Chapter 5: Symbol, Myth, and Meaning

Question 1

culture

Question 2

epistemology

Question 3

ethnology

Question 4

habitus

Question 5

mana

Question 6

paradigm

Question 7

sociocentric theory

Question 8

Summarize the various definitions of culture referenced in this chapter.

Question 9

Temple Grandin once said that she feels like an “anthropologist on Mars.” Explain how autism spectrum disorder might lead her to use this metaphor.

Question 10

What did Mauss mean by the terms bodily techniques and habitus? Use examples from the text and from your own culture to illustrate these terms.

Question 11

Explain how etiquette and the concept of “the gift” are related to Mauss’s concept of habitus, using examples from the text.

Question 12

Outline Benedict’s perspective on cultural patterns and explain why she believed so-called primitive societies were central to understanding cultural patterns.

Question 13

Explain how our understanding of language can be used to understand culture as a system of meaning.

Question 14

Summarize Evans-Pritchard’s findings on Zande witchcraft and oracles. Explain how this worldview is considered sociocentric.

Question 15

Outline Durkheim’s study of religious practice. Why did he focus on religious practice rather than belief? What is meant by the term mana?

Question 16

How did Luhrmann’s study of American Evangelicals differ from other anthropological studies of religion? Compare and contrast her methods and findings with those of Evans-Pritchard and Durkheim.