Sociology Ch 2 S 1 The Meaning of Culture Obj: Define the meaning of the term culture and explain how material culture and nonmaterial culture differ; identify and describe the basic components of culture

Most sociologists believe that, unlike other animals, humans are not controlled by natural instincts. Because humans are not locked into a set of predetermined behaviors, they are able to adapt and change their environment. The methods by which collections of people-be they small groups or entire societies-deal with their environment form the foundation of their culture.

What is Culture? Culture consists of all the shared products of human groups. These products include both physical objects and the beliefs, values and behaviors shared by a group.

The physical objects that people create and use form a group’s material culture. Examples of material culture include automobiles, books, buildings, clothing, computers, and cooking utensils. Abstract human creations form a group’s nonmaterial culture. Examples of nonmaterial culture include beliefs, family patterns, ideas, language, political and economic systems, rules, skills, and work practices.

In everyday speech, people tend to use the terms society and culture interchangeably. However, sociologists distinguish between the two terms. A society is a group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and feeling of unity. Society consists of people, and culture consists of the material and nonmaterial products that people create.

The Components of Culture Culture is both learned and shared. This idea does not mean that everyone in the US dresses the same way, belongs to the same church, or likes the same type of music. It does mean that most people in the US choose from among the same broad set of material and nonmaterial elements of culture in dealing with and making sense of their environment.

Many languages are spoken in the US; however, English is the most shared language. Specific examples of the material and nonmaterial elements of culture vary from society to society, but all cultures have certain basic components. These components are technology, symbols, language, values, and norms.

Technology A society’s culture consists of not only physical objects but also the rules for using those objects. Sociologists sometimes refer to this combination of objects and rules as technology.

Using items of material culture, particularly tools, requires knowledge of various skills, which is part of the nonmaterial culture. For example, an understanding of how silicon chips work, knowledge of computer languages, and the ability to access and surf the Internet are all skills related to the computer. Sociologists are not only interested in skills but also in the rules of acceptable behavior when using material culture. For example, the practice of “hacking” – accessing Web sites or computer systems illegally – is usually considered unacceptable behavior.

Symbols The use of symbols is the very basis of human culture. It is through symbols that we create our culture and communicate it to group members and future generations. As you learned in Chapter 1, a symbol is anything that represents something else.

In other words, a symbol has a shared meaning attached to it In other words, a symbol has a shared meaning attached to it. Any word, gesture, image, sound, physical object, event, or element of the natural world can serve as a symbol as long as people recognize that it carries a particular meaning. A church service, a class ring, the word hello, the Lincoln Memorial, and a handshake are examples of common symbols in the US. Although, specific examples vary from culture to culture, all cultures communicate symbolically.

Language One of the most obvious aspects of any culture is its language. Language is the organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system. When organized according to accepted rules of grammar, words can be used to express any idea.

In the US most people learn to speak an American form of English and use this language as their primary means of communicating with one another. English is the principal language used in schools, in books and magazines, on radio and television, and in business dealings, even though there are members of American society who do not speak English. Have you ever visited a foreign country and been unable to speak the language? If so, you will realize how important the use of language is in daily life.

Values Language and other symbols are important partly because they allow us to communicate our values to one another and to future generations. Values are shared beliefs about what is good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable.

The types of values held by a group help to determine the character of its people and the kinds of material and nonmaterial culture they create. A society that values war and displays of physical strength above all else will be different from one that places emphasis on cooperation and sharing. The Yanomamo of South American and the San provide examples of how different value systems produce different cultures.

Norms All groups create norms to enforce their cultural values. Norms are shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations. For example, in the US the value of a democratic government is reinforced through norms governing political participation, respect for the American flag, and the treatment of elected officials.

It is important to keep in mind that norms are expectations for behavior, not actual behaviors. The fact that a group has norms governing certain behaviors does not necessarily mean that the actions of all individuals will be in line with those norms. In the US, for example, there are norms concerning financial responsibility. Nevertheless, some people do not pay their bills. A tremendous number of norms exists in our society ranging from the unimportant, such as cover your mouth when you yawn, to the very important, such as do not kill a human being.

While some norms apply to everyone in society, others are applied selectively. For example, no one in American society is legally allowed to marry more than one person at a time. But only selected groups of people, such as children and the clergy of some religions, are forbidden from marrying at all. Norms have also been influenced by geographic factors. Restrictions against campfires have been placed in some regions of the western US to prevent deadly and costly forest fires.

Even important norms are sometimes applied selectively Even important norms are sometimes applied selectively. The norm against taking another person’s life, for example, is applied differently to soldiers and police officers acting in the line of duty than it is to most members of society. Norms also vary in the strictness with which they are enforced. In recognition of all these variations, sociologists distinguish between two types of norms: folkways and mores.

Folkways are norms that describe socially acceptable behavior but do not have great moral significance attached to them. In essence, they outline the common customs of everyday life. All of the following are folkways: do not put food in your mouth with a knife: when lowering the American flag, do not allow it to touch the ground, etc. Failure to abide by such rules usually results in a reprimand or a minor punishment. Some degree of nonconformity to folkways is permitted because it does not endanger the well-being or stability of society.

Mores, on the other hand have great significance attached to them Mores, on the other hand have great significance attached to them. This relation exists because the violation of such rules endangers society’s well-being and stability. For example, dishonesty, fraud, and murder all greatly threaten society. Societies have established punishments for violating mores in order to protect the social well-being. These serious mores are formalized as laws – written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the government. Most laws enforce mores essential to social stability, such as those against arson, murder, rape, and theft. However, laws may also enforce less severe folkways, such as not parking in spaces reserved for drivers with disabilities.

Examining Culture Although some cultural norms such as prohibiting murder have existed in almost every society over time, culture is continually changing. In sociological terms, it is dynamic rather than static.

New material objects are constantly being introduced, as are new words, expressions, and ideas. If cultures are so vast and complicated and are constantly changing, how do sociologists study them? Sociologists examine a culture by breaking it down into levels and studying each level separately. The features of a culture can be divided into three levels of complexity: traits, complexes, and patterns.

The simplest level of culture is the culture trait The simplest level of culture is the culture trait. A culture trait is an individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need. Using knives, forks, and spoons when eating is a culture trait. Another trait is the specific greeting used when meeting people. If you see a good friend you probably say, “Hi”. On the other hand, when greeting the human-resources manager at a job interview you would probably not be as informal. The greeting you use is related to the particular situation or need.

Individual culture traits combine to form the next level – culture complexes. A culture complex is a cluster of interrelated traits. The game of football is a culture complex that involves a variety of traits. Material traits include the football, the measuring chain, cleated shoes, helmets, etc, Kicking, passing, etc are among the specific acts of football.

Specific beliefs related to the game also exist, including the belief that certain rules should be followed and that penalties should be given for rule violations. The financing, marketing, and advertising of football games also form a large part of the sport’s culture. In industrial societies, thousands of culture complexes can be identified and studied.

Culture complexes combine to form larger levels called culture patterns. A culture pattern is the combination of a number of culture complexes into an interrelated whole. For example, the separate complexes of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track combine to form the American athletic pattern. Other patterns relate to such aspects of society as agriculture, education, family life, manufacturing, and religion. These patterns form important components of a society’s culture.