Chapter 2

Culture

Culture

The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society.

Culture

Culture

is: – essential for survival and communication with other people.

– learned through interaction, observation and imitation.

– fundamental for the survival of societies.

Culture

Material culture – Physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share.

Nonmaterial culture – Abstract or intangible human creations of society that influence people’s behavior.

Ex. attitudes, beliefs, and values

Gestures With Different Meanings in Other Societies

“Hook ‘em Horns” or “Your spouse is unfaithful”

Gestures With Different Meanings in Other Societies

“He’s crazy” or “You have a telephone call”

Gestures With Different Meanings in Other Societies

“Okay” Or “I’ll kill you”

Cultural Universals

Examples

: – Appearance (bodily adornment, hairstyles) – Activities (sports, dancing, games, joking) – Social institutions (family, law, religion) – Practices (cooking, folklore, gift giving)

Components of Culture

Symbol Anything that meaningfully represents something else.

Language Symbols that express ideas and enable people to communicate.

Language and Gender

Male Term Female Term Neutral Term Teacher Teacher Teacher Worker /employee Janitor/ maintenance man Steward Working mother Maid/ cleaning lady Stewardess Worker /employee Custodial attendant Flight Attendant

Languages Spoken in U.S. Households

Language English only Spanish Chinese French German Tagalog Total Estimated Number of Speakers 215,423,557 28,101,052 2,022,143 1,643,838 1,383,442 1,224,241

Languages Spoken in U.S. Households

Language Vietnamese Total Estimated Number of Speakers 1,009,627 Italian Korean Russian Polish Arabic 1,008,370 894,063 706,242 667,414 614,582

Components of Culture

Values Norms Collective ideas about what is right or wrong and good or bad.

Established rules of behavior or standards of conduct.

Ten Core American Values

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Individualism Achievement and Success Activity and Work Science and Technology Progress and Material Comfort

Ten Core American Values

6.

7.

8.

9.

Efficiency and Practicality Equality Morality and Humanitarianism Freedom and Liberty 10.

Racism and Group Superiority

Polling Question

Do you favor or oppose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would make English the official language of the United States? A.

B.

C.

Favor Oppose No opinion

Norms

Norms are established rules of behavior or standards of conduct.

–

Prescriptive norms

state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable.

– Proscriptive norms state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable.

Formal and Informal Norms

Formal norms are written down and involve specific punishments for violators.

– Laws are the most common type of formal norms.

Informal norms are unwritten standards of behavior understood by people who share a common identity. – When individuals violate informal norms, people may apply informal sanctions.

Folkways

Everyday customs that may be violated without serious consequences within a particular culture.

In the United States, folkways include: – using deodorant – brushing our teeth – wearing appropriate clothing for a specific occasion

Mores

Strongly held norms with moral and ethical connotations that may not be violated without serious consequences. –

Taboos

are mores so strong that violation is considered extremely offensive and even unmentionable. – The

incest taboo

, which prohibits sexual relations between certain kin, is an example of a nearly universal taboo.

Laws

Formal, standardized norms that have been enacted by legislatures and are enforced by formal sanctions.

–

Civil law

deals with disputes among persons or groups.

–

Criminal law

well-being.

deals with public safety and

Technology, Cultural Change, and Diversity

Changes in technology continue to shape the material culture of society.

Cultural lag

is a gap between the technical development of a society and its moral and legal institutions.

Cultural Diversity

Cultural differences between and within nations are caused by: – Natural circumstances Climate, geography – Social circumstances Technology, composition of the population

Cultural Diversity of U.S. Society: Religion

Cultural Diversity of U.S. Society: Income

Cultural Diversity of U.S. Society:Race/Ethnicity

The Old Order Amish Subculture

Strong faith in God.

Rejection of worldly concerns.

Rely on horse and buggy for transportation.

Examples of Countercultures

Beatniks of the 1950’s Flower Children of the 1960’s Drug Enthusiasts of the 1970’s

Culture Shock, Ethnocentrism, and Cultural Relativism

Culture shock

refers to the anxiety people experience when they encounter cultures radically different from their own.

Ethnocentrism

is the assumption that one’s own culture is superior to others.

Cultural relativism

views and analyzes another culture in terms of that culture’s own values and standards.

Sociological Analysis of Culture

Functionalist Culture helps people meet biological, instrumental and expressive needs.

Conflict Ideas can be used by the ruling class to affect members of other classes.

Sociological Analysis of Culture

Symbolic Interactionist People create, maintain, and modify culture during their everyday activities.

Postmodern Culture is based on simulation of reality rather than reality itself.

Quick Quiz

1.

________ consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share.

A.

B.

C.

D.

Nonmaterial culture Cultural universals Material culture High culture

Answer: C

Material culture

consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share.

2. Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of: A.

B.

C.

D.

material culture high culture nonmaterial culture cultural universals

Answer: C

Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of

nonmaterial culture

.

3. An example of a symbol is: A.

B.

C.

D.

a dove all of the choices a heart Nazi swastika

Answer: B

An example of a symbol is a

dove

, a

heart

, and a

Nazi swastika.

3. According to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: A.

B.

C.

D.

reality is objective and is easily understood by humans.

language shapes the view of reality of its speakers.

reality is based on the interactions of individuals.

with more knowledge, a person minimizes the influence of language.

Answer: B

According to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis,

language shapes the view of reality of its speakers

.

4. According to Karl Marx, and Marxist theorists: A.

B.

C.

D.

none of the choices.

ideas are used by agents of the wealthy to affect the thoughts and actions of members of other classes.

ideas are effective for the working classes to motivate the wealthy.

ideas have little impact on the relations between the wealthy and poor in societies.

Answer: B

According to Karl Marx, and Marxist theorists,

ideas are used by agents of the wealthy to affect the thoughts and actions of members of other classes.

5. Sanctions are only punishments when behavior or attitudes are deviant.

A.

B.

False True

Answer: A

Sanctions are

not

only punishments when behavior or attitudes are deviant.