Every culture attempts to create a "universe of discourse" for its members, a way in which
In The Open and Closed Mind, Milton Rokeach poses the problem of cultural understanding in its simplest form, but one that can readily demonstrate the complication of communication between cultures. It is called the "Denny Doodlebyg Problem." Readers are given all the rules that govern this culture: Denny is an animal that always faces North, and can move only by jumping; he can jump large distances or small distances, but can change direction only after jumping four times I any direction; he can jump North, South, East or West, but not diagonally. Upon concluding a jump his master places some food three feet directly West of him. Surveying the situation, Denny concludes he must jump four times to reach the food. No more or less. And he is right. All the reader has to do is to explain the circumstances that make his conclusion correct.
The large majority of people who attempt this problem fail to solve it, despite the fact that they are given all the rules that control behavior. in this culture. If there is difficulty in getting inside the simplistic world of Denny Doodlebug—where the cultural code has already been broken and handed to us—imagine the complexity of comprehending behavior. in societies whose codes have to yet been deciphered. And where even those who obey these Codes are only vaguely aware and can rarely describe the underlying sources of their own actions.
We acquire the greater part of our cultural codes by ______.
A.creating a universe of discourse
B.imitating the behavior. of others, especially those of the previous generation
C.sharing the same experiences with other people
D.taking in the various information we're given with no discrimination