Chapter 3 SOC111 - Culture

What are the various types of ethnocentrism? Give examples of each.

-Defining foreign ways as peculiar: Koreans eating dog meat. -Cultural Genocide: people define another culture as offensive and try to destroy it. Japan tried to exterminate Korea in 1910-1945; Japan became official language and names were Japanese. Nazi situation. -Reverse ethnocentrism: see the home culture as inferior to a foreign culture. -Act as though other cultures have no impact on us. ex: Americans rarely study and learn other languages but expect foreigners to know English.

What three conceptual challenges do sociologists face in defining culture?

1. How do you describe a culture? Is it possible to offer a description of something so vast as the way of life as an entire people? 2. How do we know who belongs to a culture? 3. What are the distinguishing characteristics that set one culture apart from others?

Distinguish between beliefs and values. Give an example of EACH.

Beliefs - conceptions that are accepted as true regarding how the world operates and where the individual fits in relation to others Koreans believe it is find for young children of both sexes to bathe with their mothers, grandmothers, etc. in a public bathhouse. Values - general, shared conceptions of what is good, right, and appropriate regarding conduct and appearance. Americans place higher values on individuals while Koreans place a higher value on the group.

Is cultural relativism equivalent to moral relativism? Explain.

Cultural relativism says that "right and wrong" are culture specific. They are the same, what is moral in one place may not be moral in another place. US shocked that Koreans eat dog meat, but after evaluating what led to that practice they may be more open to it.

Explain: "All cultures have developed formulas to help their members respond to biological inevitabilities."

Every culture has their own ways of dealing with problems when they arise. In USA, we go to the doctor when we are sick, but other places may use a different healing process.

How do geographic and historical forces shape culture?

History is the cumulative impact of all things and geography includes location, terrain, and natural resources. Example: North and South Korea's divide and conservation-oriented ways are due to resource shortages. Shape the character of culture; culture represents the solutions of a society that were created to meet challenges.

How are people products of cultural experiences, yet not cultural replicas of one another?

Individuals are products and carriers of cultural experiences and pass on experiences with varying degrees of clarity and confusion. Individuals cannot absorb one version of culture because it is perceived and interpreted differently. Culture functions as a "toolkit" that allows people to select what they want in their culture.

Distinguish between nonmaterial and material culture.

Material Culture - consider the uses of an item and the meanings associated with it; anything that can be touched Nonmaterial Culture - cannot be held or seen; beliefs and values; conceptions of right and wrong.

How is the word "culture" typically used among English speakers?

We use it in reference to differences and misunderstandings. "The cultures of X and Y are very different."

What are norms? Distinguish between folkways and mores.

Norms - written and unwritten rules that specify behaviors appropriate and inappropriate to a particular social situation (No smoking sings, wash your hands) Folkways - daily, mundane tasks; when and what to eat, how many times to change a baby's diaper Mores - norms essential to a group; "the only way"; strong mores against public nudity

What viewpoint should one take when studying other cultures?

Position of cultural relativity: remain unbiased and avoid ethnocentrism in order to understand a culture in all of its complexity.

What is culture shock? How is it related to ethnocentrism?

Reaction that occurs when someone is placed into a culture that is not their own. Maybe having to learn another language. Can become ethnocentric when beliefs disagree with the other culture's.

Explain reentry shock.

Returning home after living in another place for so long that home is hard to readjust to. Culture shock in reverse.

What makes an emotion social? What is the connection between feeling rules and social emotions?

Social emotions - internal bodily sensations experienced in relation to other people. feeling rules determine which social emotions are expressed

What are subcultures? When are subcultures institutionally complete?

Subcultures are in some part of the dominant culture, but also have own distinct values. complete when members are separated or cut off from other people in dominant culture.

What are symbols? Is language a symbol? Explain.

Symbols - any kind of physical or other phenomena to which people assign name and meaning. language is a symbol system that uses sound, gestures, and characters to convey meaning. Language is a cultural universal.

What is diffusion? Give two examples of the diffusion process. Why is diffusion a selective process?

The process by which an idea, invention, or some other cultural item is borrowed from a foreign source. Diffusion of technology from developed to undeveloped countries. Diffusion of basketball from US. Can occur whenever people make contact from different cultures. Selective because people take only what is useful in their culture.