THINK Sociology Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl CHAPTER Second Edition Culture: A Framework for the Individual 3 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 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, professor and social commentator Neil Postman sounds a sociological alarm, warning readers that a culture based purely on technology and TV is not necessarily a culture worth enjoying. 8:10/9:40

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Culture Culture includes –Language –Beliefs –Values – Norms –Behaviors –Material objects - that are passed on from generation to generation 8:12/9:42

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Material Culture Material culture includes items that you can taste, touch or feel Examples are: –buildings –cars –computers –clothing –crafts and artifacts 8:14/9:44

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Nonmaterial Culture Nonmaterial culture includes the nonphysical products of society Examples are: –language –values –norms –laws –symbols –8:16/9:46

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Language Language is a system of speech and/or written symbols used to convey meaning and communication –Language may be oral or both oral and written –There are over 6,000 different languages –Two main factors determine the size of a language group: population size and colonial history –8:18/948

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis says that the structure of a language influences a native speaker’s perception and categorization of experience –For example, the US has many words for advanced communication –8:20/9:50

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (2) After studying many languages the Sapir- Whorf Hypothesis proposes two key points: 1.The differences in the structure of language parallel differences in the thinking of the people who speak the language 2.The structure of a language strongly influences the speaker’s worldview 8:22/9:52

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Values Values represent cultural standards by which we determine what is good or bad, right or wrong –Value pairs help us define values, usually in terms of opposites –Value clusters are two or more values that support each other 8:24/9:54

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl VALUES

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl U.S. Values according to Robin Williams 1.Achievement and Success 2.Activity and Work 3.Moral Orientation 4.Humanitarianism 5.Efficiency and Practicality 6.Progress 7.Material Comfort 8.Equality 8:26/9:56

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl U.S. Values according to Robin Williams 9.Freedom 10.External Conformity 11.Science and Secular Rationality 12.Nationalism and Patriotism 13.Democracy 14.Individual Personality 15.Racism and Related Group Superiority 8:30/9:00

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Additional Values 1.Physical Fitness and Youthfulness 2.Sexuality and Romance 8:35/10:05

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Norms Norms are rules developed for appropriate behavior based on specific values that are conditional, they can vary from place to place –Norms provide the justification for sanctions 8:37/10:07

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Mores Mores are norms that represent a community’s most important values –In literate societies mores are often in the code of law –Individuals who violate mores are given more serious sanctions than individuals who violate folkways 8:39/10:09

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Folkways Folkways are informal norms. They are based on social expectations. –Folkways often involve etiquette and manners. –Because folkways are less severe types of norms, the sanctions applied are less severe then for other types of norms. 8:41/10:11

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Symbols Symbols represent, suggest or stand for something else. Examples of symbols are: –national flags –Wedding rings –Swastika –Each culture determines the meaning of its own symbols and uses them to share thoughts and concepts with others 8:43/10:13

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Cultural transmission Cultural transmission refers to the fact that culture passes from one generation to another through language –Cultures are therefore able to use information others have learned –Cultural transmission also helps spread technology 8:45/10:15

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Gestures Gestures are symbols we make using our bodies –Gestures differ according to different cultures –Examples of gestures include facial expression, hand movements, eye contact, and other types of body language 8:47/10:17

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Sanctions A sanction is a prize or punishment you receive when you either abide by a norm or violate it. –If you do what you are supposed to do, you get a positive sanction –If you break the rules (norms) you earn a negative sanction –Sanctions can be informal or formal 8:49/10:19

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Taboo A taboo is an act that is socially unacceptable –Taboos are the strongest form of norms, these are prohibitions viewed as essential to the well being of the community 8:51/10:21

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism occurs when a person uses his or her own culture to judge another culture –There is a fine line between patriotism and ethnocentrism –Ethnocentrism is potentially dangerous when it leads to forcing ones way of life on other cultures 8:53/10:23

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Perspectives of a Central American Hotel Room

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Xenophobia Xenophobia refers to fear and hostility toward people who are from other countries or cultures. –For example this occurred after the U.S. entered World War II, and Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Japanese Americans were locked in internment camps, often without cause 8:55/10:25

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Cultural Relativism Cultural relativism consists of a deliberate effort to appreciate a group’s ways of life in its own context without prejudice –In contrast to this position some groups argue that there are universal human rights and values which should be used to evaluate cultures 8:57/10:27

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Cultural Lag Cultural lag occurs when social and cultural changes occur at a slower pace than technological changes –Cultural lag often occurs when new technology enters and changes the society 9:00/10:30

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Culture shock Culture shock occurs when a person encounters a culture foreign to his or her own and has an emotional response to the differences between the cultures –An example would be a U.S. soldier sent to Iraq who feels oriented by the unfamiliar way of life

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Ideal Culture versus Real Culture Ideal culture represents the values to which a culture aspires –For example the U.S. aspires to be a true democracy Real culture is the culture as it really is –Turn-out for many elections, however, show that many individuals do not vote or are in some ways limited in their right to vote

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Subcultures and Countercultures Subcultures consist of groups with a common interest that has distinct values, beliefs and norms –Examples are religious groups and ethnic groups Countercultures are subcultures that express values or beliefs in direct opposition to the dominant group’s values

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Multiculturalism Multiculturalism is a concept that supports the inherent value of different cultures within society –Proponents of multiculturalism believe immigrants and ethnic groups should be able to maintain aspects of their original culture such as religion, language, cultural beliefs and traditions

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Assimilation Assimilation is the process by which minority groups adopt the patterns of the dominant culture. –Assimilation can be forced or voluntary –Many Native Americans were forced to attend boarding school to teach them ‘white ways’ –The children of immigrants sometimes give up their native language to learn English in the U.S.

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Global Village Global village was popularized by Marshall McLuhan –He refers to the ‘shrinking’ of the world through electronic communication –For example, , Twitter, texting, Facebook –However, has the internet really made the world smaller?

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Symbolic Interactionism and Culture Symbolic interactionists explore how language, gestures, or values affect a culture Symbolic interactionists ask questions such as: –How are values defined in the U.S.? –Are U.S. values weakening? –Is the U.S. experiencing a moral decline?

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Functionalism and Culture When functionalist analyze culture they ask how culture works to hold society together Functionalists ask questions such as: –What relationships are necessary to hold society together? –To what degree is a sense of community necessary for the operation of society? –To what degree are common values necessary?

Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. THINK Sociology, Second Edition John D. Carl Conflict Theory and Culture Conflict theorists suggest that society is united in a struggle for scare resources. There are winners and losers in society Conflict theorists would ask questions such as: –Who benefits from the arrangements of the society? –What groups are winners or losers in the society? –How does the culture promote inequality in the society?