chapter 3

Question 1

what is culture?

Answer 1

culture is our way of life consisting of a long list involving food, traditional, beliefs, norms, etc…

Question 2

Ethnocentrism vs cultural relativism

Answer 2

Ethnocentrism: when you think your own culture is better than others and judge other people’s way of life based on your own beliefs.

Cultural relativism: when you try to understand other cultures without judging them, even if they’re different from what you’re used to.

Question 3

define ethnocentrism

Answer 3

judging other cultures based on one’s own cultural standards.

ex: A traveler from the U.S. visits an Asian country and criticizes locals for eating with chopsticks instead of a fork and knife, believing Western utensils are superior.

Question 4

define cultural relativism

Answer 4

understanding and evaluating cultures based on their own values and context.

ex: A researcher studying marriage customs in different societies observes polygamy in some cultures without judging it as “wrong” but instead seeks to understand its cultural significance.

Question 5

multiculturalism in quebec in regard to Bill 21

Answer 5

Bill 21 is a law in Quebec that bans public employees in positions of authority, like teachers, police officers, and lawyers, from wearing religious symbols at work. This includes items like the hijab (Muslim headscarf), kipa (Jewish skullcap), dastaar (Sikh turban), and crosses.

The government says the law is meant to keep public institutions secular (separate from religion) and preserve Quebec’s cultural identity. However, it has been controversial because some argue it unfairly targets religious minorities.

Question 6

the elements of culture: popular culture

Answer 6

popular culture or mass culture is consumed by many people in all social classes.
ex: movies, music, etc)

Question 7

elements of culture: high culture

Answer 7

high culture: tends to be consumed by people in upper classes since it requires a certain type of education and training that needs time and money to achieve.

Question 8

dominant group:

Answer 8

helps the rich and powerful category of people exercise their control over others.

Question 9

subordinte

Answer 9

dominant culture is what most people follow, and high culture is often seen as more exclusive or prestigious.

Question 10

“hard work and smart choices alone lead to wealth”

Answer 10

a belief in dominant culture since it justifies the success of wealth, suggesting they are rich because of their own efforts ignoring the fact they may be wealthy from money they inherited from their parents.

Question 11

the origins of culture (3 elements)

Answer 11

Abstraction – Humans can create general concepts to organize experiences
ex: like recognizing different types of seating.

Cooperation – Social life is built on norms and values, ex: families working together to raise children.

Production –
i) Material culture: Humans create and use tools and technology.
ii) Social organization: Unlike animals that instinctively organize, humans rely on cultural rules to structure society.

Question 12

what are the four types of norms:

Answer 12

1. folkways
2. Mores
3. Taboos
4. Laws

Question 13

Folkways

Answer 13

norms that specify social prefences.

ex: if a man walks down a busy street wearing nothing on the top half of his body, he violates folkways.

Question 14

mores

Answer 14

norms that specify social requirements.

ex: If a man walks down the street wearing nothing on this bottom half, he violates mores.

Question 15

taboos

Answer 15

strongest and most central norms.
when this is violated, it causes a revulsion in the community and punishment is severe. ex: incest

Question 16

laws

Answer 16

codes that enforces what is right or wrong.

Question 17

what is the sociological perspective on culture and biology:

Answer 17

• human behaviour is largely shaped by culture such as abstraction, cooperation, and production)
• culture influences how we live, interact, and solve problems.

Question 18

what is the minority view on culture and biology

Answer 18

• argues that genes play a role in shaping human behaviour and social practices.
• they carry traits from parents to child.
• argues that culture has nothing to do with behaviour.

Question 19

what are the three steps evolutionary psychologists use to explain human behaviour?

Answer 19

1. identify a universal trait - men seek multiple partners then women.
2. explain evolutionary advantage - men reproduce efficiently while women seek stable mates for child-rearing
3. claim inflexible of behaviour - these behaviours are unchangeable.

Question 20

what does the sapir-whord thesis argue

Answer 20

language shapes how we think and perceive the world

Question 21

how does language influence gender perceptions?

Answer 21

words like bitch and babe objectify woman and reinforce sexism.

Question 22

what is happening to the indigenous languages in canada?

Answer 22

34.8% of the world’s languages are endangered
all 70+ indigenous languages in canada are endangered due to government policies.

Question 23

what are two perspectives on immigration in canada?

Answer 23

1. low-income, less educated canadians view immigration as dysfunctional as it risks job competition and cultural weakening.
2. high-income well-educated anadians view immigration as functional as it fills job shortages and support social systems.

Question 24

what are the positive aspects of culture

Answer 24

1. Diversity → Canada is one of the most ethnically diverse countries.
2. Multiculturalism → Promotes inclusion and equal participation in society.
3. Globalization → Increased cultural exchange and economic interdependence.
4. Postmodernism → Blending of cultural traditions (e.g., astrology + tarot).

Question 25

How does culture act as a constraint?

Answer 25

✅ - Rationalization → Prioritizing efficiency over well-being. ex: in many societies, there's a strong emphasis on getting things done quickly (work deadlines, fast food, etc.), which can lead to stress and neglect of personal health or happiness. ✅ - Consumerism → Defining identity by what we buy. ex: people often define their worth or identity based on material possessions. This can limit personal freedom, as individuals may feel pressured to buy certain items to "fit in" or meet societal expectations, leading to a constant cycle of consumption. ✅ - Cultural Capital → Privileged knowledge reinforces social inequality. ex: knowledge, skills, and cultural competencies that are valued by society (e.g., education, language, manners).

Question 26

How did clocks change work habits?

Answer 26

700 years ago, factory owners introduced clocks to control workers, reducing their flexibility.

Question 27

How does time pressure affect modern life?

Answer 27

✅ - Pros: Helps with organization and punctuality. ✅ - Cons: Increases stress, reduces relaxation time, and weakens social connections.

Question 28

How does consumerism influence identity?

Answer 28

✅ People judge others based on brands and possessions (e.g., designer labels).

Question 29

What role do advertisements play in consumerism?

Answer 29

Ads manipulate people into buying things they don’t need, often by associating products with celebrities.

Question 30

How do smartphones and social media impact mental health?

Answer 30

✅ - Shortens attention spans. ✅ - Increases anxiety and depression. ✅ - Reduces face-to-face bonding (e.g., mothers using phones while breastfeeding).