BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies BSGS Social and Cultural Studies 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which term refers to the unwritten rules and expectations that govern everyday social behavior?
- Laws
- Norms (Correct answer)
- Values
- Mores
Correct answer: Norms
Norms are the informal, unwritten rules and expectations shared by members of a society that guide behavior in social situations.
Question 2: The 'contact hypothesis,' proposed by Gordon Allport, suggests that prejudice between groups can be reduced when:
- Groups are kept separate to avoid conflict
- Groups with equal status interact cooperatively toward shared goals (Correct answer)
- Economic incentives are provided for positive interactions
- One group adopts the values of another group
Correct answer: Groups with equal status interact cooperatively toward shared goals
Allport's contact hypothesis proposes that prejudice decreases when members of different groups interact under conditions of equal status, common goals, and institutional support.
Question 3: Which sociological concept refers to the feeling of normlessness or disconnection from society's values, often linked to rapid social change?
- Alienation
- Anomie (Correct answer)
- Marginalization
- Social exclusion
Correct answer: Anomie
Anomie, a concept developed by Émile Durkheim, describes a condition where social norms are weak or unclear, leading to feelings of purposelessness.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'globalization' in a cultural context?
- The dominance of Western economies over developing nations
- The increased interconnection and exchange of cultural practices, ideas, and values worldwide (Correct answer)
- The homogenization of all world cultures into a single global culture
- The spread of democratic governments across the globe
Correct answer: The increased interconnection and exchange of cultural practices, ideas, and values worldwide
Cultural globalization refers to the intensification of worldwide cultural exchange and interaction facilitated by communication technologies and global trade.
Question 5: The concept of 'cultural hegemony,' developed by Antonio Gramsci, describes:
- Military domination of one culture over another
- The dominance of one group's worldview through social institutions without overt coercion (Correct answer)
- The biological superiority of certain cultural groups
- Economic control of cultural production by corporations
Correct answer: The dominance of one group's worldview through social institutions without overt coercion
Cultural hegemony refers to the way dominant groups maintain power by making their values and worldview seem natural and universal through institutions like media, education, and religion.
Question 6: Which term describes the process by which a minority group gradually adopts the culture of the dominant group while maintaining some aspects of its original culture?
- Assimilation
- Acculturation (Correct answer)
- Amalgamation
- Segregation
Correct answer: Acculturation
Acculturation involves cultural and psychological change that occurs when two cultures come into contact, with one group adopting elements of another while retaining its own identity.
Question 7: In gender studies, which concept refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes considered appropriate for men and women?
- Sex
- Gender (Correct answer)
- Sexuality
- Biological determinism
Correct answer: Gender
Gender refers to the social and cultural roles and expectations assigned to individuals based on their perceived sex, as distinct from biological sex itself.
BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies BSGS Social and Cultural Studies 4
Which term refers to the unwritten rules and expectations that govern everyday social behavior?