Chapter 7—Culture and Identity: Situating the Individual
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Identity is ____.
a.
abstract
b.
unidimensional
c.
dynamic
d.
A and C
e.
A, B, and C
2. Identity has been defined as:
a.
a person’s self-definition as a separate and distinct individual, included behaviors,
attitudes, and beliefs
b.
the concept of who we are
c.
in-group and out-group communication
d.
A and B
e.
A, B, and C
3. Perceptions of self that set you apart from other people and life-forms are ____.
a.
human identities
b.
societal identities
c.
personal identities
d.
identities of separation
e.
identities of conformation
4. Social identities can be based on all of the following except:
a.
demographic categories
b.
roles
c.
membership in formal and informal organization
d.
associations or vocations
e.
A, B, C, and D
5. Ethnic identity is derived from a sense of shared:
a.
biological ancestry
b.
physical characteristics
c.
history and traditions
d.
A and B
e.
B and C
6. An example of regional identity would be a/n:
a.
Italian
b.
Southerner
c.
American
d.
Columbian
e.
German
7. Which of the following is not a type of identity discussed in the text?
a.
organizational
b.
personal
c.
neurobiological
d.
cyber
e.
fantasy
8. How is identity shaped online?
a.
the username you choose
b.
the details you disclose about yourself
c.
the images you share
d.
B and C
e.
A, B, and C
9. Phinney’s three stage model of identity acquisition includes:
a.
unexamined ethnic identity, ethnic identity search, ethnic achievement
b.
biological inheritance, ethnic identification, ethnic presentation
c.
ethnic identification, ethnic clarification, ethnic emancipation
d.
unexamined ethnic identity, examined ethnic identity, insulated ethnic identity
e.
biological inheritance, unexamined ethnic identity, examined ethnic identity
10. Martin and Nakayama present this model of cultural identity development:
a.
minority development
b.
majority development
c.
biracial
d.
A and B
e.
A, B, and C
11. The process of creating and recreating cultural identity through communication is referred to as ____.
a.
conditioning
b.
embedding
c.
redacting
d.
enacting
e.
morphing
12. What is the term used to describe ‘a cognitive structure containing the perceiver’s knowledge, beliefs,
and expectancies about some human social groups?
a.
bigotry
b.
stereotyping
c.
prejudice
d.
schematization
e.
embedding
13. Why are stereotypes pervasive?
a.
human nature is evil
b.
natural selection
c.
the world is simply too complex and dynamic to comprehend in detail
d.
lack of comingled cultures
e.
C and D
14. Children learn stereotypes through ____.
a.
peers
b.
family
c.
mass media
d.
A and B
e.
A, B, and C
15. Which of the following is not a reason that stereotypes are problematic for intercultural
communication?
a.
stereotypes provide a framework for understanding another culture
b.
stereotypes act as a filter
c.
stereotypes are resistant to change
d.
A and B
e.
B and C
16. The two most important aspects of flexible stereotyping are:
a.
being open to new information and evidence and being aware of your own zone of comfort
b.
identifying similarities and being open to applying stereotypes to different groups
c.
seeking ways to make new information fit preexisting attitudes and an objective
orientation
d.
objectivity and exclusivity
e.
adaptive intensity and flexhumility
17. A rigid, irrational generalization about a category of people is also referred to as ____.
a.
stereotyping
b.
prejudice
c.
bigotry
d.
racism
e.
ethnocentrism
18. Prejudice serves all of the following functions except:
a.
value expressive
b.
ego-defensive
c.
knowledge
d.
ethnic centering
e.
utilitarian
19. When prejudicial attitudes provide some benefit to the person that holds them, what functions do they
serve?
a.
ego-defensive
b.
reward
c.
utilitarian
d.
value-expressive
e.
knowledge
20. Prejudicial attitudes like “I didn’t get the promotion because they needed to meet an affirmative action
quota” reflect what function of prejudice?
a.
value-expressive
b.
utilitarian
c.
ego-defensive
d.
knowledge
e.
reward
21. The strongest level of expressed prejudice is ____.
a.
physical attacks
b.
avoidance
c.
discrimination
d.
antilocution
e.
extermination
22. When a particular group of people are singled out to bear the blame for certain events or
circumstances, this type of prejudice is caused by:
a.
scapegoating
b.
societal sources
c.
maintaining social identity
d.
reinforcing cultural identity
e.
C and D
23. Which of the following is not true about racism?
a.
racism is only a problem in the U.S.
b.
racism is on the rise throughout the world
c.
racism is driven by culture and economics
d.
racism is driven by psychology and history
e.
racism has been present throughout history
24. The notion that one’s culture is superior to any other is known as:
a.
egocentric
b.
ethnocentrism
c.
supracentrism
d.
Hellenism
e.
transnationalism
25. What are the levels of ethnocentrism?
a.
low, moderate, high
b.
negative, positive, extremely positive
c.
extremely negative, negative, positive
d.
negative, extremely negative
e.
focused, diffused
26. Ethnocentrism:
a.
Western countries are the most ethnocentric
b.
Middle Eastern countries are the most ethnocentric
c.
Scandinavian countries are the most ethnocentric
d.
Asian countries are the most ethnocentric
e.
is common regardless of nationality or geographic location
TRUE/FALSE
1. Identity is important to the study of intercultural communication because it influences expectations
about your own and others’ social roles.
2. Societal identity is ‘one’s sense of belonging to a particular cultural or ethnic group.
3. Personal identity is what sets you apart from other out-group members and marks you as special or
unique.
4. According to Hall, the three levels of identity that each individual has are personal, relational, and
communal.
5. Racial and ethnic identity are the same thing.
6. One can have both a national and regional identity at the same time.
7. If you work for General Motors and you think of yourself as a “GM man” or “GM woman,” this
reflects your organizational identity.
8. Cyber and fantasy identities don’t exist.
9. Identity development models are not necessarily universally applied to all groups.
10. It is through communication that we are able to express and make known our similarities and
dissimilarities to others.
11. Identity is normally not associated with commemorative events.
12. Stereotypes are an affliction only of the uneducated and unintelligent.
13. Stereotypes are learned, not innate.
14. Stereotypes are resistant to change and once formed, tend to be reinforced rather than reduced through
direct contact with the target group.
15. Flexible stereotyping is less problematic than inflexible stereotyping.
16. Prejudice amounts to a rational generalization about a category of people.
17. Prejudice serves no function.
18. A great deal of prejudice is built into the major organizations and institutions of a society.
19. Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of a particular race.
20. Ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice, and racism are all linked to a “narrow lens.”
21. To function effectively, a society does not need to have any ethnic pride and loyalty to its unique
cultural traditions.
22. Regardless of culture, everyone is ethnocentric to some degree.
ESSAY
1. Explain and provide an example of each of the following types of identity: personal, relational, and
communal.
2. Compare and contrast ethnic and racial identity.
3. Explain the difference between national identity and regional identity using examples.
4. How does personal identity relate to cyber/fantasy identity? Be sure to define both terms.
5. Using Phinney’s model, explain how someone might develop a cultural identity.
6. Using Martin and Nakayama’s models for minority development, majority development, and biracial
development, compare and contrast how cultural identity acquisition works in each case.
7. List and describe at least two ways in which cultural identity can be enacted. Give a personal example
for each.
8. What is the role of identity in intercultural communication and how has it been impacted by
globalization?
9. What are stereotypes and how do people acquire them?
10. Explain why stereotypes interfere with intercultural communication. How can we avoid stereotyping?
11. Define prejudice and provide an example.
12. Explain the four functions that prejudice may serve and give an example for each one.
13. Explain the concepts of societal sources, maintaining social identity, and scapegoating as they relate to
prejudice.
14. What is the difference between prejudice and racism? Define each and explain.
15. What recommendations were made to avoid prejudice and racism? How are they similar?
16. What is ethnocentrism? What impact does it have on intercultural communication?
17. Discuss each of the three characteristics of ethnocentrism described in the text. Be sure to include the
concepts of levels, universality, and contributions to cultural identity.
18. What recommendations did the authors offer readers to help them avoid ethnocentric tendencies?