Culture

Thomas Theorem (yet again) People decide what to do next on the basis of what they THINK is going on now People decide what to do next on the basis of what they THINK is going on now That is, people’s behavior depends on what they think is going onThat is, people’s behavior depends on what they think is going on Therefore, understanding behavior requires knowing how people … Therefore, understanding behavior requires knowing how people … 1.Decide what’s going on 2.Transform definition of situation into bhr

Culture How do people know what is going on? How do people know what is going on? To large extent, culture tells themTo large extent, culture tells them Culture provides context of meaning and provides tools for divining meaningCulture provides context of meaning and provides tools for divining meaning How do people know what to do? How do people know what to do? To a large extent, culture tells them what to doTo a large extent, culture tells them what to do When does not specify what to do, tells how to figure out what to doWhen does not specify what to do, tells how to figure out what to do

Culture Definitions Backman: The established ways of thinking, believing, feeling, and acting that are widely understood and followed by members of a society Backman: The established ways of thinking, believing, feeling, and acting that are widely understood and followed by members of a society Giddens, Duneier, Appelbaum, and Carr: the values, norms, and material goods characteristic of a given group Giddens, Duneier, Appelbaum, and Carr: the values, norms, and material goods characteristic of a given group

Culture Key characteristics of culture: Key characteristics of culture: 1.It is shared 2.It is learned and taught 3.It changes over time 4.Usually it is not monolithic

Dimensions of Culture Culture has three dimensions or aspects: Culture has three dimensions or aspects: 1.Material dimension 2.Normative dimension 3.Symbolic dimension

Material Dimension of Culture Physical residues of behavior in a culture Physical residues of behavior in a culture Especially physical things that have recognized special meanings in a cultureEspecially physical things that have recognized special meanings in a culture Especially important are objects used for subsistence (making a living) Especially important are objects used for subsistence (making a living)

Normative Dimension of Culture I Concerned with the rules society uses to evaluate behavior and other things Concerned with the rules society uses to evaluate behavior and other things Two components: Two components: Cultural valuesCultural values NormsNorms

Normative Dimension of Culture II Cultural values Cultural values Beliefs or feelings that are widely shared by members of a society about what is important to the society’s identity or well-beingBeliefs or feelings that are widely shared by members of a society about what is important to the society’s identity or well-being Norms Norms Expectations shared by members of a group that specify behavior that is considered appropriate for a given situationExpectations shared by members of a group that specify behavior that is considered appropriate for a given situation

Selected U.S. Cultural Values Activism- it is desirable to shape your world through intense effort Activism- it is desirable to shape your world through intense effort Egalitarianism- everyone should have an equal chance to succeed Egalitarianism- everyone should have an equal chance to succeed Achievement- it is desirable to have and accomplish personal goals Achievement- it is desirable to have and accomplish personal goals

Selected U.S. Cultural Values Materialism- it is good to have “stuff” Materialism- it is good to have “stuff” Humanitarianism- it is desirable to help people who are having troubles Humanitarianism- it is desirable to help people who are having troubles Others: progress, morality, freedom, individualism Others: progress, morality, freedom, individualism Source: Turner and Starnes in Stokes, p.72Source: Turner and Starnes in Stokes, p.72

Value Conflict Complex value systems routinely have apparent conflict between values E.g., humanitarianism and materialism E.g., egalitarianism and achievement

Morality as an American Cultural Value morality: it is desirable to evaluate each behavior for whether it is moral or not and to choose only moral behaviors morality: it is desirable to evaluate each behavior for whether it is moral or not and to choose only moral behaviors Often leads to ends vs means conflicts Often leads to ends vs means conflicts

Ends vs Means Ends – desired outcomes, often culturally valued Ends – desired outcomes, often culturally valued Means – behavior directed toward achieving ends Means – behavior directed toward achieving ends Often apparently effective means to valued ends violate cultural value of morality Often apparently effective means to valued ends violate cultural value of morality

Personal Values Individual’s feelings about what is important to his or her identity or well being Individual’s feelings about what is important to his or her identity or well being Do not have to be congruent (consistent) with cultural values, but often are Do not have to be congruent (consistent) with cultural values, but often are Deciding what to do is easier if personal values and cultural values are congruent Deciding what to do is easier if personal values and cultural values are congruent

Norms and the Thomas Theorem I Thomas Theorem says definition of situation is somehow turned into behavior Thomas Theorem says definition of situation is somehow turned into behavior Norms tell actors how the culture feels a particular situation should be turned into behavior Norms tell actors how the culture feels a particular situation should be turned into behavior That is, norms tell the actor what he/she/they/it should do in this situationThat is, norms tell the actor what he/she/they/it should do in this situation

Norms and the Thomas Theorem II Simplifies deciding what to do, but … Simplifies deciding what to do, but … 1.Actor must to be able to define situations 2.Actor must remember what is appropriate behavior in situation Our ability to do so is amazing! Our ability to do so is amazing!

Social Sanctions I Social sanctions are responses to behavior, responses that enforce social norms - May be positive (rewards) or negative (punishments) - Used by itself, the term usually implies “negative ”

Social Sanctions I I Sanctions may be formal or informal Formal sanctions –Formal sanctions – based on written rules based on written rules administered by persons recognized to have authority administered by persons recognized to have authority Informal sanctions - sanctions that are not formalInformal sanctions - sanctions that are not formal Most of the sanctions we receive are informalMost of the sanctions we receive are informal Possibility of negative sanctions is one reason we follow norms Possibility of positive sanctions is another

Symbolic Dimension of Culture The symbolic dimension of culture is the system of meanings a group has for interpreting and making sense of the world around them and for communicating meaning Most important element: language Others: body language (non-verbal communication), cultural icons, collective memories

Language I Importance of Language- Importance of Language- Language is the most important medium for learning cultureLanguage is the most important medium for learning culture Language allows vicarious learningLanguage allows vicarious learning Learning through the experience of othersLearning through the experience of others With language, you don’t have to be thereWith language, you don’t have to be there

Language II We think in language We think in language Everyone talks to him- or herselfEveryone talks to him- or herself Difficult to think about things for which we have no wordsDifficult to think about things for which we have no words

Language III: Whorf-Sapir (Sapir-Whorf) Whorf-Sapir Hypothesis: Categories our minds use to process information are given by our language Whorf-Sapir Hypothesis: Categories our minds use to process information are given by our language In effect, language controls how our senses operateIn effect, language controls how our senses operate At level of vision, hypothesis is false At level of vision, hypothesis is false For vicarious learning through language, it might as well be true For vicarious learning through language, it might as well be true For thinking, largely true For thinking, largely true

Language IV: Social Boundaries Language can create and maintain boundaries Language can create and maintain boundaries Subcultural boundaries can be recognized through argotsSubcultural boundaries can be recognized through argots Argot- specialized vocabulary of a group Argot- specialized vocabulary of a group Some societies are divided by languageSome societies are divided by language Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, South Africa Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, South Africa Accent can identify class positionAccent can identify class position

Other Symbols Gestures Physical distance Flags Message: we can develop strong emotional attachments to symbols

Societies, Organizations, Groups and Culture I Term “culture” usually refers to the ways of a society Term “culture” usually refers to the ways of a society Sometimes called dominant or mainstream cultureSometimes called dominant or mainstream culture Collectives smaller than societies often have distinctive contexts of meaning Collectives smaller than societies often have distinctive contexts of meaning Sometimes called subcultures, especially if many people are involvedSometimes called subcultures, especially if many people are involved

Societies, Organizations, Groups and Culture II Can be analyzed in ways similar to analysis of a society’s culture Can be analyzed in ways similar to analysis of a society’s culture Characteristics of culture in collectives smaller than societies Characteristics of culture in collectives smaller than societies Cover smaller ranges of behaviors and symbols than overall cultureCover smaller ranges of behaviors and symbols than overall culture E.g., group of friends has norms and symbols, but not an entire language or rules about driving E.g., group of friends has norms and symbols, but not an entire language or rules about driving Aware of overall cultureAware of overall culture Usually augments overall culture Usually augments overall culture Some may be in opposition to overall culture Some may be in opposition to overall culture