Ch. 3 Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

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subculture

a group within society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyle

counterculture

a group within society that openly rejects or actively opposes society's values and norms

folkway

a loosely enforced norm involving common customs, practices, or procedures that ensure smooth social interaction and acceptance

taboo

a norm ingrained so deeply that even thinking about violating it evokes strong feelings of disgust, horror, or revulsion

multiculturalism

a policy that values diverse racial, ethnic, national, and linguistic backgrounds and so encourages the retention of cultural differences within the larger society

moral holiday

a specified time period during which some norm violations are allowed

language

a system of communication using vocal sounds; gestures, or written symbols; the basis of symbolic culture and the primary means through which we communicate with one another and perpetuate our culture

culture wars

clashes within mainstream society over the values and norms that should be upheld

values

ideas about what is right or wrong, good or bad, desirable or worthy in a particular group; they express what the group cherishes and honors

technology

material artifacts and the knowledge and techniques required to use them

mores

norms that carry great moral significance, are closely related to the core values of a cultural group, and often involve severe repercussions for violators

sanctions

positive or negative reactions to the ways that people follow or disobey norms, including rewards for conformity and punishments for violations

norms

rules or guidelines regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a particular culture; these typically emanate from the group's values

signs

symbols that stand for or convey an idea

hegemony

term developed by Antonio Gramsci to describe the cultural aspects of social control, whereby the ideas of the dominant group are accepted by all

cultural diffusion

the dissemination of material and symbolic culture from one group to another

culture

the entire way of life of a group of people that acts as a lens through which one views the world and that is passed from one generation to the next

sapir-whorf hypothesis

the idea that language structures thought and that ways of looking at the world are embedded in language

symbolic culture

the ideas associated with a cultural group, including way s of thinking

cultural imperialism

the imposition of one culture's beliefs and practices one another culture through media and consumer products rather than by military force

real culture

the norms, values, and patterns of behavior that actually exist within a society

ideal culture

the norms, values, and patterns of behavior that members of a society believe should be observed in principle

material culture

the objects associated with a cultural group, such as tools, machines, utensils, buildings, and artwork; any physical object to which we give social meaning

cultural relativism

the principle of understanding other cultures on their own terms, rather than judging or evaluating according to one's own culture

ethnocentrism

the principle of using one's own culture as a means or standard by which to evaluate another group or individual, leading to the view that cultures other than one's own are abnormal

cultural leveling

the process by which cultures that were once unique and distinct become increasingly similar

dominant culture

the values, norms, and practices of the group within society that is most powerful

gestures

the ways in which people use their bodies to communicate without words; actions that have symbolic meaning

laws

type of norms that are formally codified to provide an explicit statement about what is permissible or forbidden, legal or illegal in a given society

conflict theory

values and norms are part of the dominant culture and tend to represent and protect the interests of the most powerful groups in society

symbolic interactionism

values and norms are social constructions that may vary over time and in different contexts; meaning is created, maintained, and changed thorough ongoing social interaction

structural functionalism

values and norms are widely shared and agreed upon; they contribute to social stability by reinforcing common bonds and constraining individual behavior


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