Question

____________________ coined the term, ‘ethnocentrism’.

• A. A.R. Radcliffe-Brown
• B. Bronislaw Malinowski
• C. W.G. Sumner
• D. Harold Garfinkel

Hint:

Ethnocentrism = belief in superiority of one’s culture; coined by W.G. Sumner in 1906.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Definition of ethnocentrism.
Ethnocentrism refers to the tendency of individuals or groups to view their own culture as superior and to judge other cultures by the standards of their own.
Step 2: Origin of the term.
The American sociologist William Graham Sumner (W.G. Sumner) first coined the term ‘ethnocentrism’ in his 1906 book {Folkways}. He explained it as a universal human tendency leading to in-group loyalty and out-group hostility.
Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options.
- Radcliffe-Brown (A) contributed to structural functionalism, not ethnocentrism.
- Malinowski (B) emphasized functionalism and participant observation in anthropology.
- Garfinkel (D) is known for ethnomethodology, not ethnocentrism.
Thus, the correct answer is (C).