In her research, Juanita is examining behaviors characteristic of all human societies. What is this area of study called?

The area of study that focuses on behaviors characteristic of all human societies is known as cultural universals. This concept refers to the elements, patterns, traits, or institutions that are common to all human cultures that provide insight into the shared aspects of human experience and social life. Examples include family structures, language, and religious practices, which exist in some form across diverse cultures.

Understanding cultural universals is crucial in sociology because it highlights the similarities and connections between different societies while acknowledging their unique features. It enables researchers like Juanita to identify what is fundamentally human about varying cultures, fostering a deeper comprehension of social behavior and social organization worldwide.

While cultural relativity examines how cultural practices must be understood in their own context, cultural specificity focuses on the unique expressions of a specific culture. Cultural diversity emphasizes the variety of cultural practices and ideas that exist within and between societies. These concepts are relevant, but they do not specifically address the overarching patterns and behaviors that unite all human societies as cultural universals does.