A Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e SOCIOLOGY A Down-to-Earth Approach 8/e James M. Henslin Chapter Two Culture This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Culture What is it? Story in Morocco – pgs. 37-38 Material Culture Language, beliefs, values, norms, behavior passed from one generation to the next Story in Morocco – pgs. 37-38 unfamiliar territory and universal norms Material Culture – jewelry, art, buildings, weapons, clothing, etc. Nonmaterial (also call symbolic) Culture beliefs, values, etc. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Culture and Taken-for-Granted Orientations Using your sociological imagination in culture Meeting someone new and seeing the effects of a much different culture Internalization of our norms – eye contact, space, etc. OUR speech, OUR gestures, OUR beliefs, and OUR customs—we usually take for granted. WE assume they are normal or natural Culture touches almost every aspect of who and what we are Came into the world without language, values, and no ideas about money, religion, or love… Yet by now, we have acquired all of them Sociologists call that “The culture within us” Learned ways of sharing and believing Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Culture Shock Ethnocentrism When your material and non-material fail you When you are no longer able to make sense out of the world I.e. The pushing to buy a ticket Ethnocentrism The use of one’s own culture as a yardstick for judging ways of other individuals or societies. Generally leads to negative evaluation of values, beliefs, & norms Positive and Negative consequences Pos- creates in-group loyaties Neg- can lead to discrimination against people whose ways are different from ours. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Practicing Cultural Relativism What is it? Not judging a culture BUT trying to understand its own terms Not seeing the culture as inferior or superior None of us can be entirely successful at practicing cultural relativism. Strange foods. p.39 Read ‘Strange foods’ Class discussion Evaluation through our lens. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Components of Symbolic Culture or Non-Material Culture Symbol – something to which people attach meaning and that they use to communicate Gestures Using ones body to convey messages without words Gestures’ meaning differ among cultures Can Lead to Misunderstandings Left handed Americans Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Components of Symbolic Culture Language Because written language lacks subtle cues Emoticons – online use Provides social or shared past Provides social or shared future Allows shared perspective Allows complex, shared, goal-directed behavior Like gestures the same sound in one culture is entirely different in another Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Language and Perception: Sapir-Whorf Language has embedded within it ways of looking at the world Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Hopi Indians (past, present, future) reverses common sense Instead of objects and events forcing themselves into our consciousness, it is our language that determines our consciousness—hence our perception of objects and events Language both reflects and shapes cultural experiences Ex. Goth’s, Jock’s Seeing people in ways than others who don’t understand the classification Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Values, Norms, and Sanctions Values – Ideas of what is desirable in life The standards at which we determine what is good or bad Norms - Expectations or rules for behavior “Should Do” Expectations in our societies Sanctions - Reaction to following or breaking norms Positive Sanctions Approval for following the norm (high fives, $, prizes, smiles, hugs) Negative Sanctions Reflects disapproval for breaking the norm (fines, frowns, stares) Moral Holidays – Specified times when people are allowed to break the norms Mardi Gras, Spring Break Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Folkways and Mores Folkways - Norms not strictly enforced Walking on the right side of the sidewalk Holding a door Mores -strong and important norms of a society Violation of mores will evoke severe punishment. Typically tend to be illegal (bigamy, stealing, murder) Taboo – More that is so ingrained that the thought of its violation is greeted with revulsion Cannibalism, incest Laws Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Subcultures & Countercultures Subculture – A world within the dominant culture (pg54-55) Example – Doctors, Politicians (occupational groups) Tens of thousands of subcultures in US society Some broad (teenagers) Some specific (body builders) Can also have ethnic subcultures Countercultures – Groups with norms and values at odds with the dominant culture Motorcycle enthusiasts vs Hell’s Angels Hippies Mormons- 1800s challenged monogamy Driven west; conditions of Utah’s statehood Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Values in U.S. Society (pg 53) Romantic Love Democracy Science and Technology Religiosity Freedom Efficiency and Practicality Education Humanitarianism Activity and Work Racism and Group Superiority Material Comfort Individualism Equality Progress Achievement and Success Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Values Clusters, Contradictions, and Social Change Value Clusters – values that together form a larger whole Hard work, education, efficiency, material comfort, and individualism are bound together Value Contradiction – to follow the one means that you will come in conflict with another. Freedom, democracy applied only to some groups. Women's Liberation, Racism, Sexism “It is precisely at the point of value contradictions, then, that one can see a major force for social change in a society.” Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Emerging Values Leisure Self-fulfillment Physical Fitness Youthfulness Cruises, computer games, sporting events, flatscreen/HD Self-fulfillment Self help, reaching full potential, “be all one can be” Physical Fitness Nutrition/Organic foods, weightloss centers, Personal trainers Youthfulness Botox, anti-aging creams, plastic surgery Concern for the Environment Recycle; Go “green” Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Values and Culture Culture Wars: Traditions being threatened and challenged Gay Marriage Efforts to change gender roles Value as Blinders – Everyone can make it! Despite obstacles they may face-poverty, family, education “Ideal” vs. “Real” Culture Norms, values etc. that the group sees as ideal Being successful—worth aspiring to Being a millionaire or famous However most people don’t reach these ideals, this is what sociologist call real—norms and values that people actually follow. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Cultural Universals Some Activities are Universal - Courtship, Marriage, Funerals, Games Page 56 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Sociobiology Controversial View of Human Behavior Biology Cause of Human Behavior Charles Darwin and Natural Selection Sociologists and Social Biologists on Opposite Sides Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Technology in the Global Village The New Technology - New Tools Cultural Lag and Cultural Change Technology and Cultural Leveling Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007