MCAT® ExamPsychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of BehaviorMedium
A sociologist is studying a remote indigenous tribe that has maintained its traditional customs, language, and social structures with minimal external influence for centuries. The tribe's members share a strong collective identity, common values, and a deep respect for their ancestral heritage. This scenario most accurately describes a society characterized by:
- AEthnocentrism
- BGlobalization
- CCultural preservation
- DModernization
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Cultural preservation
Cultural preservation refers to the efforts to maintain and protect the traditions, customs, language, artifacts, and values of a particular culture or society. The tribe's actions of maintaining its traditional customs, language, and social structures clearly exemplify cultural preservation.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Ethnocentrism is judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one's own culture.
- B. Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of the world's economies, cultures, and populations.
- D. Modernization is the process of social change whereby societies acquire characteristics common to developed societies.
Cultural Preservation
The act of maintaining, protecting, and revitalizing the traditions, customs, language, artifacts, and values of a particular culture or society.
- Involves active efforts to prevent cultural loss
- Can include language revitalization, traditional arts, historical sites
- Aims to pass cultural heritage to future generations
- Often a response to external pressures or globalization
Memory trick: Preservation protects the past from fading fast.