Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes a characteristic of sociofacts?

1. Material objects produced by a culture

2. The values and norms guiding a society

3. Institutions that influence cultural behavior

4. Physical traits of the environment

The correct answer is: Institutions that influence cultural behavior

A characteristic of sociofacts is that they encompass the institutions and structures within a society that shape and influence cultural behavior. This includes the ways in which societal relationships are organized and the social systems that govern interactions among individuals, such as family structures, educational systems, and political organizations. Sociofacts are essential for understanding how culture operates on a collective level and how social norms and practices are established and maintained. On the other hand, material objects produced by a culture pertain to artifacts, which are physical items that reflect a culture's practices and technologies. The values and norms guiding a society relate more closely to mentifacts, which involve the intellectual and ideological components of culture. Physical traits of the environment refer to the natural landscape and geography, which do not inherently reflect the socio-structural aspects of a society. Thus, sociofacts specifically address the institutional and relational dimensions that shape cultural behavior, making the choice about institutions the most accurate representation of what sociofacts entail.