Ch. 3 Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
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