Sociology Chapter 3

Signs

(or symbols), such as a traffic signal or product logo, are used to meaningfully represent something else

How can material culture change dramatically?

through technology

more

A more is a norm that carries greater moral significance, is closely related to the core values of a group, and often involves severe repercussions for violators.

cultural diffusion

Cultural change can also occur through cultural diffusion, which is when different groups share their material and nonmaterial culture with each other.

What is culture?

Culture is the entire way of life for a group of people (including both material and symbolic elements). It is a lens through which one views the world and is passed from one generation to the next. It includes things such as language, standards of beauty, hand gestures, styles of dress, food, and music.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis

Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf's hypothesis that language creates ways of thinking and perceiving

Culture Wars

Mainstream culture is often characterized by points of dissension and division, which are sometimes called culture wars. Sociologists also make a distinction between norms and values that are more aspired to (ideal culture) than actually practiced (real culture).

cultural leveling

Occurs when cultures that were once distinct become increasingly similar to one another

What are the two components of culture?

Sociologists see culture as consisting of two different categories: material culture (any physical object to which we give social meaning) and symbolic culture (the ideas associated with a cultural group). Material culture includes the objects associated with a cultural group, such as tools, machines, utensils, buildings, and artwork. Symbolic culture includes ways of thinking (beliefs, values, and assumptions) and ways of behaving (norms, interactions, and communication).

Technological determinists

Those who believe technology is the most important influence on cultural change are called technological determinists.

subculture

a group within society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyle.

Folkway

a loosely enforced norm that involves common customs, practices, or procedures that ensure smooth social interaction and acceptance.

Taboo

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

language

a system of communication using vocal sounds, gestures, and written symbols, is probably the most significant component of culture because it allows us to communicate.

Sanctions

are positive or negative reactions to the ways that people follow or disobey norms, including rewards for conformity and punishments for norm violators. Sanctions help to establish social control, the formal and informal mechanisms used to increase conformity to values and norms and thus increase social cohesion.

Counter Culture

is a group within society whose values and norms are incompatible or in conflict with dominant values and norms.

cultural imperialism

is the imposition of one culture's beliefs, practices, and artifacts on another culture through mass media and consumer products.

dominant culture

refers to the values, norms, and practices of the group within society that is most powerful in terms of wealth, prestige, status, and influence.

Values

shared beliefs about what a group considers worthwhile or desirable, guide the creation of norms, the formal and informal rules regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a culture. Norms can be either formal, such as a law (a common type of formally defined norm), or informal, which are not written down and are unspoken.

Cultural Hegemony

the pervasive and excessive influence of one culture throughout society

cultural relativism

the principle of understanding other cultures on their own terms, rather than judging them according to one's own culture.

Ethnocentrism

the principle of using one's own culture as a standard by which to evaluate another group or individual, leading to the view that cultures other than one's own are abnormal

Gestures

the signs that we make with our body, such as hand gestures and facial expressions; it is important that these gestures also carry meaning

Multiculturalism

values diverse racial, ethnic, national, and linguistic backgrounds and so encourages the retention of cultural differences within society, rather than assimilation.