Final answer:
The statement regarding historical and cultural contexts suggests that values in civilized societies are dynamic and change over time. Societal values evolve due to factors like innovation, discovery, cultural diffusion, and sociological perspectives. Historical and cultural contexts are instrumental in shaping and transforming values within a society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about historical and cultural contexts implies that values in civilized societies are influenced and shaped by various factors, which include the period in history and culture in which they exist. This means that Option 1 is the closest in interpreting the statement, as it acknowledges that values in civilized societies change significantly over time. The diverse examples provided, such as differences in displays of physical intimacy between cultures, illustrate how societal values are neither universal nor static but are deeply embedded within specific historical and cultural frameworks. Additionally, values are crucial in forming collective identities and are transmitted across generations, often changing as a result of innovation, discovery, and cultural diffusion.
Modern sociological perspectives on culture further support this notion of changing values. Functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionists theories provide different lenses through which the evolution and interpretation of culture and values can be understood. Whereas functionalists see culture as a system to fulfill societal needs, conflict theorists focus on how culture reinforces inequalities, and symbolic interactionists look at daily interactions and the meaning behind cultural symbols.
The notion that values depend heavily on their cultural context is further supported by the understanding that societies share culture, which includes values, beliefs, norms, and language. Technology and globalization contribute to cultural change, highlighting how modern societies are in a constant state of flux with their values adapting to new innovations and interactions with other cultures.