Ch. 3 Culture

What is Culture? Culture consists of material objects, patterns of thinking, feeling, language, beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors passed from one generation to the next Material Culture Nonmaterial Cultures

Three Dimensions of Culture Normative – consists of the standards for appropriate behavior for a group; composed of norms, sanctions, and values. Cognitive – refers to the complex of ideas and knowledge; includes language, beliefs Material - consists of the concrete, tangible aspects of a culture.

Culture and Society A society is a group of people living within defined territorial borders who share a culture. Culture provides the blueprints for guiding people in their relationships within a society.

Culture and Taken-for-Granted Orientations What is Normal, Natural, or Usual? Learned Culture as Lens: through which we perceive and evaluate things Provides implicit instructions and a moral imperative that defines what we think is right and wrong Culture Shock Ethnocentrism

Practicing Cultural Relativism Consists of trying to appreciate other group’s ways of like in the context in which they exist, w/out judging them as superior or inferior to our own. Understanding Cultures on Their Own Terms “Sick Cultures” based on “quality of life - Robert Edgerton

Components of Symbolic Culture Gestures Conveying Messages without Words Gestures’ Meaning Differ Among Cultures Can Lead to Misunderstandings

Components of Symbolic Culture The creation and transmission of culture depends heavily on the capacity to develop symbols. Symbols - things that stand for, or represent, something else. Can also include gestures (e.g., a hand wave). Language – a system of interrelated symbols through which a group of people are able to communicate and pass down information.

Components of Symbolic Culture Language Allows Human Experience to be Cumulative Provides Social or Shared Past Provides Social or Shared Future Allows Shared Perspective Allows Complex, Shared, Goal-Directed Behavior

Language and Perception: Sapir-Whorf Language Has Embedded Within It Ways of Looking at the World Language shapes our reality. Our perception of reality is at the mercy of the words and grammatical rules of our language. Studies demonstrate that language significantly shapes thought.

Questions for Consideration How does learning a new language shape one’s view of the world? What is meant by the statement that “people are forever prisoners of their language”? What are some ways that you can apply the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis?

Values, Norms, and Sanctions Values – Standards by which we define good/bad, desirable Norms - Expectations or rules for behavior Sanctions - Reaction to following or breaking norms; used to encourage conformity to norms Positive sanctions Negative sanctions Formal sanctions – given only by officially designated persons (an “A” for academic performance; time in jail/prison for committing fraud) Informal sanctions – can be applied by most members of society (thanking someone for helping you change a tire) Taboos – Norms so strongly ingrained that eve the thought of them is greeted with revulsion

Cultural Diversity Because humans are basically the same biologically, cultural diversity must be explained by nongenetic factors. Cultural diversity within societies is promoted by social categories, subcultures, and countercultures. Social category – a group of persons who share a social characteristic.

Subcultures Subculture - A world within the dominant culture; a group that is part of the dominant culture but differs from it in some important respects. By tradition, Americans like to see themselves as part of a large, single culture. Yet there are many subgroups with cultural uniqueness.

Countercultures Countercultures - Groups with norms and values at odds with the dominant culture; a subculture that is deliberately and consciously opposed to aspects of the dominant culture. Openly defies norms, values, and/or beliefs of the dominant culture. Rebelling against the dominant culture is central to their members. Examples: militia movement, skinheads, hippies

Values in U.S. Society Values – broad cultural principles that most people in a society consider desirable. They do not specify precisely what to think, feel, or behave. Rather, they are ideas about what a group of people believe is good/bad, acceptable/unacceptable They are important because they have a tremendous influence on social behavior. Norms are based on a culture’s values. Handout: 15 US Values…

Cultural Universals Universal Human Activites? Although there are many differences between groups throughout the world, sociologists and anthropologists have identified many behaviors that are shared by all cultures. Some Activities are Universal - Courtship, Marriage, Funerals, Games All cultures have families, schools, houses of worship, economies, governments, and systems of prestige.

Cultural Universals

Technology in the Global Village The New Technology - New Tools Cultural Lag and Cultural Change Technology and Cultural Leveling

Questions for Consideration How might functionalists and conflict theorists have different views of countercultures? Which view do you prefer and why? What can be done to minimize our tendencies of ethnocentrism?

Activity: Scavenger Hunt! !!