Final answer:
George Murdock found that cultures share common denominators but vary significantly in their practices and beliefs, leading to option C as the correct answer. Cultural universals like the family unit, language, and humor exist across societies but are expressed differently depending on the culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
In his research, anthropologist George Murdock determined that although all cultures share common denominators, how cultures address these practices and beliefs varies greatly. This concept falls under option C) of the question, which states that while there are shared elements across cultures, the way they are implemented or practiced can differ widely. Murdock's work pointed out that cultural universals often revolve around basic human survival—like finding food, clothing, and shelter—or shared human experiences such as birth and death. He recognized other universals too, including language, personal names, and humor, which serve to navigate social interactions and create a sense of unity among people.
Cultural universals are interesting as they demonstrate the underlying commonalities in human societies despite the vast diversity in cultural expression. One such universal is the family unit, but while every society has some form of it, the family unit's definition and role can differ significantly from one culture to another.
While some thought global trade and communication would lead to a single global culture, what has been seen instead is a resurgent emphasis on maintaining cultural identities and heritage. This shows the persistence of cultural uniqueness even in the face of growing global connectivity.