Family Feuds and Culture of Honor in Harlan, KY

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Questions and Answers

When was Harlan, KY settled?

1819

Who settled Harlan, KY?

8 immigrant families from the northern regions of the British Isles.

Who were the Harvards and the Turners?

Two of the town's founding families that do not get along.

What occasionally erupts into violence and murder?

Family feuds Signup and view all the answers

What is the family feud that Gladwell talks most about in this chapter?

The Harvard/Turner feud. Signup and view all the answers

What is not unique in Harlan, KY?

Fighting and violence. Signup and view all the answers

What families were involved in the famous feud on the West Virginian-Kentucky border?

The Hatfield/McCoy feud. Signup and view all the answers

What patterns did Gladwell examine in KY?

Lots of family feuds and violence. Signup and view all the answers

What type of culture did Gladwell examine in KY?

Culture of honor Signup and view all the answers

Does the culture of honor that Gladwell examined in KY still exist today?

True Signup and view all the answers

What is one group of people worldwide that has developed the culture that Gladwell examined in KY?

Herdsmen Signup and view all the answers

Why have herdsmen developed the culture that Gladwell examined in KY?

They are under the constant threat of the loss of animals, so they have to be aggressive. Signup and view all the answers

What is the center/most important thing of the type of culture that Gladwell has examined in KY?

A man's reputation. Signup and view all the answers

What are some people quick to do in the type of culture that Gladwell has examined in KY?

People are quick to fight and be aggressive. Signup and view all the answers

Who are Dov Cohen and Richard Nisbett?

Scientists that are investigating culture of honor. Signup and view all the answers

Do southerners have a higher culture of honor than other people?

False Signup and view all the answers

Where did Cohen and Nisbett conduct their experiment?

The social sciences building at the University of Michigan in the basement. Signup and view all the answers

Who uttered the curse to some of the men in the study?

A man that was a confederate of the experimenters. Signup and view all the answers

How did the experimenters know if the men's hormone levels increased?

They took saliva samples. Signup and view all the answers

What did the men have to do after completing the task asked of them in the experiment?

Read a story and supply a conclusion. Signup and view all the answers

What did Nisbett have the men do?

Fill out a questionnaire and take it down a hallway. Signup and view all the answers

From what region of the country were the angriest subjects from?

The South Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Settlement and Family Feuds in Harlan, KY

Harlan, Kentucky was settled in 1819 by eight immigrant families from the northern British Isles.
The Harvard and Turner families, critical to the town's founding, are known for their longstanding feud.
Family feuds, such as the Harvard/Turner feud, can occasionally lead to violence and murder.

Cultural Dynamics and Violence

Fighting and violence are not unique to Harlan, KY, as they reflect broader patterns seen in various cultural settings.
The Hatfield-McCoy feud exemplifies famous conflicts in the region, particularly along the West Virginia-Kentucky border.
Gladwell analyzed prevalent family feuds in Kentucky, highlighting a pronounced culture of honor.

Culture of Honor

The culture of honor observed in Kentucky still persists today and is evidenced by aggressive behavior in defense of one’s reputation.
Herdsmen worldwide have developed similar cultures due to constant threats to their livestock, necessitating a readiness to engage in conflict to protect their reputation.
A man’s reputation is central to maintaining status in a culture of honor, where quickness to aggression is common.

Research on Culture of Honor

Dov Cohen and Richard Nisbett are scientists who study the culture of honor.
Research indicates that southerners exhibit a stronger culture of honor compared to individuals from other regions.
Cohen and Nisbett conducted their experiments at the University of Michigan's social sciences building, utilizing saliva samples to measure hormonal responses to aggression.

Experiment Overview

A confederate associated with the experiment cursed at some male subjects to provoke a reaction.
After completing tasks, subjects were required to read a story and provide a conclusion.
Researchers also had subjects navigate a hallway to fill out a questionnaire, further examining reactions based on their regional backgrounds, predominantly from the southern United States.

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Description

Explore the historical settlement of Harlan, KY, and the infamous feuds among its founding families, particularly the Harvard and Turner families. This quiz delves into the broader cultural dynamics that shape violent conflicts and the persistence of a culture of honor within the community. Examine key events and influences that characterize these family rivalries.