Concerning Collapse, Archaeologist Joseph Tainter

question 28

Multiple Choice

Concerning collapse, archaeologist Joseph Tainter:

• A) prefers explanations related to internal economic factors
• B) prefers explanations related to resource depletion
• C) prefers explanations related to environmental catastrophes
• D) concludes that individual explanations for collapse beg the question, "Why couldn't the civilization adequately respond to the challenge, whatever its nature?"

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Definitions:

Latency

The period of delay before a response or the onset of a disease after exposure to a stimulus or pathogen.

Genital

Relating to the reproductive organs; also used to describe the phase of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory that focuses on the genitals.

Phallic Stage

A phase in Freudian psychosexual development, occurring roughly between the ages of 3 and 6 years, where the libido (sexual energy) is focused on the genitals.

Anal Stage

The second stage in Freud's psychosexual development stages, occurring from about 18 months to three years of age, when the child's focus of pleasure is on eliminating or retaining feces.