Ch.2 - Culture: Soc 101

3 guaranteed things in life

die, taxes, change

What is culture shock?

disorientation due to experience of another culture

What is an invention?

Taking existing cultural items and combining them into a form that did not exist before. Such as hybrid cars.

What is important of the distinction between Mores and Folkways?

They describe relative importance to society

What is ideal culture as opposed to real culture?

Ideal culture is what culture should be like or ought to be like, when values are often in a positive light

What is an example of Folkways?

Leaving space between you and a person in an open room, Looking into a person's eyes, Greeting formally

What are some examples of emerging values?

Leisure, physical fitness, concern for the environment

What are the top 2 values of U.S. society, in order?

1. Achievement and success 2.individualism

What are the 2 sets of distinctions between Types of Norms?

1. Formal vs. Informal, 2. Mores vs. Folkways

What chronological order of diffusion was discussed in class?

1. Human exploration, 2. Military conquest, 3. Missionary work, 4.Tourism, 5. Mass media

What is Conformity?

Agreeing with the norm, which lends itself to rewards

What is cultural diffusion and what is another name for it?

Also known as globalization, it is how culture is shared or spread from one group to another.

What are examples of what we do for nonmaterial culture?

Celebrations, Speaking in our own language, Attending church, etc.

What are values?

Collective conceptions of what is good, desireable, and proper. Alternatively indicates what is bad, undesireable, and improper. Keyword: Collective

What is cuture?

Culture are Customs, Knowledge, Material Objects, and Behavior. CKMOB

What usually occurs with ethnocentrism?

Culture shock

What are examples of Cultural Universals?

Dating, Dancing, Division of Labor, Family, Language,

What example applies to first part of Sapir Whorf Hypothesis?

Different cultures have multiple words for levels of affection, thus their thought process distinguishes the levels. America uses love for many things, therefore their thought process does not really include levels of affection.

What is Non-conformity?

Disagreeing with the norm, disobeying and refusing it, which lends itself to penalties

What are norms?

Established standards of behavior

What is the Sapir Whorf Hypothesis?

First - Language precedes thought, Second - Conceptualization(the way that we think) only can occur through the use of language.

What are Cultural Universals?

General practices found in every culture, however! The ways in which they are expressed or practiced may be different from culture to culture

Are sanctions powerful or weak?

Incredibly powerful

What are the 4 elements of culture?

Language, Value, Norms, Sanctions

Ex. Of Cultural Lag

Laws to govern the internet while people still think the internet is freedomain for anyone

What is a discovery?

Making known or sharing an aspect of reality. Such as discovery of fire.

What are 2 types of Culture?

Material culture and Nonmaterial culture

What are the downsides of values?

Members can feel devalued, unrealistic expectations made, inability to keep up with society's pace.

Which is slower to change of material and nonmaterial culture?

Nonmaterial culture because material changes occur faster than people are able to accept them.

What is Mores?

Norms that are highly necessary for the welfare of society, often reflecting the most "cherished principles" of a culture, "formalized"

What is Folkways?

Norms that govern everyday behavior, generally not written down, but understood, informal

What are examples of sanctions?

Speeding tickets, timeouts, scholarships, dessert

What are sanctions?

Penalties and Rewards for conduct concering a norm

What is an example of gender related language?

Policeman to Police officer, Congressman to Politician, Mailman to postal worker.

What is an example of Mores?

Protection of children, Varying degrees of murder

What is material culture?

Represents something that is physical and tangible. - jewelry, cell phones, clothes

What is nonmaterial culture?

Represents something you cannot touch - Thinking and Doing

What is cultural leveling?

The blending of cultures. The world feels smaller because of it. No longer need to travel far distances to experience Italy, Asia, etc.

What are motives for conformity?

The fear of penalties from nonconformity such as not being able to support a family, not having a degree while your peers do, not having a job

What is an example of the second part of Sapir Whorf Hypothesis?

The idea that language is necessary to create thoughts.

What is ethnocentrism?

The tendency to assume that ones own culture and way of life represent the norm or are superior to all others

What was discussed for racist and stereotyped language?

The use of black and white to provide negative and positive connotations. Blackmarket vs. White lie

How does culture develop and/or change?

Through inventions, discoveries, cultural diffusion, and cultural leveling.

What is an informal norm?

Usually not written down, but generally understood. Can often be arguable. Ex. Raising hands to speak, Holding the door for woman, Walking on the outside of the curb

What is a formal norm?

Usually written down and and specify punishment for violators. Ex. Laws

What are value clusters?

Values that coincide or agree with one another such as democracy and equality, progress and Science&Technology

What are Value contradictions?

Values that disagree and conflict with one another such as equality and Racism&Group Superiority, Religiosity and Science&Technology

What are examples of what we think for nonmaterial culture?

Values, Beliefs, Assumptions

What is Cultural Lag?

When nonmaterial culture is still adapting

Why is cultural diffusion important?

Without this process, cultures would have no chance to interact

What is cultural relativism?

places a priority on understanding on other cultures than dismissing them as strange or exotic