Chapter 3: Culture

5. Most cultures have been found to identify laughter as a sign of humor, joy, or pleasure. Likewise, most cultures recognize music in some form. Music and laughter are examples of: a. relativism b. ethnocentrism c. xenocentrism d. universalism

D

An American flag is a material object that denotes the United States of America; however, there are certain connotations that many associated with the flag, like bravery and freedom. In this example, what are bravery and freedom? a. Symbols b. Language c. Material culture d. Nonmaterial culture

D

Some jobs today advertise in multinational markets and permit telecommuting in lieu of working from a primary location. This broadening of the job market and the way that jobs are performed can be attributed to: a. cultural lag b. innovation c. discovery d. globalization

D

3.3 Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change

Sociologists recognize the high culture and popular culture within societies. Societies are also comprised of many subcultures—smaller groups that share an identity. Countercultures reject mainstream values and create their own cultural rules and norms. Through invention or discovery, cultures evolve via new ideas and new ways of thinking. In many modern cultures, the cornerstone of innovation is technology, the rapid growth of which can lead to cultural lag. Technology is also responsible for the spread of both material and nonmaterial culture that contributes to globalization.

3.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Culture

There are three major theoretical approaches toward the interpretation of culture. A functionalist perspective acknowledges that there are many parts of culture that work together as a system to fulfill society's needs. Functionalists view culture as a reflection of society's values. Conflict theorists see culture as inherently unequal, based upon factors like gender, class, race, and age. An interactionist is primarily interested in culture as experienced in the daily interactions between individuals and the symbols that comprise a culture. Various cultural and sociological occurrences can be explained by these theories; however, there is no one "right" view through which to understand culture.

3.1 What is Culture

Though "society" and "culture" are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings. A society is a group of people sharing a community and culture. Culture generally describes the shared behaviors and beliefs of these people and includes material and nonmaterial elements. Our experience of cultural difference is influenced by our ethnocentrism and xenocentrism. Sociologists try to practice cultural relativism.

xenocentrism

a belief that another culture is superior to one's own

inventions

a combination of pieces of existing reality into new forms

values

a culture's standard for discerning what is good and just in society

language

a symbolic system of communication

sanctions

a way to authorize or formally disapprove of certain behaviors

social control

a way to encourage conformity to cultural norms

culture schock

an experience of personal disorientation when confronted with an unfamiliar way of life

informal norms

casual behaviors that are generally and widely conformed to

folkways

direct, appropriate behavior in the day-to-day practices and expressions of a culture

formal norms

established, written rules

symbols

gestures or objects that have meanings associated with them that are recognized by people who share a culture

countercultures

groups that reject and oppose society's widely accepted cultural patterns

subcultures

groups that share a specific identification, apart from a society's majority, even as the members exist within a larger society

popular culture

mainstream, widespread patterns among a society's population

innovations

new objects or ideas introduced to culture for the first time

cultural universals

patterns or traits that are globally common to all societies

society

people who live in a definable community and who share a culture

culture

shared beliefs, values, and practices

beliefs

tenets or convictions that people hold to be true

high culture

the cultural patterns of a society's elite

culture imperialism

the deliberate imposition of one's own cultural values on another culture

culture lag

the gap of time between the introduction of material culture and nonmaterial culture's acceptance of it

nonmaterial culture

the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society

globalization

the integration of international trade and finance markets

mores

the moral views and principles of a group

material culture

the objects or belongings of a group of people

cultural relativism

the practice of assessing a culture by its own standards, and not in comparison to another culture

ethnocentrism

the practice of evaluating another culture according to the standards of one's own culture

diffusion

the spread of material and nonmaterial culture from one culture to another

ideal culture

the standards a society would like to embrace and live up to

norms

the visible and invisible rules of conduct through which societies are structured

real culture

the way society really is based on what actually occurs and exists

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

the way that people understand the world based on their form of language

discoveries

things and ideas found from what already exists

Your eighty-three-year-old grandmother has been using a computer for some time now. As a way to keep in touch, you frequently send emails of a few lines to let her know about your day. She calls after every email to respond point by point, but she has never emailed a response back. This can be viewed as an example of: a. cultural lag b. innovation c. ethnocentricity d. xenophobia

A

A nation's flag is: a. A symbol b. A value c. A culture d. A folkway

A

An example of high culture is ___________, whereas an example of popular culture would be ____________. a. Dostoevsky-style in film; "American Idol" winners b. medical marijuana; film noir c. country music; pop music d. political theory; sociological theory

A

Rodney and Elise are U.S. students studying abroad in Italy. When they are introduced to their host families, the families kiss them on both cheeks. When Rodney's host brother introduces himself and kisses Rodney on both cheeks, Rodney pulls back in surprise. Where he is from, unless they are romantically involved, men do not kiss one another. This is an example of: a. culture shock b. imperialism c. ethnocentrism d. xenocentrism

A

The Ku Klux Klan is an example of what part of the culture? a. Counterculture b. Subculture c. Multiculturalism d. Afrocentricity

A

The Occupy Wall Street movement of 2011 grew to be an international movement. Supporters believe that the economic disparity between the highest economic class and the mid to lower economic classes is growing at an exponentially alarming rate. A sociologist who studies that movement by examining the interactions between members at Occupy camps would most likely use what theoretical approach? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

A

The biggest difference between mores and folkways is that a. mores are primarily linked to morality, whereas folkways are primarily linked to being commonplace within a culture b. mores are absolute, whereas folkways are temporary c. mores refer to material culture, whereas folkways refer to nonmaterial culture d. mores refer to nonmaterial culture, whereas folkways refer to material culture

A

3.2 Elements of Culture

A culture consists of many elements, such as the values and beliefs of its society. Culture is also governed by norms, including laws, mores, and folkways. The symbols and language of a society are keys to developing and conveying culture.

That McDonald's is found in almost every country around the world is an example of: a. globalization b. diffusion c. culture lag d. xenocentrism

B

The major difference between invention and discovery is: a. The invention is based on technology, whereas discovery is usually based on culture b. Discovery involves finding something that already exists, but invention puts things together in a new way c. The invention refers to material culture, whereas discovery can be material or theoretic, like laws of physics d. Invention is typically used to refer to international objects, whereas discovery refers to that which is local to one's culture

B

The notion that people cannot feel or experience something that they do not have a word for can be explained by: a. linguistics b. Sapir-Whorf c. Ethnographic imagery d. bilingualism

B

The terms _________________ and ______________ are often used interchangeably, but have nuances that differentiate them. a. imperialism and relativism b. culture and society c. society and ethnocentrism d. ethnocentrism and xenocentrism

B

What theoretical perspective views society as having a system of interdependent inherently connected parts? a. Sociobiology b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

B

A sociologist conducts research into the ways that Hispanic American students are historically underprivileged in the U.S. education system. What theoretical approach is the sociologist using? a. Symbolic interactionism b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

C

Cultural sanctions can also be viewed as ways that society: a. Establishes leaders b. Determines language c. Regulates behavior d. Determines laws

C

Modern-day hipsters are an example of: a. ethnocentricity b. counterculture c. subculture d. high culture

C

The "American Dream"—the notion that anybody can be successful and rich if they work hard enough—is most commonly associated with which sociological theory? a. Sociobiology b. Functionalism c. Conflict theory d. Ethnocentrism

C

The belief that one's culture is inferior to another culture is called: a. ethnocentrism b. nationalism c. xenocentrism d. imperialism

C

The existence of social norms, both formal and informal, is one of the main things that inform ___________, otherwise known as a way to encourage social conformity. a. values b. sanctions c. social control d. mores

C