Reference no: EM133476507

Problem 1: Can you think of other examples where a holistic approach might be helpful in understanding a social issue or problem?

Problem 2: How does one explain the differing characteristics of human groups?

Problem 3: Describe a cultural practice in the US whose understanding can be enhanced by studying it in another culture. In other words, using a specific example of cultural practice, describe the advantages of a cross-cultural perspective.

Problem 4: Describe two common attributes of American culture.

Problem 5: Which one, direct or indirect constraints do you think are more effective?

Problem 6: Which version of cultural relativism do you find more acceptable, and why?

Problem 7: Can you think of a custom in American culture that used to be adaptive, but is now maladaptive?

Problem 8: Drawing on the textbook, provide an example of each of the above three mechanisms of cultural change by diffusion.

Problem 9: Is globalization homogenizing the world? That is, are we losing cultural diversity around the world, resulting in the emergence of similar cultural trends everywhere (monoculture)?

Problem 10: The previous slide describes an example of cross-cultural research. Describe the relationship between dietary protein and post-partum sex taboo? The taboo is taken from p.88 of the textbook.

Problem 11: What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of the ethnographic approach to studying culture?

Problem 12: How should ethics be incorporated into anthropological research?

Problem 13: Describe the gender division of labor (differences between the tasks performed by men and women) in the Kung society.

Problem 14: Why do the Tsimane have much better heart health than people in the West?

Problem 15: Summarize the evidence that Diamond uses to term agriculture the "worst mistake...?"

Problem 16: How do the Makranto Kayapo differ from the Kung people of the Kalahari? Will they have higher or lower levels of inequality than the Kung?

Problem 17: What are the ecological benefits of terracing in mountainous areas? In other words, why do farmers in mountainous invest so much time and energy in building and maintaining terraces for agriculture?

Problem 18. Describe the explanations provided by Barth and Dowling (p. 155) for the existence of private ownership of animals among pastoralists.

Problem 19: How did colonialism effect the indigenous people and the land that they lived on?

Problem 20: On p. 156 (or p. 151 in 15th ed) of the textbook, there is a discussion of the question "Does communal ownership lead to economic disaster?" What do you conclude from the discussion?

Problem 21: Which among the reasons provided above best explains why people in our society often work more than what is strictly needed to survive?

Problem 22: Read the attached article on gift giving. What purposes does giving and receiving of gifts by relatives (say around Christmas) serve in our society?

Problem 23: What kind of redistributive mechanisms exist in our society to decrease social and economic inequality?

Problem 24: Please read the attached article on "turtle collapse." How did the commercial demand for turtles (their emergence as a "cash crop" destroy the Miskito culture?

Problem 25: Can you think of examples of occupations in contemporary US that have either prestige or power associated with them, but not both?

Problem 26: We often think of the American society as being open to social mobility. The idea of the American Dream is that anyone can achieve anything if they are willing to work hard. Do you think this ideal still applies to American society? Or is it an outdated idea?

Problem 27: What factors drove the emergence of stratification around 8000 years ago?

Problem 28: Why do people in traditional, non-Western societies often do poorly on tests of intelligence?

Problem 29: The textbook has several examples of cultures in which several stages of Piaget's schema are found to be lacking. Which cultures are these, and what could be the reasons for this seeming anomaly?

Problem 30: Which parents (e.g. social class, ethnicity) in the US would likely encourage their children to be obedient and deferential to authority and authority figures?

Problem 31: You may have heard or read about a recent controversy involving a mother who breastfed her baby in public. Breastfeeding in public is considered a normal and acceptable practice In Europe, but in the US many consider it to be unacceptable. Why does the mainstream American culture disapprove of breastfeeding in public space?

Problem 32: In your view, are gender differences in aggression hardwired ("nature," in other words), or a result of socialization ("nurture")?

Problem 33: Why have our notions of childhood and perspective towards children and their upbringing changed in the last century, especially in the West, but also more generally (e.g. near-universal ban on child labor and child marriage)

Question 34: How does this article("Schizophrenia_Ireland") add to the conventional understanding of mental disorders?

Problem 35: What do you think about the "compatibility-with-childcare" theory to explain gender division of labor today? Is it still important or has it ceased to be a factor because of how men and women increasingly do similar work and are found in all professions?

Problem 36: What do you think about the decision of the Marine Corps to admit women for combat roles? Do you think men and women applicants should undergo the same tests of physical fitness for admission? Will having lower standards for women applicants effect the quality of recruits?