Modul 5 — Biological Determinism and the Eugenics

Question 1

What is an instinct?

Answer 1

Something we are born knowing how to do but which is not a reflect (a physiological response to a stimulus — like suckling, sleeping, eating, or excreting). Sex, survival, and mothering are not really instinctual if we can overcome them, are they?

Question 2

What is Darwinism?

Answer 2

The theory of the evolution of species by natural selection advanced by Charles Darwin.

Question 3

What is natural selection?

Answer 3

The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring

Question 4

What is “survival of the fittest?

Answer 4

the continued existence of organisms which are best able to adapt and evolve genetically and biologically to their changing environment (with the extinction of others).

Question 5

What are the different components of The Human Package?

Answer 5

(1) Bipedalism and Toolmaking
(2) Meat Eating
(3) Language (symbols)
(4) Large & Complex Brain
(5) Control of Sexuality
(6) Sociability

Question 6

What does adaptability mean for human evolution?

Answer 6

The fittest does not mean the most ferocious but the most adaptable. For a variety of reasons (including their large brain and tool making ability) they are able to live in the widest possible range of environments, even those inhospitable to most life.

Question 7

What is biological determinism?

Answer 7

Social inequality can be attributed to genetic and biological differences. Attributed success to hard work and intelligence rather than luck, connections, or other privilege. Way of explaining the world that justifies why some monopolize power and have access to resources while others did not; legitimizes eugenics.

Question 8

What are the different terms used to refer to biological determinism?

Answer 8

Social Darwinism / Sociobiology

Question 9

What did Freud mean when he claimed “anatomy is destiny”?

Answer 9

That everything about you (social behaviour, success, social class, job, and status) are predetermined by ones’ genetics and biology.

Question 10

How is biological determinism different from Darwinism?

Answer 10

Natural Selection does not necessarily result in improvement, only difference that makes one more adaptable to one’s environment.

Question 11

What are the social consequences of biological determinism?

Answer 11

Various races were decided to have various characteristics/qualities based on size of skull, genitals, etc. Women determined inferior due to physical differences that were the cause of mental illness and innate inferiority. ..self-fulfilling prophecy that if you deny someone education their knowledge/wisdom will be restricted. As an order theory it represents the interests of the elites in society (white, male, cisgendered, straight).

Question 12

How is biological determinism still used today?

Answer 12

Minorities attempt to alter appearance to appear more white; skin lightening, hair straightening, plastic surgery, beauty myths, racialized behaviour, appearance, and position in society.

Question 13

What is eugenics?

Answer 13

Policy and practice that reinforces Biological Determinism. Social movement implemented through Europe and North America.

Question 14

What is selective mating?

Answer 14

(1) encouraging those deemed superior to procreate and
(2) discouragement of inferiors from reproducing through various means (including punishment).

Question 15

How was eugenics used as a policy and practice in the past?

Answer 15

Lombroso and Spencer developed methods for determining who was a criminal based on physical measurements and characteristics… Other characteristics determined by measurements of hair, genitalia, etc. for minorities such as Blacks, Jews, Asians, etc. in order to justify policies of discrimination and subjugation. Forced sterilization of those considered inferior.

Question 16

How did the state participate in eugenics policies and practices?

Answer 16

Sought to discourage reproduction by ‘lessers’ and to limit immigration by undesirable or inferior groups: Southern/Eastern Europeans, Asians, South Asians, Blacks, Jews, and Arabs. Also tried to encourage wealthy, European families to have more children. Enlisted Doctors/nurses to deny contraception/birth control to upper/middle class

Question 17

How is eugenics practiced today?

Answer 17

Human Genome Project, Medical/Genetic Screening aka. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Selective mating, blood quantum (Indigenous issues), beauty myths, plastic surgery, Norplant (legally enforced birth-control)

Question 18

Meat Eating

Answer 18

highly social activity; required collectivity and reinforced cooperation between individuals for hunting; meat was celebrated and shared among members because it was scarce.

Question 19

systems of symbolization

Answer 19

for meat-eating to be possible, the development of communication (written, verbal and body signs) was necessary; led to communication of developing a shared set of rules and structures for society

Question 20

Universal Sex Customs

Answer 20

1) Sex is generally practiced in private 2) Incest taboo (forbids sex between kin since clearly helped families remain stable)

Question 21

Sociability

Answer 21

humans are social beings who rely on each other to share food, resources, knowledge, take care of each other. etc; facilitated human survival and ability to adapt to changing environments.

Question 22

Social Darwinism

Answer 22

(Spencer/Lombroso); theory that there was nothing random, purposeless or unplanned about BD; theories justified Eurocentric views and superiority against everyone else in the world.

Question 23

biological determinism today

Answer 23

Subtle forms of BD continue to be used today; minorities tried to alter their physical features in order to change their race to gain access to greater resources; plastic surgery in Asian countries; eugenics

Question 24

Eugenics

Answer 24

(Francis Galton) study of factors that influence the hereditary qualities of the human race and ways to improve those qualities; reinforces BD ideology.

Question 25

collective conscience

Answer 25

Durkheim’s term for the shared fundamental beliefs and values of a group

Question 26

Theories

Answer 26

coherent worldviews that emerge to allow us to make sense of our world; even though we may believe a certain theory to be right, it may not be reflective of our society

Question 27

Booker T. Washington

Answer 27

Prominent black American; believed that Blacks should accept the proposal fueled by White leaders to agree to the current system of segregation, give up civil rights and in exchange, Blacks would receive basic and limited education with limited occupation