Transhumance

Seasonal movement of livestock herds, often between altitudes, to optimize grazing.

Pastoralism and Swidden Agriculture

Subsistence strategies requiring extensive land use for sustainability.

Pastoralism

Subsistence relying primarily on domesticated herd animals and products.

Food Foraging Societies (Ju/'hoansi)

Employ codes of reciprocity and social norms of generosity to ensure food security.

Ferreira's Research (Xingu Park, Brazil)

Xingu people utilize different mathematical calculations compared to non-indigenous groups, influenced by reciprocal obligations.

Horticulture

Cultivation of crops using simple hand tools and rainfall.

Proxemics

Study of personal space.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Language influences thought, perception, and behaviour.

Ju/'hoansi hxaro Exchange System

Circulates goods, lubricates social relationships, and fosters goodwill across camps.

Participant Observation

Long-term immersion in a culture observing daily activities and interactions with detailed recording.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size an environment can sustain.

Mobility

All types of movement between locations.

Leveling Mechanisms

Societal obligations for redistributing goods to prevent wealth accumulation by individuals.

Conspicuous Consumption

Displaying wealth for social prestige.

Holistic Perspective

Considering something as a whole, not just its parts.

Enculturation

Process of transmitting culture from one generation to the next.

Cultural Relativism

Judging cultures by their own standards.

Globalization

Opening up world markets with modern technology.

Swidden Agriculture

Involves burning vegetation to enrich soil but is often environmentally damaging.

Sociolinguistics

Study of language's relation to its social context.

Culture Shock

Difficulty experienced adjusting to a new, different culture.

Intensive Agriculture

Using irrigation, fertilizers, and plows for sustained large-scale food production.

Neolithic Revolution

Shift from food foraging to food production between 9,000 and 11,000 years ago.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures based on one's own culture.

Polyandry

One woman, multiple husbands.

Matrilocal Societies

Women dominate subsistence activities, often working in fields.

Nuclear Family

Couple and their children.

Kindred

Group of relatives (both maternal and paternal) affiliated through a living individual.

Chiefdoms

Societies led by rulers relying on generosity, charisma, and leadership.

Polygyny

One man, multiple wives.

Clan

Descent group claiming common ancestor but not tracing specific links.

Sororal Polygyny

Co-wives are sisters.

Adjudication

Conflict resolution using an impartial third party for decision-making.

Bilateral Descent

Affiliates individuals through both parents (both sexes).

Patrilocal Societies

Societies emphasizing male cooperation (animal husbandry often involved).

Groom Service

Groom works for bride's family for a set period.

Ju/'hoansi wi Name System

Authority of older people over younger ones.

Band/Tribe Political Organisation

Hunter-gatherers generally have bands; horticulturalists/pastoralists, tribes.

Serial Monogamy

Series of successive marital partners but not simultaneously.

Double Descent

Inheritance of rights through both matrilineal and patrilineal groups.

Big Man

Charismatic leader organizing gift-giving feasts.

Avunculocal Societies

Married couples live with groom's mother's brother.

Moka

Pig gift exchanges among men, used for social standing.

Ju n!un Relationship

Special relationship between in-laws.

Age Grade/Set

Age groupings with shared rights and obligations (e.g., Kenya village example, children constructing huts).

Common-Interest Voluntary Associations

Groups based on shared activities for rapid social change.

Skills, birth, wealth, and power differentiate societal standings.

Egalitarian Societies

Societies with equal rank and resource distribution.

Stratified Societies

Societies with hierarchy and privileged access to wealth, power, prestige.

Rank-Ordered Societies

Recognized social standing based on graded ranks.

Class

Groups with nearly equal prestige, power, and resources.

Closed Class Societies

Social classes determined by birth, fixed for life.

Open Class Societies

Social mobility between ranks possible.

Manifestations of Class

Symbolic indicators, associations, health disparities, and longevity.

Race

Group of people distinguished by physical traits (phenotype) and genetic origins.

Race Issues

Not all phenotypic differences are genetic; boundaries are complex.

Cross-Cultural Variations in Race

Varying understandings of race (e.g., US vs Canada).

Ethnicity

Identity based on shared cultural traits (beliefs, habits, customs, religion).

Increasing Gender Stratification

Lowered female status, increased male dominance.

Secular Rituals

Scripted practices (e.g., athletes and rituals) for specific occasions.

Sacred Rituals

Formal, stylized practices rooted in sacred belief systems to organize lives.

Rites of Passage

Rituals marking life transitions (separation, transition, incorporation).

Liminality

In-between phase of a rite of passage.

Rites of Intensification

Rituals for group crisis/potential crisis, like funerals.

Rites of Purification

Rituals to restore individuals' place in cosmic order after taboos are broken.

Individual and Group Rites

Group/external practitioner draws on power and symbolism from earth, sky, etc.

Magic

Use of supernatural forces for specific aims (e.g., improving outcomes).

Sorcery/Witchcraft

Belief that some have supernatural power to harm/benefit others (often perceived as malicious or against one's will).

Culture Change: Internal Pressures

Intergroup conflict (political, religious factions).

Culture Change: External Sources

Trade, warfare, colonialism, globalization.

Culture Change: Process of Innovation and Invention

Factors influencing acceptance (compatibility with existing systems).

Culture Change: Process of Diffusion

Two-way process based on contact (direct or indirect) impacting local knowledge/practice.

Syncretism

Blending elements from different cultures.

Missionism

Spreading beliefs and values.

State Policies (Examples)

Shrinking territories, conservation, border fences, land policies.

Change in Ju/'hoansi Subsistence Strategies

Tensions from introducing farming/herding; wage work and migration impacting traditional practices.

Nyae Nyae Ju/'hoansi (1970s-1990s)

Subsistence reduction, impacting social-economic factors and environmental impact; return to bush farming/coping with development efforts.

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Description

Explore various cultural theories and subsistence strategies in this quiz. From transhumance and pastoralism to the fascinating dynamics of food foraging societies, learn how different cultures utilize and adapt their environments. Engage with diverse concepts such as creole languages and proxemics to deepen your understanding.