sociology questions

How is society different from culture?

A society is a group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and feeling of unity. Society consists of people, and culture consists of the material and nonmaterial products that people create.

What is technology and why is it one of the basic components of all cultures?

A society's culture consists of not only physical objects but also the rules for using those objects. Sociologists sometimes refer to this combination of objects and rules as technology.

Freedom is an important value for most Americans. What freedoms do most Americans seem to value the most?

Americans particularly value personal freedoms of choice such as the freedom of religion, speech, and press, which are guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

What causes variation within societies?

Among the major sources of variation within a society are the unique cultural practices of various subgroups. For example, in addition to the broad cultural features that are shared by Americans, some groups in the American society share values, norms, and behaviors that are not shared by the entire population. The unique cultural characteristics of these groups form a subculture. In some instances, subcultural practices are consciously intended to challenge the values of the larger society. Sometimes a group rejects the major values, norms, and practices of the larger society and replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns. Sociologists call the resulting subculture a counterculture.

Why do cultural universals exist?

Cultural universals exist so that societies can make sure that their basic needs are fulfilled. Some needs are so basic that all societies must develop certain features to ensure their fulfillment. These features, common to all cultures, are called cultural universals.

Describe how subcultures and countercultures are related.

Cultural variations exist not only among societies but also within societies. Among the major sources of variation within a society are the unique cultural practices of various subgroups. As an American, you share a common culture with all other Americans. American culture is a collection of traits, complexes, and patterns that, by and large, are distinct from those of other societies. In addition to these broad cultural features, some groups in society share values, norms, and behaviors that are not shared by the entire population. The unique cultural characteristics of these groups form a subculture. Most subcultures do not reject all of the values and practices of the larger society. Most subcultures do not present a threat to society. In some instances, however, subcultural practices are consciously intended to challenge the values of the larger society. Sometimes a group rejects the major values, norms, and practices of the larger society and replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns. Sociologists call the resulting subculture a counterculture.

What is the difference between a subculture and a counterculture?

Culture is a collection of traits, complexes, and patterns that are distinct from those of other societies. In addition to these broad cultural features some groups in society share values, norms, and behaviors that are not shared by the entire population. The unique cultural characteristics of these groups form a subculture. Sometimes subcultural practices are consciously intended to challenge the values of the larger society. At times a group rejects the major values, norms, and practices of the larger society and replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns. Sociologists call the resulting subculture a counterculture.

What is ethnocentrism?

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's own culture and group as superior.

Why did George Murdock examine hundreds of different cultures in the 1940s?

George Murdock examined hundreds of different cultures in an attempt to determine what general traits are common to all cultures. He used his research to compile a list of more than 65 cultural universals, including cooking, dancing, and music.

Explain cultural relativism.

In order to keep an open mind toward cultural variations, social scientists adopt an attitude of cultural relativism. This is the belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards rather than by applying the standards of another culture. Cultural relativism helps sociologists and anthropologists understand practices that seem strange or different from those of their own culture.

Describe the study conducted in the 1930s by Margaret Mead.

In the 1930s anthropologist Margaret Mead conducted a study of cultural variation. Her purpose in the study was to determine whether differences in basic temperament result mainly from inherited characteristics or from cultural influences. To find out, she made firsthand observations of the shared, learned behaviors of several small societies in New Guinea. The desire for an in-depth understanding of cultural variation led Mead to live among the people of New Guinea and to participate in their activities. Two of the societies that Mead examined were the Arapesh and the Mundugumor. Mead found that although the two societies lived only about 100 miles apart and shared many social traits, their cultures were vastly different. At the time of Mead's study, the Arapesh lived in the mountains while the Mundugumor lived in a river valley. The Arapesh planted gardens while the Mundugumor were primarily food gatherers. For the Arapesh, food was usually scarce. The Mundugumor, on the other hand, had an abundance of food, and life was relatively easy. Based on her research, Mead concluded that temperament is mainly the result of culture rather than biology. She noted that differences in temperament were much greater between the two societies than between males and females in the same society. Among the Arapesh, men and women alike were gentle and cooperative. Similarly, among the Mundugumor, everyone was hostile and competitive. Mead's study vividly illustrates the wide variance among cultures.

What is a culture complex?

Individual culture traits combine to form the next level—culture complexes. A culture complex is a cluster of interrelated traits.

What is cultural discontinuity?

Members of subgroups tend to have little problem living within the predominant culture of society. However, some subgroup members find that the values, beliefs, and practices of the larger culture are at odds with those of their subculture. This clash of cultures results in a situation that sociologists call cultural discontinuity. Subgroup members are forced to choose between their subculture and the predominant culture.

Where did Margaret Mead live in the 1930s to conduct her study of cultural variation?

New Guinea

Explain narcissism.

Social historian Christopher Lasch considered the emphasis on personal fulfillment a personality disorder. He termed this disorder narcissism, which means extreme self-centeredness.

What are laws?

Societies have established punishments for violating mores in order to protect the social well-being. These serious mores are formalized as laws. Laws are the written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the government. Most laws enforce mores essential to social stability, such as those against murder and rape. Laws, however, may also enforce less severe folkways, such as not parking in spaces reserved for drivers with disabilities.

List three examples of material culture.

Students' responses might include automobiles, books, buildings, clothing, computers, or cooking utensils.

Describe how equality and democracy represent traditional American values.

The United States was founded on the principle of human equality. The Declaration of Independence proclaims, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Many Americans believe that to have human equality, there must be an equality of opportunity and an equal chance at success. The belief in equality extends to the form of government that Americans value—democracy. Americans believe that citizens have the right to express their opinions and to participate freely in choosing their representatives in government.

What are the three levels of cultural complexity that sociologists use to study different cultures? For example, if we look the concept of greetings in American culture, the first level would be the actual greetings, like saying "Hi" to a good friend. The second level would be to look at all of the greetings as components of a bigger idea, and the third level would be the whole concept of applying those greetings in different settings, the big picture of the original tool, act, or belief.

The features of a culture can be divided into three levels of complexity: traits, complexes, and patterns.

What is the difference between material culture and nonmaterial culture?

The physical objects that people create and use form a group's material culture, such as automobiles and computers. Abstract human creations form a group's nonmaterial culture, such as beliefs, rules, and family patterns.

How is the use of symbols related to culture?

The use of symbols is the very basis of human culture. It is through symbols that we create our culture and communicate it to group members and future generations. Although specific examples vary from culture to culture, all cultures communicate symbolically.

What are the basic components that all cultures have?

These components are technology, symbols, language, values, and norms.

Extreme self-centeredness is referred to as narcissism.

True

Self-fulfillment is associated with the development of one's health and leisure habits.

True

What are values?

Values are shared beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. The types of values held by a group help to determine the character of its people and the kinds of material and nonmaterial culture they create.

How has advertising affected American values?

While American values have affected business practices in the United States, companies have also influenced American values through advertising. Advertisers have attempted to sell their products to American consumers by explaining how their products will enhance consumers' material comfort and lead to self-fulfillment. Advertisers have tapped into American values to influence people's perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors.

Believing that every problem has a solution is part of which set of values?

efficiency and practicality

What are new values in the United States that might be grouped under the term self fulfillment, a commitment to the full development of one's personality, talents, and potential?

leisure, physical fitness, and youthfulness

Advertising influences all of the following except

our individualism.

What are some of the basic values identified as being central to the American way of life?

personal achievement, individualism, work, morality and humanitarianism, efficiency and practicality, progress and material comfort, equality and democracy, freedom, nationalism and patriotism, science and rationality, and racial and group superiority