Components of Culture Symbols Language Values Norms: Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior to its members Folkways Norms for routine or casual interaction Mores Norms that have great moral significance Laws

Cultural Universals The need for the same common tools in order to survive Food, shelter, clothing, etc Murdock complied a list of cultural universals that occur in all societies

Ideal and Real Culture Ideal culture is what people profess to value Real culture is what they actually do

Cultural Lag William F. Ogburn referred to the uneven rate of change that cultures experience as cultural lag A gap between the technical development of a society and its moral and legal institutions Cell phones, computers, cars

Cultural differences Cultural Diversity Refers to the wide range of cultural differences found between and within nations Cultural homogeneity Refers to societies with very similar social, religious and political backgrounds Cultural heterogeneity Refers to societies with very diverse cultural components

Counter/Sub Culture Counterculture Strongly reject dominant social values and norms and therefore seek alternative lifestyles Subculture Category of people who share distinguishing attributes, beliefs, values, and/or norms that set them apart in some significant manner form the dominant culture

Culture Shock The disorientation that people feel when they encounter cultures radically different form their own When people experience culture shock they cannot depend upon their own taken-for-granted assumptions about life

Cultural Imperialism The extensive infusion of one nation’s culture into other nations The world is becoming westernized

Cultural Transmission The process by which one generation passes culture to the next

Taboos Mores so strongly held that their violation is considered to be extremely offensive

Sapir-Whof Hypothesis Language shapes the view of its speakers Language may create and reinforce inaccurate perceptions based on gender, race, ethnicity, or other human attributes Most sociologists believe that language may influence behaviors, but it does not determine them

US Core Values According to Robin Williams, Jr. there are 10 core values in the U.S. 1. Individualism5. Achievement/success 2. Activity/work6. Morality/humanitarianism 3. Freedom/liberty7. Racism/group superiority 4. Equality8. Efficiency/practicality 5. Progress/material9. Science/technology comfort