Nature vs. Nurture (Ch. 2)

Question 1

biological determinism

Answer 1

• belief that human behaviour is biological - we’re “born that way” and will never change” - distal power - take onus off society -> it’s not the problem, the person is

Question 2

eugenics

Answer 2

• aimed to prevent social problems through control of procreation - example of biological determinism and distal power

Question 3

racial profiling

Answer 3

• race used as common sense explanation for criminality (ie. black men = criminals) - its cultural aspects are still commodified and marketed as cool to white population (ie. rappers)

Question 4

Social Darwinism

Answer 4

• goes along w/biological determinism - explained social inequality by saying that rich/powerful people were the most “fit”/meant to succeed -> inequality is just carrying out laws of nature

Question 5

ethnographics

Answer 5

anthropologist’s observation of human social organization and culture

Question 6

instincts

Answer 6

• inborn power of behaviour embedded in genetic code, exist in every member of species, and can’t be overcome by will (ie. maternal instinct) - little evidence that instincts control behaviour

Question 7

reflexes

Answer 7

responses to specific stimuli (ie. knee-jerk)

Question 8

genetics

Answer 8

• early biological determinists assumed genetics were responsible for behaviour - however, genetics alone don’t automatically determine behaviour -> combo of nature and nurture

Question 9

evolution

Answer 9

• not process of moving from worse to better -> process of being well-adapted, surviving, and producing offspring - humans successfully evolved due to bipedalism and encephalization, as well as social division of labour

Question 10

symbols

Answer 10

• physical, vocal, or guestural signs with meaning attached to them (this form of communication aided our evolution) - passed knowledge down to next generation

Question 11

incest taboo

Answer 11

forbids having sex with family members

Question 12

social constructions

Answer 12

things that are made up by society

Question 13

how does conformity aid survival?

Answer 13

Humans must adapt/conform to culture they’re in, otherwise they won’t survive

Question 14

Common sense is…

Answer 14

internalized culture

Question 15

What keeps humans in line?

Answer 15

fear of social isolation and fear of violating social compass (not really fear of punishment, as one would usually assume)

Question 16

materal

Answer 16

something exists, then we think about it

Question 17

material infrastructure

Answer 17

how people get their needs met leads to development of cultural values