Chapter 3- pt 2

Symbols

- A related form of communication to convey meaning to others - Are the gestures, objects, and words that form the basis of human communication

Verbal Communication

- Can shape how we see, taste, feel, and hear. - Influences the way we think about the people, ideas, and objects around us - Communicates a culture most important norms, values, and sanctions

Culture War

- For almost a generation public attention in the US has focused on this. The polarization of society of controversial cultural elements - Cultural and religious identities are now becoming more of the source of international conflict rather than national or political loyalties - When core values change like, they can be met with much opposition. This is called a culture war. The traditionalists see the changing values as a threat to their way of life.

Language

- Members of a society generally share a common language which facilitates day to day exchanges with others, fundamental to a shared culture. -Foundation of every culture -An abstract system of a word meanings and symbols for all aspects of culture -Ability to speak other languages is crucial to intercultural relations

Nonverbal communication

- The use of gestures, facial expressions, and other visual images to communicate - Not born with these expressions, we learn them from people who share our same culture - Not the same in all cultures, can mean different things varying cultures

Values

- Though we each may have personal set of values we also all share a general set of values as a members of a society -Cultural values are these collective conceptions of what is considered good, desirable, and proper, or improper in a culture. They indicate what people in a given culture prefer as well as what they find important and morally right or wrong.

Proscriptive Norms

- what is wrong or "abnormal," what ought not to be

Laws

-Formal norms that are enforced by the state. Governmental social control. Laws include formalized and codified rules stipulated by courts of law and coercively enforced by control agents. -Formal rules enforced by legislature/ gov't -All laws are mores, but not all mores are laws.

Norms

-Norms are shared rules or guidelines that prescribe the behavior appropriate in a given situation. -Are established standards of behavior mainted by society -Shared Rules. -Classified as either formal or informal , if written (formal, if not wirrten (informal) -Norms define how people "ought" to behave under particular circumstances in a particular society. -In order for a norm to become significant, it must be widely shared and understood. -Norms ensure that social life proceeds smoothly, for they give us guidelines for our own behavior and reliable expectations for the behavior of others. This function of norms is so important that there is always strong social pressure on people to conform.

Mores

-Norms deemed highly necessary to the welfare of a society, often because they embody the most cherished principles of a people. Each society demands obedience to its mores; violation can lead to severe penalties. Some mores have been institutionalized into formal norms. -Informal and formal

Folkways

-Norms governing everyday behavior. Folkways define socially approved or disapproved behavior, but they do not reflect a sense of moral obligation. Penalties are relatively mild and include ridicule and ostracism. - People are going to takjm but you won't get in trouble -only informal norm

Formal norms

-generally written down and involve strict rules for punishment of violators (law)

Subculture

A segment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of customs, rules, and traditions that differs from the pattern of the larger society. Can be thought of as a culture existing within a larger, dominant culture.

Sanctions

Are penalties and rewards for conduct concerning a social norm. Conformity to a norm can lead to positive sanctions whereas negative sanctions result in trouble.

Sapir- Whorf Hypothesis

Describes the role of language in shaping our interpretation of reality. Language precedes thought. Languages not a given but culturally determined and encourages a distinctive interpretation of reality by focusing our attention on certain phenomena.

Argot

Frequently developed by a subculture. A specialized language that distinguishes it from the wider society. Allow insiders, the members of the sub culture to understand words with special meaning. It also establishes patterns of communication that outsiders can't understand

Subcultures

Is a segment of society that shares a distinctive pattern of mores, folkways and wolves that differ from the pattern of the larger society

Counter Culture

When a subculture conspicuously and deliberately opposes certain aspects of the larger culture. Thrive around the young who have the least investment in the existing culture

Culture Shock

When one feels disoriented, uncertain, out of place, or even fearful when immersed in an unfamiliar culture

Prescriptive Norms

what is right or "normal," of what ought to be