Definitions Ch3 sociology

What are the 2 categories in culture?

Materialistic and symbolic

hegemony*

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

cultural diffusion

the dissemination of beliefs and practices from one group to another.

culture

the entire way of life for a group of people (including both material and symbolic elements) that acts as a lens through which one views the world and is passed from one generation to the next. eg, behavior, believes, language. etc. It has 2 categories material and symbolic.

social control

the formal and informal ways to increase conformity and cohesion. ( Eg. Pay raises, verbal praises)

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and who made it?

the idea that language structures thought and that ways of looking at the world are embedded in language. Language is culturally developed and leads to different realities. AKA principle of linguistic relativity. Anthropologists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf.

cultural imperialism

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

real culture

the norms, values, and patterns of behavior that actually exists within a society ( which may or may not correspond to the society's ideals)

ideal culture

the norms, values, and patterns of behavior that members of a society believe should be practiced.

technological determinism

the notion that developments in technology provide the primary driving force behind social change

Norms

Formal (written) and informal (not written) rules regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriated within a culture. Formal may be punishable by law. Formal may be considered law. they are specific to a culture, time period, and situation.

Folkway

Informal loosely enforced norms that govern everday behavior and how we interact with each other. A loosely enforced norm involving common customs, practices, or procedures, that ensure smooth social interaction and acceptance.

language

Is important and shapes how we perceive things. Communicating thru vocal sounds, gestures, or written symbols. This is the basis of symbolic culture and the primary means through which we communicate with one another and perpetuate our culture.

Material culture

One category of culture: Physical things. Can change quickly. The objects associated with a culture group and any object to which we give meaning as a society. Eg. houses, cars, clothes, etc.

cultural relativism

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

signs

Product logos. A symbol that stands for or conveys an idea in our society.

Symbolic culture

Second category of culture: Ways of thinking and things we can't touch. Takes longer to change.The ideas associated with a culture group including ways of thinking (beliefs, values, assumptions) and ways of behaving (norms, interactions, and communication such as signs, gestures, and language is the basis of symbolic culture)

multiculturalism

They believe diversity is a strength not a weakness. A policy that values diverse racial, ethnic, national, and linguistic backgrounds and so encourages the retention of cultural differences within society rather than assimilation.

sanction

To get people to do things is positive sanction ( rewards) and to do bad things is negative sanction. ( punishment) positive or negative reactions to the ways that people follow or disobey norms, including rewards for conformity and punishment for violators. They help to establish social control.

gestures

Ways in which people use their bodies to communicate without words and actions have meaning.

Culture consistency

When both Ideal culture and real culture match.

law

a common type of formally defined norm providing an explicit statement about what is permissible and what is illegal in a given society.

subculture

a group within society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyle.( eg. college students, Hockey league, goths)

Counterculture

a group within society that openly rejects or/and actively opposes society's values and norms.(eg hippies, KKK, protestor for Vietnam war)

taboo

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

culture wars

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

Culture change

comes by innovation, discovery, intervention, and usually happens slowly for symbolic and can happen faster for materialistic.

values

ideas about what is desirable or contempable, right and wrong in a particular group. They articulate the essence of everything that a cultural group cherishes and honors. These guide the creation of Norms.

more (morea)

informal loosely enforced norm that govern everyday behavior and how we interact with each other. A norm that carries great moral significance, is closely related to the core values of a cultural group, and often involves severe repercussions for violators.

technology

material artifacts and the knowledge and techniques required to use them.

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 or inferior. Functionalists think this is important to have solidarity.

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 the most powerful ( in terms of wealth, prestige, status, influence, etc)