Introduction to Identity, Culture, and Society – Practice Flashcards

A collection of 30 question-and-answer flashcards covering identity, culture, social and political changes, and the three core social sciences (anthropology, sociology, political science) along with their subfields and key contributors.

What is the basic definition of "identity"?

The distinctive characteristics that define an individual or are shared by members of a particular group.

How can identity change over time?

Identity is continuously shaped by personal experiences and social contexts, so it can evolve throughout a person’s life.

Why is reflecting on one’s identity important?

It enables a person to appreciate what makes them different from others.

How are identities "relational and contextual"?

They are formed and understood in relation to other people and specific social settings.

What does the acronym LGBTQIA+ stand for?

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or Questioning), Intersex, and Asexual (or Aromantic/Agender).

Define "culture" in social science terms.

A society’s way of life that provides the basis for forging identities and guides views of what is considered the right way of doing things.

How does culture help people understand themselves?

It offers a lens through which individuals relate to others and evaluate appropriate behavior.

Which three broad categories of change were highlighted in the lecture?

Social, cultural, and political changes.

Give one example of a social change mentioned in the notes.

The rise of technology-driven practices such as online dating.

Give one example of a cultural change mentioned in the notes.

Migration, which alters cultural composition and practices.

Give one example of a political change mentioned in the notes.

The women’s suffrage movement that granted British women limited voting rights in 1918.

Who was Emmeline Pankhurst?

A British political activist and leader of the women’s suffrage movement who used militant tactics to win voting rights for women.

What is the general definition of "social science"?

A branch of science that studies identity, culture, society, and related phenomena.

What is anthropology?

The systematic study of the biological, cultural, and social aspects of humans.

How does anthropology approach its subject matter?

By integrating elements from biological sciences and the humanities to fully comprehend human complexity.

Name three famous anthropologists mentioned in the lecture.

Franz Boas, Edward Burnett Tylor, and Margaret Mead.

What does social anthropology focus on?

How social patterns, practices, and cultural variations develop among groups.

What is the focus of cultural anthropology?

Studying cultural variation across societies and understanding each culture on its own terms.

What does linguistic anthropology study?

Language and discourse and how they reflect and shape different aspects of society.

What is the focus of biological/physical anthropology?

The origins of humans and the interplay between social factors and human evolution.

What does archaeology study?

Prehistoric societies by examining their tools, environments, and material remains.

Provide a concise definition of sociology.

The discipline that deeply assesses individual and group behavior and social phenomena by examining economic, political, and social factors.

What core question does sociology seek to answer?

The bases of social order and how it is maintained or changed.

Name four key contributors to the field of sociology highlighted in the notes.

August Comte, Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber.

How did Andrew Heywood define political science?

"The activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live."

Which fundamental values are central to political science?

Equality, freedom, and justice.

Name three classic contributors to political science referenced in the lecture.

Plato, Aristotle, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

What does the specialization of public administration study?

How government functions and how decisions and policies are made and implemented.

What is the focus of political economy?

The interplay between economics, politics, and law and its effects on institutions.

What does comparative politics examine?

Domestic politics and governance systems across different sovereign states, comparing their similarities and differences.