SCLOA - Cultural Norms: Define the terms culture and cultural norms

What is required in a DEFINE question? (8 mark) *What is needed?

Give the PRECISE meaning of a word/phrase/concept *Outline relevance to Psychology as a whole, Real life applications, what this tells us, it's importance.

Define Culture Definitions by Matsumoto (2004), Shiraev and Levy (2014) How does Triandis (2002) distinguish between objective and subjective culture?

Matsumoto (2004): Culture can be defined as a dynamic system of rules, explicit and implicit, established by groups in order to ensure their survival, involving attitudes, values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors. Shiraev and Levy (2014): "A set of attitudes, behaviours, and symbols shared by a large group of people and usually communicated from one generation to the next" --> transmitted from one generation to the next --> Objective Culture: visible characteristics (dress style, use of technologies, cuisine) --> Subjective Culture: beliefs, norms, values that groups consider important enough to pass onto future generations (religious beliefs moral codes, social etiquette) OR... Dynamic system of rules, implicit or explicit, established by a social group. Surface culture (Visible, Explicit) Music, Clothing, Food Deep culture (Invisible, Implicit) Emotions, Beliefs, Expressions

Define Cultural Norms

The norms of an established group which are transmitted across generations and regulate bhvr in accordance with the groups beliefs about acceptable and unacceptable ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. --> Therefore, cultural norms are a SPECIAL KIND OF SOCIAL NORM - The social dimension extends to cover wider social groups (ethnic groups) compared to other types of social norm (peer groups) - Cultural norms contribute to a longer sense of social identity (e.g. ethnic identity) - There are also sub(cultural) norms (e.g. tribes, social classes) OR... Behaviour typical to the specific cultural group. Observational (social) learning Rules within the deep culture Expectations "Gatekeepers" (e.g. the media) keep the cultural norms in place. OR... Cultural norms can be defined as the rules that a specific group uses for stating what is seen as appropriate and inappropriate behaviors, values, beliefs, and attitudes. Cultural norms give people a sense of order and control in their lives as well as a sense of safety and belonging. Cultural norms may encompass communication style, whom to marry and how, child-rearing practices, or interaction between generations. Cultural norms can be explicit (e.g. legal codes) or implicit (i.e. conventional practices and rituals).