24 Questions
What is a characteristic of most modern societies, especially those with a steady flow of immigrants?
Multiculturality
What are the two significant aspects of multiculturality that are of great importance to social scientists?
Artistic and intellectual richness, and conflict and animosity
What does the term 'imperfect enculturation' refer to?
The fact that societies are not able to mould the young into complete adoption of traditional values, beliefs, and codes of conduct
What is an example of constructive deviation that led to significant cultural change?
Copernicus and Galileo's deviation from traditional astronomical beliefs
What are some factors that can produce great social changes, aside from wars and natural calamities?
Migrations of people and artistic and intellectual innovators who deviate from standard paths
What is a significant issue that arises from the imperfection of enculturation in humans and the nature of complex societies?
The matter of loyalty
How does human loyalty differ from that of an ant?
A human is a member of many social groups, while an ant is a member of only one social group, its colony
What is the significance of deviants, such as Leonardo and Einstein, in shaping the history of the Western world?
They were constructive sources of cultural change
What aspect of social science is concerned with the study of dysfunctional behavior and malfunctional phenomena?
The main object of social science is the study of dysfunctions and malfunctions.
What is the counterpart of disease in social science?
A notion of the criteria of a healthy system of social organization.
What branch of philosophy is closely connected with social science?
Ethics
What is the focus of the philosophy of social science in this book?
The branch of philosophy called 'philosophy of science' or 'epistemology'
What aspect of social science is concerned with the study of how we can know whether our notions or theories are 'true' or 'false'?
Philosophy of science or epistemology
What is the significance of understanding a healthy system of social organization in social science?
It is necessary to understand what constitutes a healthy system of social organization in order to study dysfunctions and malfunctions.
Why is it important to consider ethical issues in social science?
Because social science is closely connected with ethics, the study of what is 'good' and 'bad' in the moral sense.
What is the significance of the history of social science in relation to ethical issues?
A great deal of the history of social science has been concerned with ethical issues.
What is the primary task of an individual during the period of economic dependence?
To acquire knowledge and habits that will fit him for independent functioning and integrate him into society.
What is the term used to describe the process by which an individual is molded into a participating member of a culture?
Enculturation
What is meant by 'multiculturality' in the context of enculturation?
The existence of many human cultures, and individuals are enculturated into a specific culture rather than a general 'family of man'.
What is an example of how cultural plasticity is demonstrated in the human species?
A German family moving to the United States and becoming more American than German in their cultural characteristics within a generation or two.
What is the primary function of institutions such as families, churches, and schools during the period of dependence?
To train the young in economic skills and inculcate mores, customs, world-views, and values.
Why is the period of dependence not only focused on economic skills but also on cultural values and norms?
Because the period of dependence is employed not only to train the young in economic skills but also to inculcate mores, customs, world-views, and values.
What is the significance of 'imperfect enculturation' in the context of socialization?
It refers to the fact that individuals are not perfectly socialized into a culture and may retain some of their original cultural characteristics.
What is the role of social scientists in studying the institutions that function during the period of dependence?
To study and analyze the institutions that function in this process, such as families, churches, and schools.
Study Notes
Social Sciences and Social Organization
- Social sciences study the interactions among people, including cooperation and conflict, to achieve collective objectives.
- The system of social organization may be deficient in certain respects, making it difficult for people to cooperate effectively.
- Social sciences also focus on dysfunctional behavior, such as crime and war, and malfunctional phenomena, like unemployment and pollution.
Ethics and Philosophy of Social Science
- Social sciences are closely connected with ethics, the study of what is good and bad in a moral sense.
- A great deal of social science history has been concerned with ethical issues.
- The philosophy of social science focuses on how we know whether our notions or theories about empirical phenomena are true or false.
Human Societies and Enculturation
- Humans are not the only animals that form societies.
- Economic dependence may last until the age of thirty or longer, during which the individual acquires knowledge and habits to fit into society.
- Institutions like families, churches, and schools play a major role in this process.
- Enculturation is the process by which the individual is molded into a participating member of a continuing culture.
- Two important points to note about enculturation are multiculturality and imperfect enculturation.
Multiculturality and Imperfect Enculturation
- Multiculturality refers to the fact that there are many human cultures, and individuals are enculturated into restricted groups.
- Cultural plasticity is notable, as people can adapt to new cultures.
- Multiculturality creates artistic and intellectual richness, but also leads to conflict and animosity.
- Imperfect enculturation refers to the fact that most societies are not able to mold the young into complete adoption of traditional values and beliefs.
- Deviation from traditional values can be both dysfunctional and constructive, leading to cultural change.
Loyalty and Complex Societies
- The imperfection of enculturation raises the issue of loyalty, as humans are members of many social groups with conflicting claims.
- Loyalty is a complex issue in human societies, unlike in ants, which are members of only one social group.
This quiz explores the complexities of social organization, including conflicts and deficiencies that hinder cooperation and collective goals.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
