Chapter 3 Culture

Section 1 Objective Culture defines how people in a society behave in relation to others and to physical objects. Although most behavior among animals is instinctual, human behavior is learned. Even reflexes and drives do not completely determine how humans will behave, because people are heavily influenced by culture. • explain how culture and heredity affect social behavior.

What 2 things can not exist without each other? Culture Society These 2 are tightly interwoven. Behavior based on culture  culture is learned behavior

Which is more important? Culture or Instinct. Culture is the more important of the 2. It can carry us past where instinct leaves off.

What is the nature vs. nurture argument? Is it justified? How much of personality is heredity & how much of it is learned behavior? You can justify either direction, with the right argument.

Different cultures teach them different things. Why do genetically inherited personality traits not control social behavior? Different cultures teach them different things.

What behaviors are viewed by sociobiologists to contribute to the survival of the species? Parental care & Affection Friendship Sexual Reproduction Education

List 3 criticisms of Sociobiology Importance placed genetics could be used to justify races superior or inferior To much variation in societies around the globe to base behavior solely on genetics Use of language unique to humans, as well as the complex social life

When genetics and culture work together what has been found? Shape and limit human nature and social life Step-parents are more likely to abuse step-children than their own children Men & Women look for different characteristics when choosing a spouse

The Basis Of Culture Section 1 Main Ideas: Culture defines how people in a society behave in relation to others and to physical objects. Although most behavior among animals is instinctual, human behavior is learned. Section 1 Main Ideas: The Basis Of Culture

Section 2 Objectives • describe how language and culture are related. Humans can create and transmit culture. The symbols of language play a role in determining people’s views of reality. • describe how language and culture are related.

Define the following vocab Symbols Hypotheses of linguistic relativity

Why are symbols important? Help to create and transmit culture Make up Language Meaningful representation of something

Why is language important? Allows us to create culture Allows us to read, discuss, & recombine existing ideas Can pass along experiences, ideas, & knowledge

What can vocab tell us about a culture? When something is important to a society, its language will have many words to describe it. Americans w/ Money

Are we prisoners of our Language? Exposure to other languages gives us other view points. If we only know & use 1 language we are stuck.

Language and Culture Section 2 Main Ideas: Humans can create and transmit culture. The symbols of language play a role in determining people’s view of reality. Section 2 Main Ideas: Language and Culture

Section 3 Objectives name the essential components of culture. The essential components of culture are norms, values, beliefs, and material objects. Sanctions are used to encourage conformity to norms. Values, the broadest cultural ideas, form the basis for norms. name the essential components of culture.

List some norms in American life. List 5 and explain each of them

What are the 3 types of norms? Folkways Mores Laws

List some examples of folkways. Supporting a school activity Speaking to others in passing Removing your hat while inside a building See the chart on pg. 82 Failure to do these draws no real punishment, but you do these as a sign of politeness.

How are mores different from folkways? Conformity draws strong social approval, violation brings strong disapproval

Why are the punishments for taboos so strong? Because the feelings against these are so strong some believe punishment will come from the supernatural

Cite the differences between Folkways/Mores Laws Emerge slowly & are often created unconsciously Consciously create & enforce (usually don’t change)

How are sanctions used to shape behavior? Rewards are used to encourage appropriate behavior while punishment reinforces that the behavior is unacceptable

How have American norms change in relation to values? Racism on decline People working as hard at leisure activities as the do at work Increased emphasis on honesty & friendliness

Norms and Values Section 3 Main Ideas: Two essential components of culture are norms and values. Norms include folkways, mores, and laws. Sanctions are used to encourage conformity to norms. Values, the broadest cultural ideas, form the basis for norms. Section 3 Main Ideas: Norms and Values

Section 4 Objective understand the role of ethnocentrism in society. Besides norms and values, beliefs and physical objects make up culture. Ideal culture includes the guidelines we claim to accept, while real culture describes how we actually behave. understand the role of ethnocentrism in society.

What makes up a culture? Values Norms Knowledge Ideas Physical objects

T/F beliefs can be based on false thoughts? True Check out this picture and think about some others

Why is the cultural meaning of physical objects not determined by physical characteristics? Meaning of physical objects are based on beliefs, norms, & values people hold with regard to them

Using the topic of honesty, cite an example of ideal vs. real culture.

Beliefs and Material Culture Besides norms and values, beliefs and physical objects make up culture. Ideal culture includes the guidelines we claim to accept, while real culture describes how we actually behave. Section 4 Main Ideas: Beliefs and Material Culture

Section 5 Objective Cultures change according to three major processes. Cultures contain groups within them called subcultures and countercultures that differ in important ways from the main culture. People tend to make judgments based on the values of their own cultures. While apparently very different on the surface, all cultures have common traits or elements that sociologists call cultural universals. identify similarities in cultures around the world.

What are 3 reasons cultures change? Discovery  process of finding something already in existence

What are 3 reasons cultures change? Invention  creation of something new

What are 3 reasons cultures change? Diffusion  borrowing aspects of culture from other culture

Give an example of a subculture & reasons why? Chinatown  American culture effected greatly; but have retained things such as language, diet, & family structures

Why is “Punk” considered a counterculture? Rebellion against social norm of thinking, dress, behavior, & sexuality

Why are the Olympics seen as ethnocentric? Country’s medal standing is taken as a reflection of their worth & status on the world stage

Give the “Pros” & “Cons” of ethnocentrism. Postive feelings when what they do is right or superior Stability due to tradition & valued behavior Complacency (not ingenuity) Violence against others due to lack of understanding

List some cultural universals Sports/ cooking/ courtship/ education/ family/ government/ joking/ language/ mourning & marriage/ music/ sexual restrictions

What 3 things cause cultural universals? Biological similarities Physical environment Face same social problems