Understanding Culture
CULTURE All shared products of human groups Includes values, material artifacts, and rules of behavior They are not a result of biological inheritance
Cultural Universals Features that all societies must develop to ensure they fulfill their needs George Murdoch Identified 65 cultural universals Included family, cooking, government, economy, medicine, tool making, funeral rights, religious rituals, sports, dance, arts, games, music Cultures might differ in the way they show these traits. Ex. All cultures have families in order to care for young children, but the makeup of the family varies among different cultures. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxKTXO6Rhrw
Culture includes…… Technology Language Religion Food Aesthetics (art, music, architecture) Values, ideas Norms Gender roles Recreational Activities Commercial Practices Social Structure
Material vs. Nonmaterial Culture Physical Objects Books Buildings Clothing Abstract human creations Beliefs Ideas Language Economic and Political System
How do changes in material culture give rise to changes in nonmaterial culture? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MnQ8EkwXJ0
One Culture, Many Cultures We are born into different cultures Family Neighborhood Church School City Country Global Culture
Society is not Culture Society: the group of people that share a common culture Society = people Culture = what these people produce and use together
How do we learn culture? Socialization is the process by which we learn culture Through Media Through People we meet at school and work More importantly, at home (primary group) Who are the agents of socialization? When do we start learning? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0
Socialization and Cooperation in Animals – Moral Behavior http://www.ted.com/talks/frans_de_waal_do_animals_have_morals.html Time: 3:20 Time 12:35
Who socializes us? Primary Groups Small Groups in which relations are regular, face-to-face, and personal; they play the most significant role in socialization Family Members Best Friends Closest Co-workers Secondary Groups Larger and more impersonal; interaction is not as regular, and is usually undertaken to achieve specific goals.
What do we learn?
Symbols – Anything that represents something else Symbols – Anything that represents something else. It has a shared meaning.
SYMBOLS
More on Symbols Symbols occur in different forms: Words (hello) Events (church service, pre-game chant) Physical object (class ring) Gestures (handshake) Images (team logo) What’s the hidden meaning behind each of those symbols?
What’s the symbolism behind this pre-game huddle? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RABQY0t1Bqw
Language
Language System of communication using vocal and written symbols that have common meanings among all members of a group Important source of continuity and identity in a culture Around 6,000 to 7,000 languages in the world today Between 50% and 90% of languages will disappear in the year 2100
Language in Sports Hit below the belt act unfairly Hail Mary a long shot, a desperate last minute attempt Hands Down in horse racing when the jockey wins and drops his hands, relaxing Drop the towel give up Lightweight of little importance
Language in Sports http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2zQf6bxsZo
What do we learn? Values: Socially created ideas (social constructions) about what is desirable and what is not desirable. http://www.values.com/inspirational-stories-tv-spots/71-My-Life-in-Sports
Core American Values In 1970 Robin Williams identified core American Values: Personal Achievement and Success Material Comfort Activity and Work Individualism Practicality and Efficiency Morality and Humanitarism Progress Equality and Democracy Freedom
New Values in the United States Self-fulfillment: commitment to the full development one’s personality, talents, and potential. Examples include: Leisure Physical Fitness Youthfulness Concern for the Environment Sometimes opposes another value, progress
What do we learn? Norms: commonly accepted expectations for behavior in society
Breaking norms http://www.social-engineer.org/framework/Influence_Tactics:_Consensus_or_Social_Proof
Two Types of Norms Folkways Mores Describe socially accepted behavior but do not have great moral significance Common customs of everyday life Failure to follow will result in reprimand or minor punishment Ex. Shake hands when introduced to someone Great moral significance Violation of them endangers society’s stability Ex. Do not kill another person Laws are usually created to protect society. For example, severe punishment for those who commit murder
Ideal Culture vs. Real Culture Ideal Culture: Values that a society professes College students should not drink alcohol Real Culture: Values that a society actually acts on Drinking is part of the college experience Can you think of other examples?
Subculture Values, practices, and other cultural elements are shared by a minority of people within a larger society. Common subcultures: Military, police, teachers Subcultures within your own family (ex. Brothers) Some may seem odd (ex. Emo subculture) Freerunners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jXqhAXeDGY
Countercultures A group rejecting the major values, norms, and practices of the larger society Replaces them with a new set of cultural patterns Ex. Hippie movements of the 1960s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRhW2CyrqhQ
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