Ch 3-Culture

Homogenious society

= common culture=Sweden, Japan

Cultural Imperialism

The extensive infusion of one nation's culture into other nations. Some consider the use of the English language in countries that speak other languages as a form of cultural imperialism. If the world develops a global culture, it will likely include a diffusion of literature, music, clothing, and food from many societies and cultures.

Which of the following hypothetical statements does not express a core U.S. value? "How well does it work?" "Is this a realistic thing to do?" "My freedom is important to me." "It is good to be lazy."

The hypothetical statement, *"It is good to be lazy."* does not express a core U.S. value.

_____ consists of knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects. a)Social structure B)Society c)Culture d)Social organization

*Culture* consists of knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects.

________ consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share. Nonmaterial culture Cultural universals Material culture High culture

*Material culture* consists of the physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use, and share.

Fashions

- A style of behavior, thinking, or appearance that is longer lasting and more widespread than a fad

Heterogenious society

= people with different social characteristics—religion, race, income =USA

According to Karl Marx, and Marxist theorists: a)none of the choices. b)ideas are used by agents of the wealthy to affect the thoughts and actions of members of other classes. c)ideas are effective for the working classes to motivate the wealthy. d)ideas have little impact on the relations between the wealthy and poor in societies.

According to Karl Marx, and Marxist theorists, *ideas are used by agents of the wealthy to affect the thoughts and actions of members of other classes.*

Functionalist

Biological Needs = food and procreation Instrumental Needs = laws and education Expressive needs are integrative = religion and art. + focus on needs of society and that stability is needed for society to continue - society has numerous dysfunctions and reinforces the -'s i.e.. Violence on TV, music, games =school shootings

Functionalist

Culture helps people meet biological, instrumental and expressive needs.

Postmodern

Culture is based on simulation of reality rather than reality itself.

Symbolic Interactionist

People create, maintain, and modify culture during their everyday activities. You can create values and norms with each daily encounter, therefore this equals the sum of all peoples interactions.

technology

as knowledge, techniques, and tools that make it possible for people to transform resources into usable forms, and the skills required to use them after they are developed

Civil law

deals with disputes among persons or groups. Landlord/tenant disputes, divorce proceedings, child custody proceedings, property disputes (real estate or material), etc. Pay $ to other party.

Criminal law

deals with public safety and well-being. Theft (by deception or unlawful taking), assault, robbery, wanton endangerment, trafficking in controlled substances, alcohol intoxication, etc. Jail, fines, death penalty.

Cultural relativism

views and analyzes another culture in terms of that culture's own values and standards. Cultural relativism is the view that no culture is superior to any other culture when comparing: morality, law, politics, etc. It's the philosophical notion that all cultural beliefs are equally valid. Those who hold to cultural relativism hold that all religious, ethical, and political beliefs are completely relative to the individual within a cultural identity.

Fads

- a temporary but widely copied activity followed enthusiastically by large numbers of people.

Conflict

Ideas can be used by the ruling class to affect members of other classes. Karl Marx=ideas are cultural creations of a society's most powerful members= trickle down of ideas.

Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of: material culture high culture nonmaterial culture cultural universals

Language, beliefs, values, rules of behavior, family patterns, and political systems are examples of *nonmaterial culture.*

Popular culture consists of: a)activities, products, and services that are assumed to appeal primarily to members of the middle and working classes. b) media events, which are typically on TV or the Internet. c)ideas that can transform a society, but have yet to take shape or form. d)fads to keep the populace uninterested in politics which can remove the status quo from power, disrupting organization and stability in everyday life

Popular culture consists of *activities, products, and services that are assumed to appeal primarily to members of the middle and working classes.*

All of the following statements regarding culture are true, except: a)culture is essential for our survival. b)culture is essential for our communications with other people. c)culture is fundamental for the survival of societies. d)culture is always a stabilizing force for societies.

The following statement regarding culture is NOT true: *culture is always a stabilizing force for societies.*

Culture

The knowledge, language, values, customs, and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society. is essential for survival and communication with other people. is learned through interaction, observation and imitation. is fundamental for the survival of societies.

Norms

are established rules of behavior or standards of conduct. Norms are the rules and expectations that govern a society. While such rules and expectations vary by culture, compliance with established norms is expected of every individual in society.

Taboos

are mores so strong that violation is considered extremely offensive and even unmentionable. A taboo is a strong social prohibition/ ban relating to any area of activity or custom that is sacred and forbidden based on moral judgment and religious beliefs.

Informal norms

are unwritten standards of behavior understood by people who share a common identity. When individuals violate informal norms, people may apply informal sanctions. (rudeness, foul language, table manners..)

Formal norms

are written down and involve specific punishments for violators. They are laid down by legal, religious, or social authority against which appropriateness (what is right or wrong) of an individual's behavior is judged. Laws are the most common type of formal norms. (Drunk driving, child abuse, robbery)

Counterculture

can be described as a group whose behavior deviates from the societal norm. describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day.

High culture

consists of activities patronized by elite audiences, composed of members of the upper-middle and upper classes. Examples: classical music, opera, ballet, live theater

Popular culture

consists of activities, products, and services that are assumed to appeal to members of the middle and working classes. Examples: Rock concerts, spectator sports, movies, soap operas, situation comedies

Cultural lag

is a gap between the technical development of a society and its moral and legal institutions. Material cultural changes faster than nonmaterial cultural. Therefore, nonmaterial culture is struggling to adapt to the new material conditions. i.e. Medical Records. Computer vs file.

subculture

is a group of people with a culture (whether distinct or hidden) which makes them different from the larger culture that they belong to, known as the "dominate" culture. Members of a subculture often signal each other through the use of fashion, certain behaviors, and use of a secret language created to prevent others not in their group from understanding them.

Ethnocentrism

is the assumption that one's own culture is superior to others. tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own ethnic culture.

Culture shock

refers to the anxiety people experience when they encounter cultures radically different from their own. The differences between cultures can make it very difficult to adjust to the new surroundings. clothes, weather, language, and food as well as different people, schools, and values.

Prescriptive norms

state what behavior is appropriate or acceptable. state what behavior is appropriate/acceptable. informs people of what they should do in a society. When preventing crime in the area, residents should secure all windows and doors. Individuals should also be watched and report suspicious activity = people are advised but not required to take action. Prescriptive norms are designed to influence individuals to voluntarily engage in productive behavior.

Proscriptive norms

state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable. state what behavior is inappropriate or unacceptable focus on what people cannot do in a society. provide guidance on what is unacceptable behavior. i.e. Cell phones in a movie Law enforcement and school rules are examples of such norms. As laws instruct civilians not to exceed 65mph on the highway, school rules inform children that tardiness is unacceptable.

According to Functionalists, a function of popular culture is to: a) keep members of society preoccupied so they do not realize inequalities within society. b) keep members of society focused on the important things within society. c) be the glue that holds society together. d) teach cultural relativism.

According to Functionalists, a function of popular culture is to *be the glue that holds society together.*

According to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: a)reality is objective and is easily understood by humans. b)language shapes the view of reality of its speakers. c)reality is based on the interactions of individuals. d)with more knowledge, a person minimizes the influence of language.

According to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, *language shapes the view of reality of its speakers.*

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

According to this theory, language shapes the view of reality of its speakers. If people are able to think only through language, then language/words must precede thought. Language proceeds thought Language is not given Language is culturally defined states that there are certain thoughts of an individual in one language that cannot be understood by those who use another language. arguing that a person's world view is largely determined by their vocabulary in his or her language (linguistic determinism).

An alternative to ethnocentrism is: racism Prejudice cultural relativism xenophobia

An alternative to ethnocentrism is *cultural relativism.*

An example of a symbol is: a dove all of the choices a heart Nazi swastika

An example of a symbol is a dove, a heart, and a Nazi swastika.