Unit 3 of 5
Study guide for DSST DSST General Anthropology — Unit 3: Cultural Anthropology. Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.
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Dr. Rodriguez, a cultural anthropologist, is studying the marriage customs of a small village in Africa. She notices that the villagers practice polygamy, which is unacceptable in her own culture. However, instead of judging the villagers, Dr. Rodriguez tries to understand the historical and social context that led to the development of this practice. Which of the following best describes Dr. Rodriguez's approach?
Answer: C — Dr. Rodriguez's approach is an example of cultural relativism, which involves trying to understand a culture on its own terms, without judging it by the standards of another culture. This approach allows anthropologists to gain a more nuanced understanding of the cultural practices they are studying. The other options are incorrect because ethnocentrism involves judging another culture by the standards of one's own culture, cultural imperialism involves trying to impose one's own culture on another, and moral relativism involves ignoring the moral implications of a cultural practice
Dr. Rodriguez, a cultural anthropologist, is studying the marriage customs of a small village in Africa. She notices that the villagers practice polygamy, which is uncommon in her own culture. However, instead of judging the practice as wrong, Dr. Rodriguez tries to understand the cultural context and significance of polygamy in the village. Which of the following best describes Dr. Rodriguez's approach?
Answer: D — Dr. Rodriguez's approach is an example of cultural relativism, because she is trying to understand the practice of polygamy within its own cultural context, without judging it based on her own cultural norms. Ethnocentrism (A) would involve judging the villagers' customs as wrong based on her own cultural norms. Cultural imperialism (B) would involve trying to change the villagers' customs to match her own. Armchair anthropology (C) would involve studying the culture from a distance, without direct observation or participation.
Dr. Rodriguez, a cultural anthropologist, is studying the marriage practices of a small village in Africa. She notices that the villagers practice polygamy, which is uncommon in her own culture. However, instead of judging the practice as wrong, Dr. Rodriguez tries to understand the historical and social context that led to the development of this practice. She recognizes that the villagers' perspective on marriage is shaped by their unique cultural values and beliefs. Which of the following best describes Dr. Rodriguez's approach to studying the villagers' marriage practices?
Answer: A — Dr. Rodriguez's approach is an example of cultural relativism, which involves understanding a culture on its own terms, without judging it by the standards of another culture. This approach allows anthropologists to gain a more nuanced understanding of the cultural practices they are studying. In contrast, ethnocentrism (B) involves judging another culture by the standards of one's own culture, diffusionism (C) refers to the spread of cultural traits from one culture to another, and structural functionalism (D) is a theoretical approach that examines how social institutions function to maintain social order.
Dr. Rodriguez, a cultural anthropologist, is studying the marriage customs of a small village in Africa. She notices that the villagers practice polygamy, which is uncommon in her own culture. If Dr. Rodriguez is applying the principle of cultural relativism, she would most likely do which of the following?
Answer: B — Cultural relativism is the principle of understanding a culture on its own terms, rather than judging it by the standards of one's own culture. Therefore, Dr. Rodriguez would attempt to understand the practice of polygamy within the context of the village culture. Options A and C are incorrect because they involve judging or changing the villagers' customs based on Dr. Rodriguez's own cultural biases. Option D is incorrect because it involves making an assumption about the universality of a cultural practice without considering the specific cultural context.
Dr. Rodriguez, a cultural anthropologist, is studying the practices of a small village in a remote region. She observes that the villagers have a unique ritual where they offer food to their ancestors as a sign of respect. Dr. Rodriguez is surprised by this practice, but she makes a conscious effort to understand its significance within the context of the village's culture. Which of the following best describes Dr. Rodriguez's approach?
Answer: C — Dr. Rodriguez's approach is an example of cultural relativism because she is trying to understand the village's practice from their own perspective, without judging it based on her own cultural standards. This approach allows her to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and its practices. The other options are incorrect because ethnocentrism involves judging another culture based on one's own standards, cultural imperialism involves imposing one's own culture on another, and diffusionism involves studying the spread of cultural practices between groups.
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