Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Essentials of Sociology 9th Edition Chapter 2: 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 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. What is Culture? Culture is: The language, beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors passed on from one generation to the next How is this accomplished? Material vs. Nonmaterial Cultures Cultural Lag: When nonmaterial culture lags behind material culture Material: jewelry, art, buildings, weapons, machines, eating utensils, hairstyles, and clothing Non material: ways of thinking (beliefs, values, and assumptions about the world) and doing (common patterns of behavior, including language, gestures and other forms of interaction) It is difficult to “see” our culture. Culture is how we perceive and evaluate what is going on around us. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ethnocentrism and Culture Shock What is Normal, Natural, or Usual? We believe our ways are “Normal” Ethnocentrism-the belief that our culture is the “best” Culture Shock- coming into contact with a culture that is different from what we know Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Culture Shock It can be easy to experience culture shock when going from urban to rural areas or vice versa. Describe a time you personally experienced culture shock by traveling to an unfamiliar location. Figure 14.12 How Urban is Your State? The Rural–Urban Makeup of the United States Note: The most rural state is Vermont (38% urban). The most urban states are California and New Jersey (94% urban). Source: By the author. Based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009:Table 28.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Culture Shock example of someone in the native land and moving to the US About 5 minutes Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Cultural Relativism Understanding a cultures practices from their perspective i.e., Bull Fighting in Spain Richard Edgerton - “Sick Cultures” Edgerton suggests we develop a scale for evaluating cultures on their “quality of life”. Cultural values that result in exploitation are inferior to those that enhance people’s lives. Cultures that practice female circumcision, gang rape or wife beating, child prostitution are not morally equivalent to those cultures that do not practice such things Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Judging Culture This man is showering on the street in India because none of the homes in his village have running water. How might you judge his behavior from an ethnocentric perspective? How might you judge his behavior from a culturally relative perspective? James M. Henslin

Components of Symbolic Culture Symbols Gestures Language Norms (Folkways, Mores, Taboos) Values A symbol is something to which people attach meaning and that they then use to communicate with one another. Symbols include gestures, language, values, norms, sanctions, folkways and mores. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Gestures to Indicate Height, Southern Mexico

Five Purposes of Language Allows Human Experience to Be Cumulative Provides a Social or Shared Past Provides a Social or Shared Future Allows Shared Perspectives Allows Complex, Shared, Goal-Directed Behavior Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: What’s in a Name? Are there certain first names that we associate with certain racial or ethnic groups? What race or ethnicity is “Travis?” What race or ethnicity is “Terrell?” What race or ethnicity is “Tomas?” Why do you think these different names evoke shared images of the men they belong to?

Language and Controversy Should immigrants be required by the government to learn English? In places like Miami where almost half of residents speak Spanish, should non-immigrants be required to learn Spanish? Image Copyright Volina, 2010 Used under license from Shutterstock.com

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Instead of objects determining our language, our language determines the way we see objects Students (Jocks, Goths, Stoners, Skaters, Band, Geeks, and Preps) Sapir and Whorf are anthropologists. They looked at the Hopi Indians. They do not distinguish time (past, present, future) LANGUAGE HAS EMBEDDED WITH IT WAYS OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD. Learning a language gives us ways of thinking and perceiving. Language directs our consciousness. Language reflects our and shapes our cultural experiences Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis How might we think of this woman differently depending upon whether we label her as: A cancer survivor? Making an “alternative” fashion statement? A competitive swimmer? Image Copyright Andy-pix, 2010 Used under license from Shutterstock.com

Race and Language Different racial terms can have different meanings Does it mean something different to refer to President Obama as: Black? White? Multi-racial? Class Activity: Post big poster paper around room with the following headings: Middle Eastern, Asian American, Pacific Islander, African American, European American, Latino (Other), Mexican Check out page 34: cultural diversity in the US Image Copyright Walter G. Arce, 2010 Used under license from Shutterstock.com

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Norms and Sanctions Norms - Expectations or rules for behavior Norms will change as cultures change Sanctions - Reaction to following or breaking norms Positive Sanctions Negative Sanctions Values: ideas of what is desirable in life 20 some things at work; HR adm are trying to find ways to educate managers about new generation of workers Talking on the phone while with company at a restaurant; email/text instead of phone call Pos sanctions: approval for following a norm (material: trophy, prize, money, non-material: smiles, hugs, high fives) Neg. sanctions: disapproval for breaking a norm (material: fined in court, symbolic: harsh words, gestures, such as frowns, stares, raised fists) Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Folkways, Mores, and Taboos Folkways - Norms that are not strictly enforced Mores - Norms, when broken, go against a society’s basic core values Taboos - Norms, when broken, are considered repulsive Folkways, passing me on the right side of the staircase, you may not say anything, but if lots of people were on the stairs, you might give an angry stare. Mores (morays): rape, stealing, murder A man with his shirt off might be violating a folkway, but with a shirt on, but no pants, violating a more. A woman with her shirt off: more Taboo: eating human flesh or having sex with your own child Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Subcultures and Countercultures A world within the dominant culture The norms and values do not clash with those of the dominant culture Example of a Subculture Countercultures: The norms and values clash with those of the dominant culture Subcultures have a distinctive way of looking at the world. The US has THOUSANDS OF subcultures (teenagers, hip hop, politicians, religious groups, ethnic groups) Countercultures: values and norms go against the dominant culture. hell’s angels, pagans and bandidos value dirtiness, and contempt toward women, work and education Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Values in U.S. Society 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 © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Values Robin William’s 10 values (p. 50-51) Henslin added 3 more values (p. 51) Emerging Values (p. 51-52) Leisure, self-fulfillment, physical fitness, youthfulness, concern for the environment How do you think adherence to the five emerging values differ by age or cohort?

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Ideal vs. Real Culture Sociologists use the term ideal culture to refer to the values, norms, and goals that a group considers ideal, worth aiming for (i.e Success). Sociologists call the norms and values that people actually follow real culture. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Technology in the Global Village Central to a group’s material culture is its technology. Technology can be equated with tools. New technology refers to an emerging technology that has a significant impact on social life. Printing Press Personal Computer MP3 player/IPod Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Cultural Diffusion and Cultural Leveling Cultural Diffusion: The spreading of cultural characteristics from one culture to another Cultural Leveling: When cultures start to become similar to each other Diffusion: Hip hop? We usually eagerly adopt new technology or material culture, such as weapons and tools. Jazz practices Judo Leveling: example: Japan. Have adopted capitalism, western clothing and music. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.