Social Behavior & Human Nature
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary assertion about humans made in the content?

  • We are altruistic by nature.
  • We are primarily rational beings.
  • We are social creatures. (correct)
  • We are hardwired for individuality.

    • What is the function of the cingulate cortex in the human brain?

  • Regulation of body temperature
  • Emotional expressiveness and motivation to communicate (correct)
  • Control of motor functions
  • Visual processing

    • What happens when the cingulate cortex is damaged?

  • Human social traits like empathy and motivation to communicate disappear (correct)
  • A person's intelligence increases
  • A person becomes more rational
  • A person becomes more social

    • What is inequality aversion?

    <p>A dislike for too much inequality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are humans hardwired for sociality?

    <p>Because we have evolved to live in groups for millennia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can happen to healthy humans without communication and interaction with others?

    <p>They can suffer depression and reduced immunity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is produced and reproduced through communication?

    <p>Our culture, society, and institutions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do we need institutions in human society?

    <p>To survive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of language in our understanding of the world?

    <p>To navigate the social and physical world</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is built into our culture, leading to social tension?

    <p>Inequality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it difficult to change someone's mind?

    <p>Because they are emotionally attached to their view</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What comes first in human decision-making?

    <p>Emotional impulse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the debate about in understanding human behavior?

    <p>Nature versus nurture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the modern understanding of the nature-nurture debate?

    <p>It's a combination of both</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of twin studies in understanding human behavior?

    <p>To track the influence of genetics on behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do people tend to resist changes to their worldview?

    <p>Because they are emotionally attached to their view</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of sociology and cultural studies?

    <p>Examining social interactions and learning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it challenging to understand human behavior?

    <p>Because humans are complex and embedded in culture and society</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the amount of traits that are inherited genetically?

    <p>Heritability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of twin studies?

    <p>To determine the genetic basis of traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the study, what percentage of the trait of age of puberty is due to genetic factors?

    <p>5%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred from the high heritability of fingerprint patterns?

    <p>Fingerprint patterns are determined by genetic factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the percentage of general cognitive ability that is attributed to social circumstances?

    <p>44%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main limitation of the study in determining the heritability of sexual orientation?

    <p>The results of the study were unclear</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the big five dimensions of personality referred to in the study?

    <p>Openness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred from the study's results on general cognitive ability?

    <p>There is a significant interaction between genetic and environmental factors in determining intelligence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of studying the shared environment in twin studies?

    <p>To understand the impact of shared environment on personality traits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main advantage of studying twins to understand the contributions of genetic and environmental factors to traits?

    <p>Twins are more likely to have similar genetic makeup</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of personality traits are thought to be inherited from genes?

    <p>40-50%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself?

    <p>Epi-genetics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main factor that determines whether a gene is expressed or not?

    <p>Environmental factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a complex trait that is not determined by a single gene?

    <p>Aggression</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can influence the expression of genes, according to epigenetics?

    <p>Both genetics and environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be transmitted to future generations through epigenetics?

    <p>Both genetic traits and environmental influences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the study of how genes interact with the environment, including socialization and culture?

    <p>Epi-genetics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the result of the study with rats and the almond smell?

    <p>The rats that got zapped with electricity became fearful of the smell of almonds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of the study with rats and the almond smell for human inheritance?

    <p>That cultural and social influences can affect gene expression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main takeaway from epigenetics about the relationship between genes and environment?

    <p>That genes and environment interact to determine traits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be passed down through generations according to the content?

    <p>Both genetic traits and socialized behaviors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of socialization in human development?

    <p>To acquire cognitive and emotional skills</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a learned behavior mentioned in the content?

    <p>Laughing at jokes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe how people develop their identities through observing social roles?

    <p>Dramaturgy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the study with women and babies in pink and blue?

    <p>It shows that gender roles are socially constructed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it difficult to separate nature and nurture in human development?

    <p>Because socialization occurs immediately after birth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of social interaction in human development?

    <p>It is key to acquiring cognitive and emotional skills</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of institutions in human society?

    <p>To reproduce and produce social norms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of dramaturgy in human development?

    <p>It is a way to observe and rehearse social roles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between nature and nurture according to the content?

    <p>They are interconnected and influence each other</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary way that our brain changes when we get a new partner or become married?

    <p>It regenerates itself in ways we never knew</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is anticipatory socialization?

    <p>Learning the norms and codes of a group you're not yet part of</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of parenting in socialization?

    <p>It can overcome many risk factors, such as living in a bad neighborhood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the media's role in socialization?

    <p>It teaches us what's good, what's bad, and how to act</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of adult socialization?

    <p>It's a lifelong process that occurs throughout our lives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the four main agents of socialization?

    <p>Family, media, school, and university</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can happen when we're poor and stressed, and it's hard to be a good parent?

    <p>It's harder to provide the necessary time and resources for socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of anticipatory socialization in university?

    <p>Taking on a professional pose in studies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can we learn from reading Vogue magazine?

    <p>What style is and how the wealthy interact</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of effective parenting in overcoming disadvantages?

    <p>The child will be more likely to be successful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main idea behind the concept of dramaturgy in socialization?

    <p>We practice social roles by mimicking what we see around us</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between intentional and unintentional primary socialization?

    <p>Intentional is planned teaching, unintentional is observational learning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the myth that has been debunked in socialization?

    <p>That socialization only happens in childhood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the concept that suggests that our future path is dependent on our past experiences?

    <p>Path dependency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of socialization occurs when we get a new job?

    <p>Secondary socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do people tend to mimic in their socialization?

    <p>Both intentional and unintentional role models</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of unintentional socialization on children?

    <p>It is more important than intentional socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of power and relationships in primary socialization?

    <p>It teaches children about gender roles and patriarchy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of secondary socialization in our lives?

    <p>It allows us to change and adapt throughout our lives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it difficult to change our socialization paths?

    <p>Because our paths are dependent on our past experiences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of the example discussed in the content?

    <p>The role of media in shaping beauty standards</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of searching for 'beautiful hair' on Google?

    <p>Mostly images of white women</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do African Canadian women feel pressured to conform to white beauty standards?

    <p>Because they are colonized and adopt the colonizer's standards</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Sesame Street video mentioned in the content?

    <p>To challenge the dominant beauty standards</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the proportion of racialized minorities in the population of Canada?

    <p>Around 25 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the outcome of the Google search experiment mentioned in the content?

    <p>More images of African American women appear each year</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the underlying issue contributing to the beauty standards discussed in the content?

    <p>Colonization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of the beauty standards discussed in the content?

    <p>Women are valued more for their beauty than their character</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author's main concern about the beauty standards discussed in the content?

    <p>That they are a reflection of societal values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the message that the author wants to convey through the example of the Google search?

    <p>That beauty standards are influenced by societal factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary effect of the peer group on socialization, according to the content?

    <p>It serves as a conduit for the media's impact on people's socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the school system, according to the content?

    <p>To socialize humans to be good members of society</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of the school system's age-based segregation, according to the content?

    <p>A divide between age groups in society that is very unnatural</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the outcome of the socialization process, according to the content?

    <p>A set of shared attitudes and values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the media in socialization, according to the content?

    <p>It has a direct impact on people's socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the peer group in adolescence, according to the content?

    <p>It is extremely important, especially in adolescence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the consequence of the school system's age-based segregation, according to the content?

    <p>Different generations having their own culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of socialization, according to the content?

    <p>To make people productive members of society</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the basis of culture, according to the content?

    <p>Language and practices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the school system in modern society, according to the content?

    <p>It is a very important agent of socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the concept that is attached to a signifier?

    <p>A signified concept</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would happen if we changed the signifier for a concept without telling others?

    <p>We would have a hard time communicating</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the combination of a signifier and a signified concept?

    <p>Sign</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do signifiers symbolize?

    <p>The concept of the object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important that the signifier and signified concept are 'married' together?

    <p>So we can understand each other</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of semiotics in understanding human behavior?

    <p>It studies how humans make meanings through signs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is arbitrary about the signifier?

    <p>Its attachment to the signified concept</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would happen if we didn't have a common understanding of signifiers and signified concepts?

    <p>We would have a hard time communicating</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using signs in communication?

    <p>To make meanings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the study of signs and symbols?

    <p>Semiotics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to the Sapir Whorf hypothesis, what is the relationship between language and perception?

    <p>Language influences how we perceive the world around us.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary medium of thought, according to the content?

    <p>Words</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the concept of 'sign' in semiotics?

    <p>It represents a concept or idea.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of language on culture, according to the content?

    <p>Language shapes culture and influences how we understand the world.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the example of a concept that may not relate to something in the real world?

    <p>Peace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of Ferdinand de Saussure in the development of semiotics?

    <p>He was a sociologist who developed semiotics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of the Sapir Whorf hypothesis for deaf people?

    <p>They think in sign language.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the concept of 'culture' in the content?

    <p>It is a complex and changing concept.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between language and thought, according to the content?

    <p>Language influences thought.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the concept of 'signified concept' in semiotics?

    <p>It is a concept or idea.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of language according to the content?

    <p>To communicate with other humans and restrict our perception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a signifier in the context of semiotics?

    <p>A symbol or object that represents something</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between denotative and connotative meaning?

    <p>Denotative meaning is literal, while connotative meaning is non-literal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a signifier with a connotative meaning?

    <p>The word 'gauchos' connoting fearfulness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of our vocabulary in shaping our perception of the world?

    <p>We might not see things that we haven't learned from our culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the story of Columbus and the indigenous people of Hispaniola used to illustrate?

    <p>The power of language in shaping our perception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the Canadian flag as a signifier?

    <p>It represents a geographical space</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of the simple East-West culture model?

    <p>It is not helpful in understanding cultural differences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of culture in shaping our perception of the world?

    <p>It plays a significant role in shaping our perception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be inferred from the formation of Canadian culture as a concept?

    <p>It is a fluid and constantly changing concept</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main idea behind Samuel Huntington's 'Clash of Civilizations' concept?

    <p>The clash between Western and non-Western cultures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the criticism of Samuel Huntington's 'Clash of Civilizations' concept?

    <p>It is overly simplistic and binary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main idea behind Benjamin Barber's 'Jihad vs. McWorld' concept?

    <p>The battle between traditional cultures and Western consumerism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of categorizing cultures into major categories like Arabic, African, European, and North American?

    <p>It leaves out many smaller cultures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the challenge in defining and understanding culture?

    <p>It is constantly changing and evolving</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the criticism of Samuel Huntington's approach to understanding culture?

    <p>It is ethnocentric and lacks cultural understanding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of the 'Jihad vs. McWorld' concept for our understanding of humanity?

    <p>There is a deeper part of humanity that has been lost in Western consumerism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the problem with categorizing the world into two cultures, as proposed by Samuel Huntington's 'Clash of Civilizations' concept?

    <p>It is too simplistic and binary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the 'Jihad vs. McWorld' concept for our understanding of culture and humanity?

    <p>It suggests that there is a deeper part of humanity that has been lost in Western consumerism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main challenge in understanding and defining culture, according to the content?

    <p>It is constantly changing and evolving</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Human Nature and Socialization

    • Humans are social creatures, and we need to socialize to survive.
    • We are not rational in a strict sense; our emotions and instincts often override our rational thinking.
    • The cingulate cortex, a part of the brain, is responsible for emotions, empathy, and social traits, and is evolutionarily hardwired for sociality.

    Nature vs. Nurture

    • The debate between nature (biology) and nurture (social environment) is ongoing, but recent studies suggest that both contribute to who we are.
    • Twin studies have been used to investigate the role of nature and nurture in shaping human traits.
    • Heritability, or the percentage of a trait that is inherited, varies across different traits, such as age of puberty, aggression, and general cognitive ability.

    Epigenetics

    • Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors affect gene expression.
    • Epigenetics shows that genes can be inherited, but their expression is influenced by environmental factors, such as socialization and culture.
    • Epigenetics can also transmit social lessons to future generations.

    Socialization

    • Socialization is key to human development, and it starts from birth.
    • We learn daily routines, behaviors, and cognitive skills through socialization.
    • We develop our identities and concept of selves through socialization.

    Dramaturgy

    • Dramaturgy is a concept from sociologist Erving Goffman, which states that people learn social roles by observing and rehearsing them.
    • We mimic social roles and behaviors, even if they are not explicitly taught to us.

    Types of Socialization

    • Primary socialization occurs in the family, from birth to early childhood.
    • There are two types of primary socialization: intentional (explicit teaching) and unintentional (mimicking behaviors).
    • Unintentional socialization is often more important, as children learn by observing and mimicking behaviors around them.### Socialization
    • Primary socialization: occurs in childhood, where parents and family members teach values, norms, and behaviors to children.
    • Secondary socialization: occurs throughout one's life, where individuals learn new values, norms, and behaviors from various sources, such as education, media, and peers.
    • Anticipatory socialization: involves learning the codes and norms of a certain group before actually becoming a part of it, such as a child from a low-income background reading Vogue magazine to learn about wealthy lifestyles.

    Agents of Socialization

    • Family: plays a significant role in shaping an individual's values, norms, and behaviors.
    • Media: influences socialization through the portrayal of stereotypes, role models, and consumerism.
    • Peer group: has a significant impact on socialization, especially during adolescence, as individuals tend to conform to the norms and values of their peers.
    • School: socializes individuals to become productive members of society, with an emphasis on education and social skills.

    Culture and Language

    • Culture is a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize a group or institution.
    • Language is a fundamental aspect of culture, as it shapes our understanding of the world and influences our perceptions.
    • The Sapir Whorf hypothesis suggests that language influences thought and perception, and that the words we use to describe concepts can affect how we understand them.

    Semiotics

    • Semiotics is the study of signs and how they create meaning in our culture.
    • A sign consists of a signified concept (a concept or idea) and a signifier (a symbol or word that represents the concept).
    • The attachment of a signifier to a signified concept is arbitrary, but it is crucial for effective communication.
    • Ferdinand de Saussure, a French sociologist, developed the concept of semiotics, which emphasizes the importance of understanding signs and language in shaping our culture.### Semiotics and Signifiers
    • A signifier is a symbol or word that represents a concept, but it doesn't symbolize the actual thing itself.
    • The concept of a tree is understood based on the signifier "tree" in the English language.
    • Signifiers don't represent the actual truth, but rather the concept of the thing.

    Human Understanding and Language

    • Humans make meanings through the creation and interpretation of signs.
    • Signs are a combination of a signified concept and a signifier.
    • We only think in signs, and we can only understand the world by using those signs.
    • We're trapped in our own language, and our thought is restricted by our vocabulary.

    Denotative and Connotative Meaning

    • Denotative meaning is the literal meaning of a signifier, e.g., "chicken" denotes a bird.
    • Connotative meaning is the non-literal meaning of a signifier, e.g., "chicken" can connote somebody who's afraid of something.

    Vocabulary and Perception

    • Our vocabulary comes to us through communication with other humans.
    • Our ability to perceive things may be restricted by our vocabulary.
    • We might not see things that we haven't learned from our culture.

    Culture and Signifiers

    • Cultures can be seen as a collection of signs that give meaning.
    • The Canadian culture, for example, is a complex concept that can be difficult to define.
    • The flag of Canada is a signifier that represents a geographical space and a type of people.

    Models of Culture

    • A simple two-culture model of the world is not very helpful, as it reduces the complexity of cultures to just two categories.
    • The clash of civilizations model by Samuel Huntington is an example of a binary model that divides the world into Western and non-Western cultures.
    • The Jihad vs. McWorld model by Benjamin Barber is another example of a binary model that contrasts Western consumerism with indigenous cultures.

    Critique of Binary Models

    • Binary models of culture are too simplistic and don't capture the complexity of cultures.
    • Cultures are not monolithic and are often mixed and influenced by other cultures.
    • Defining a culture is a difficult task, and cultures are always changing.

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    Description

    Review of human behavior and socialization, including the idea that humans are not strictly rational. Discussions on human nature and social creatures.

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