Anthropology Chapter 3: Culture, Society and Adaptation

Identify some of the major characteristics of culture.

- Exist by virtue of our biological capacity for culture and humans can't exist without it. -It is learned via human interaction and social groups (enculturation): 1.Individual situational learning: learning from observation as well as experience. 2.Social situational learning: learning from other social group members. 3. Cultural learning: learning through symbolic meanings and tradition. -It is transmitted from generation to generation by specific cultural techniques and procedures. - It is kept relatively uniform by social pressure, but individual cultures very in the degrees of conformity they impose. - It is constantly changing due to dynamic: 1.Contact between groups: a. Diffusion b. Acculturation c. Globolization 2.Independent discovery and invention within groups. -It is capable of creativity beyond the needs for survival. -It is cumulative: 1.The historical foundations of any culture extends many generations into the past. 2. New adjustments or adaptations are almost always compromises between the limitations of the past and new opportunities. 3. Past commitments exert a powerful influence on the way societies change, sudden transformations are rare. -They provide a set of symbols that are responded to rather than reality, example: flags, wedding rings, a crucifix. -it is a set of learned responses to the environment which increases the adaptability of the species. It is adaptive to: 1.Geographic environment, example:climate, terrain 2. Biophysical demands, example: water, food, shelter, security, and reproduction. 3. Sociocultural environment, example: social controls, social change, social stress. 4. But not all cultural behaviors are adaptive. -It defines situations giving clues on how one should act, examplem: fight or flight, laugh or cry, punish or reward. -it provides a worldview through a system of legends, myths and ideas about the supernatural, example: creation myths -it is integrated but not perfect, but all aspects are interrelated. -it is not inflexible and provides a range of behavioral norms. -it can refer to the adaptive mechanism of the whole human species or to a particular culture.

How does human behavior different from that of animals?

- Human learning is cumulative, and animal behavior is not. Today's chips used tools to capture termites for food in the same manner they did 2 million years ago. - Humans use spoken language made possible by the greater use of symbols, allowing transmission of information about the past, present and future. We have more to learn and learn in more complex ways. - Humans control sources of energy outside the human body. - Humans can adapt by modifying the bio physical environment to suit their needs. - Humans are totally dependent on culture for survival. - Humans are divided by culture but also united by their capacity to create culture. -over 90% of the content of most cultures has its origins in other societies through borrowing and imitation.

What are the basic types of family groups?

- It's organization varies from ones nuclear family (which includes only spouses and children) to the extended family, which consists of several nuclear family such as (aunts, uncles, cousins camels camels nieces and nephews) united together by age, totems and other factors.

Identify worldview and its importance.

-A worldview or ideology that tends to shape and support once I look as well as social and moral relationships. It consists of a series of values and priorities concerning the goals of societies institutions as well as individual and collective needs and responsibilities. A worldview affect such concepts as the role of technology, the human relationship of nature, the relationships are scarcity and abundance and time dimensions. -Worldview is important because it provides a framework for the organization of societal, economic and political activities. A strong worldview ideology promotes cohesiveness and viability in society, while the lack of it can lead to turmoil, chaos and possibly revolution.

What is the difference between biological and cultural evolution?

-Biological evolution: a population-level process guided by selection, and it leads to an increase of the adaptation of the population for the environmental circumstances in which the population lives. -Cultural evolution: defined as the wholeness of the mental and material achievements of a society or mankind as a whole.

What is cultural relativism and it's significance?

-Every culture is unique and must be analyze in its own terms. -Traits are never absolutely good or bad, their function and meaning is relative to the culture setting. -But this approach, referred to as cultural role of it is him, should not imply that all customers are equally valuable or that no customs or harmful. -Cultural relativism cannot be used indiscriminately to do to construct a personal moral blueprint. -Cultural relativism has helped to break down many ethnocentric biases or stereotypes about other groups. It has promoted better understanding and tolerance by reminding us that our own way of life is not the only or best way to live

Differentiate: in groups and out groups, primary groups and secondary groups.

-In-Groups: Those we belong to and interact with. Can be divided into: -primary: Goes to which we are initially tide, such as the family, the click, a military platoon or a gorilla cell. -secondary groups: include unions, corporations and professional organizations -Out-Groups: those to which we don't belong.

How is the modern culture of individualism negatively affected society?

-More and more we live alone and children are often raised by one parent or third-party specialist, not the king group. -The survival of the group is no longer important and monetary profit or worth seems to be the major measure of success. -People no longer see the need to contribute to society, but instead pursue individual immediate self gratification with as little work as possible.

What are subcultures? Around what factors are they organized? Why are they more important in complex societies?

-Significant units of people with shared beliefs, values, interest, and behavior sufficient to distinguish them from the larger or dominant culture. -Based on ethnic background, but may constitute groups identified by age, gender, race, religion, occupation, geographic location. -Subcultures with her very believes, food, music or dress can be enriching to the majority Culture. But a clash of cultures can also occur resulting in social conflict and individual misconduct. Subcultures may also facilitate survival or success especially for members of oppressed groups by providing social, economic, political and psychological support.

How can socialcultural evolution replace or modify biological evolution?

-Sociocultural evolution to replace and modify biological evolution. -Sociocultural evolution can pass on a new idea or invention to any number of people at the same time while genetic changes would take generations to spread throughout a species. -Socialcultural changes can be transmitted to anybody while genetic changes can only be passed on to one's offspring. -Socialcultural evolution is thus more rapid and more disruptive than genetic change via natural selection.

Why do we now realize that the gap between human and animal behavior is not as great as we once thought?

-The great apes exhibit various behaviors that have caused some to identify those behaviors as Proto-cultural. - modification of tools by our closest relative, the chimpanzee. - taught chimps and gorillias to use sign language and computers to communicate with humans. -All primates exhibit systems of socially learned behavior related to social hierarchies, mating and food acquisition that are transmitted through the generations.

Identify the three major aspects of culture related to adaptation.

1. Technology: the role materials and organizational forms necessary to adapt to the physical environment and provide for examples: -subsistence -Shelter and protection next line - group reproduction -transport and distribution networks -clothes, tools 2. Social Organization: The practices that groups develop to regulate social life, examples: -Marriage -family -education -politics -stratification 3. Ideaology: shared believes and values that help justify a groups way of life, examples: - Religion - folklre -literature -art -music -philosophy

Identify four basic functions essential for the survival of societies.

1.Ensure the biological functioning of their participants.: -Reproduction of new members -protection from hunger, disease and the elements -biopshycological security 2.To provide for the socialization and enculturation of new individuals into functioning adults. By the time I chose two or three years old she or he has already acquired a specific cultural tradition.: -speaks its language -has established food preferences -uses stereotypic gestures and salutations -begins to classify and categorize parts of the environment in ways that are peculiar to the culture -appreciate symbolic categories to their own actions, thoughts, and feelings. -and learn to apply these new categories to their own actions, thoughts, and feelings. -by the age 6 children have the capacity for self control and awareness of accountability -allow shame and guilt and sense of virtue and awareness of the goodness of self 3.To provide for production and distribution of goods and services: -economic division of labor -production and distribution rights and duties -ownership and disposal rights 4.To provide for the maintenance of order: -internal order by internalization of norms -internal order by laws and physical force -external order with other societies, example: alliances, treaties, threats, vigilance

What are the functions of the family?

1.Regulation of sexual activity 2.reproduction of new members 3.cultural learning 4.protection and support during development 5.confer status and social identity

What is culture?

A system of lifeways and ideas shared by members of a human society.

How is culture a major adaptive mechanism?

Culture as a major adaptive mechanism has increasingly freed humans from many limitations imposed by their habitat. Humans can adapt culturally by modifying the physical environment rather than adapting genetically.

How might the cultural capacity of humans actually threaten the survival of our species?

However, some cultural behaviors can be maladaptive or neutral. Culture can influence biology through its effects on gene frequencies related to caste and marriage rules and post birth developmental plasticity. It can also dictate biological features/appearance through body modification via plastic surgery, tattoos, and scarring.

Why is the capacity to acquire culture and transmit it biologically based?

Human biology places limitations on what human can or cannot do. However, it also paves the way for certain human activities.

Differentiate: ideal and real culture, society and culture, enculturation and socialization.

Ideal: Formally approved pattern supposedly characteristic of a cultural system Real: Consists of the actual behavioral pattern Society: A territorially bounded, autonomous population of animals of a single species which maintains sustained social ties and interdependence among its members. Culture: A system of life ways and ideas shared by members of a human society. Enculturation: process whereby humans learn the language and culture of their group (more inclusive) Socialization: characteristic of all animals, humans included, by which they learn to become a member of their social group, either one they are born into or join.

What is acculturation?

Interaction with groups of individuals from different cultures come into rather continuous contact, resulting in changes in the original culture pattern of one or both groups, or in individual members.

Why should human evolution be referred to as a biocultural evolution?

It emphasizes the interaction of our species specific biology, bio physical environment and social culture cultural factors in the development of the human adaptive pattern. Both culture and human biology must adapt to the bio physical environment.

In what ways is culture adaptive?

It is a set of learned responses to the environment which increases the adaptability of the species. It is adaptive to: 1.Geographic environment, example:climate, terrain 2. Biophysical demands, example: water, food, shelter, security, and reproduction. 3. Sociocultural environment, example: social controls, social change, social stress. 4. But not all cultural behaviors are adaptive.

What do we mean by the statement, "the capacity to acquire and transmit culture is biological?"

Language facilitated communication and establish the basis for the transmission and growth of culture. Language enables humans to be still meaning on their surroundings and the create culture. The evolution of the human brain place a preemie on genotypes which encouraged as you can billet he leading to an increased ability to learn and profit from experience. And she ability encouraged human behavior plus the city which allowed flexible social organization in the development of more complex and powerful technological exploitation of the environment.

What are cultural values and why are they important?

Standards of what is acceptable and unacceptable. They guide our outlook and behavior toward the world and its inhabitants as well as our own believes about the supernatural. Important because: 1. provide a set of guides that govern behavior 2. Can foster a spirit of community cooperation 3. Can result in group and individual conflicts 4. Can suppress individual initiative 5. Can help to restrain in order behavior

What is ethnocentrism? How does it develop? What is its significance?

Takes for granted the superiority of one's own group, culture, or subculture, it is the opposite of culture relativism. It would seem that all societies, groups and most individuals are ethnocentric. Ethnocentrism may develop due to: 1. a lack of understanding the varied ways of others 2. deliberate cultivation related to nationalism, religion, race 3. the enculturation and socialization processes of ones group and the resultant in-group and out-group contrast 4. A defense against one's own inadequacies 5. Personal experience related to a ethnocentric bias Ethnocentrism is never holy good or bad. It can lead to group loyalty, unity and moral that help group survival. But it can bind a group to the facts about themselves leading to destructive forces such as bigotry, exploitation, and genocide.

What is a social group?

These are aggregations of individuals acting together to satisfy certain common needs while sharing a common identity. examples: the ladies aid society, lions club, or a Civil War history club