Culture

the learned and shared behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values, and material objects that characterize a particular group or society

culture determines a people’s way of life

Every group has a culture

Society A group of people that has lived and worked together long enough become an organized population and to think of themselves as a social unit

Society and Culture are mutually dependent

Society and Culture can not exist without the other… this is why these terms are often used interchangeably – BUT you need to know the difference!

Characteristics of Culture Culture is learned Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next Culture is shared Culture is adaptive and always changing

1. Culture is learned Culture is not innate If a baby was born in one culture but adopted into another culture- that child will more than likely practice the culture of his or her adoptive parents

2. Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next Informally- through interactions such as families and friends Formally- through schools, jobs, community organizations, etc.

3. Culture is Shared Culture brings member of society together Allows people to have a sense of belonging as they share beliefs, values and attitudes about What is right What is wrong What is normal

What would happen if we did not have a shared culture?

4. Culture is adaptive and always changing Culture changes from generation to generation Technology Family values Marriage

Premarital Sex

Material vs. Non Material Culture

Material Culture Tangible objects that members of society make, use and share.

Non-Material Culture The shared set of meanings that people in a society use to interpret and understand the world Symbols Values Beliefs Sanctions

Symbols Anything that stand for something else and has a particular meaning for people who share a culture. Through symbols we engage in symbolic interaction

symbols may unify or divide a society

Language A system of shared symbols that enable people to communicate with each other

Language and Gender Businessman, Chairman, Mailman Abortion- why do we not talk about the number of men who impregnate women but rather we often just talk about the women? Men who have a lot of sexual partners vs. Women who have a lot of sexual partners

The standards by which members of a particular culture define what is… Values The standards by which members of a particular culture define what is… Good Bad Moral or immoral Proper or improper Desirable or undesirable Beautiful or ugly

Values are ‘general guidelines’

Values are emotion-laden

Major US Values Achievement and Success Activity and Work Morality Humanitarianism Efficiency and Practicality Progress Material Comfort Equality* Freedom Conformity Nationalism and Patriotism Democracy Individuality* Identified by Sociologist Robin Williams

Trouble in US Values Individuality vs Trouble in US Values Individuality vs. Those who are not ‘ideal’ Discrimination against groups Equality vs. Income Gaps Responsibility vs. “TV and Kids”

Specific rules of right and wrong Norms Specific rules of right and wrong

General Characteristics Unwritten- Most are passed down and are not written Instrumental- They serve a specific purpose They can be both explicit (save money for a rainy day) and implicit (keep your car clean) Change- from generation to generation Conditional- apply in some settings but not others (singing in your car by yourself vs with new friends) Rigid/Flexible

Folkways norms that members of a society (or a group within a society) look upon as not being critical and that may be broken without severe punishment

Folkway- Dating The first date at someone’s home

Mores norms that maintain moral and ethical behavior these are considered very important

Southwest Airlines

Laws Formal rules about behavior that are defined by a political authority that has the power to punish violators

Rewards for good behavior Penalties for bad behavior Sanctions Rewards for good behavior Penalties for bad behavior

sanctions vary

often are not consistent despite universal norms

cheating

higher education

Ideal vs. Real Culture

Norms that people in a society say that they follow Ideal Culture Norms that people in a society say that they follow

The actual norms that people follow within a society Real Culture The actual norms that people follow within a society

Cultural Similarities Obviously there are differences from society to society with culture- but there are quite a few universal culture staples

Customs and practices that are common to all societies Cultural Universals Customs and practices that are common to all societies

Some Cultural Universals Athletics Division of Labor Ethics Games Religious rituals Supernatural beings (all are listed on page 50)

Culture Shock A sense of confusion, uncertainty, disorientation or anxiety that comes with exposure to different cultures

My summer abroad and culture shock

Subcultures and Countercultures Cultural Diversity Subcultures and Countercultures

Subcultures A group of category of people who distinctive ways of thinking, feeling, and acting differ somewhat from those of the larger society

Countercultures A group or category of people who deliberately oppose and consciously reject some of the basic beliefs, values, and norms of the dominant culture