Culture
the symbols, gestures, behaviors, language, values, and beliefs, norms, and material objects that constitutes a people's way of life; passed down from one generation to the next
Material culture
Tangible things created by a society (NOT natural)
E.g. cars, clothes, jewelry, hairstyles
-Material items can reflect a culture's values
-E.g. What do cars tell us about the US culture? Independence and freedom, not terribly concerned with nature
Non-material culture
The ideas and beliefs of a society (natural)
E.g. perception of beauty
competition (can't have a tie)
material comfort (possessions make you feel better)
individuality ("pull yourself up by your boot straps")
The last thing a FISH would ever notice would be the WATER.
-Even though the water has the most important impact on how the fish lives.
-The fish would never notice the water because it is so commonplace.
-WE= the fish; our CULTURE= the water
-Our culture is so pervasive that we don't ever think about the effects
Culture Shock
Personal disorientation that comes from experiencing an unfamiliar way of life
Ethnocentrism
The use of one's own culture as a yardstick for judging the ways of other individuals or societies
-Has both positive and negative consequences:
+ POSITIVE: creates in-group loyalties
- NEGATIVE: can lead to discrimination against people whose way of life
Cultural Relativism
-Understanding a culture on its own terms
-Looking at how the elements of a a culture fit together without judging them as being superior or inferior to our own way of life.
Multi-Culturalism
Educational plan promoting the equality of all cultural traditions
-E.g. saying "Happy Holidays!
Assimilation
Conforming to someone else's culture
The Components of a Culture
1) Symbol
2) Gestures
3) Languages
4) Values (broad) & Beliefs (specific)
5) Norms
6) Material Culture & Technology
Symbols
Something to which people attach meaning AND then use to communicate with others
-Symbols are the basis for making sense of our lives
E.g. stop sign, green/red/yellow light, USA flag, money
Gestures
The ways in which people use their bodies to communicate with one another
-Although people in ever culture of the world use gestures, their meaning may vary from one culture to the next
-Culture shock can come from the inability to "read" symbols/gestures
Language
A system of combined symbols that allows for members of a society to communicate with one another
-Takes the form of written, spoken, or signed words
-Language can take almost any form. It is simply a system of transferring meanings between people. People
Values
Culturally defined standards that serve as BROAD outlines for social living
-E.g. free speech, equality
Beliefs
Specific statements that people hold to be true
-E.g. death penalty (for/against), abortion (for/against), women should have equal pay, eating meat is wrong
Example of correlation between values and beliefs
VALUE= All people are equal.
BELIEF= Women should be paid as much as men.
Inconsistent VALUES (broad) of a society
-Sometimes these values that a society holds are not consistent with each other, conflict and may even cancel each other out
-Inconsistent values are often a result of our cultural diversity and social change.
E.g. Be charitable VS. Keep as much $ as you
Examples of VALUES in the United States
1) INDIVIDUALISM- individuals can make it to the top alone
2) HUMANITARIANISM- emphasizes philanthropy/helpful
3) EQUALITY- the idea that all people are = in opportunities
4) EDUCATION- go as far as you can
5) RELIGIOSITY- we should be religious in some a
Culture War
-When core values change like, they can be met with much opposition. This is called a culture war. The traditionalists see the changing values as a threat to their way of life.
-Values can be BLINDERS.
-E.g. changing gender roles, sexual behavior, homosex
Norms
Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members. Developed to reflect and enforce our values.
-Some norms are constant, some are situational.
Proscriptive Norms
What NOT to do
-E.g. Do not eat dog food.
Prescriptive Norms
What we SHOULD do
-E.g. Open the door for others
Moral Holidays
A specified time when people are allowed to break norms
-E.g. Mardi Gras, Spring Break, Gay and Lesbian parade
Folkways
Customs for casual interaction
-Basically, norms that are NOT strictly forced
E.g. handsake vs. hug; saying "thank you"
-Change often
-Breaking them can be funny
Mores
Standards for proper moral conduct
-Strictly enforced because they are thought essential to core values or the well being of the group
- E.g. stealing, raping, killing
-These apply at ALL times and situations
-Violation of mores bring SEVERE condemnation
Taboos
A norm so strong that it often brings REVULSION if violated
-E.g. incest, cannibalism, Oedipal complex, Jeffrey Dahmer, child molesters
Technology
Tools
-But in its broader sense includes the skills or procedures necessary to make and use these tools
- We occasionally develop new technologies that make a major impact on human life
-E.g. planes, medicine, internet/ smart-phones, pony express, machine
Sub-Culture
The values and related behaviors of a group that distinguishes its members from the larger culture
-A world within the larger world of the dominant culture
- E.g. Southern USA, Pennsylvania, gangs, Amish, city
-Tens of thousands of sub-clutures: can be as