1. PIP Educational Resources
All materials (including full activity instructions, questionnaires, and slide sets) can be downloaded online at:
Module: Nacirema
All materials for this module are available online at :

2. Instructor Note:
Distribute pre-version of the questionnaire, found here
Link to survey:
Have students complete the pre questionnaire, found online through the link provided, also found in Appendix D of the instructor version.

3. Learning Outcomes Inform students that the learning objectives are:
To examine their own cultural groups
To respect other cultural norms
To gain an outsider’s perspective

4. The Nacirema culture:
Viewing a Culture from An outsider’s perspective

5. Culture
What is culture?
“The customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group” (Merriam Webster)
Consists of unconscious and/or conscious values, beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors (Weaver, 2000)
Ask students: “What is culture?” Have students answer through a quick classroom discussion before showing definitions to help them identify their own understandings of what culture is.

6. Introduction To nacirema
In 1956, Horace Miner first introduced a little known culture called “Nacirema” in his article: “Body Ritual among the Nacirema.”
Pronounciation: Nak-ir-eema
Explain about the Nacirema culture.
First described by anthropologist Horace Miner in 1956
Found to have a number of bizarre and barbaric traditions even in modern times

7. Introduction The article described “bizarre” traditions of the tribe
Traditions were totally unfamiliar to most readers
Mention that the article can be read for further understanding of the Nacirema culture, but the video you are about to show covers the information within the article.

8. The Nacirema https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdtcRVduqaQ
Introduce video by telling students, “Now we are going to watch a short video about the Nacirema, a culture that most of you should be unfamiliar with. Pay close attention and compare this culture to your own, noting the differences and similarities, so that afterwards we can discuss your initial thoughts and reactions toward the culture.”
Only play the introduction, which is the first 3 minutes of the video. The rest of the video is of students’ reactions towards the culture.
After watching, distribute the worksheet in Appendix A

9. Fill out the worksheet
Have you ever visited another place that is not similar to where you are from? How was the experience?
What similarities do those rituals share with your own culture?
What makes you think those beliefs are different from yours?
Based on your own culture, what information would you “educate” those from the tribe about?
Do those cultural rituals come across as weird or bizarre to you? Explain why.
Ask the students to fill out their worksheets

10. Let’s talk
Have you ever visited another place that is not similar to where you are from? How was the experience?
What similarities do those rituals share with your own culture?
What makes you think those beliefs are different from yours?
Based on your own culture, what information would you “educate” those from the tribe about?
Do those cultural rituals come across as weird or bizarre to you? Explain why.
Review questions and answers.
These questions can be asked in the form of a classroom discussion by having students be called upon to hear their answers.
List also located in Appendix A with example answers in the instructor copy.

11. Let’s talk Consider: Judging another culture is natural and automatic
Why might someone judge someone else based on their culture?
Bad past experience with someone of a different culture
Lack of interaction with those of different cultures
Influence of family and peers to be against those of another culture
Emphasize that the students made judgments about the culture, and that this is okay, but that these judgments may be wrong.

12. Let’s talk
Two theories
Social categorization: the innate cognitive process by which people place others (and themselves) into social groups
Social identification: we have social identities based on the group we have categorized ourselves as belonging to
Provide more explanation
Social categorization helps us categorize objects and understand them. We also learn more about ourselves by knowing what we belong to
Eg. I am American, he is a student etc.
Social identification states we adopt the identity of the group we have categorized ourselves as belonging to, and that in-group will discriminate against the out-group to enhance their self image
Emphasize in-groups and out-groups. Social categorization and social identification lead to the construction of bonds within a group but also of barriers between groups.
For more information, visit: (adapted from content summary therein)

13. Social identity & categorization theories
Henri Tajfel (1979) suggested that the groups to which we belong (e.g. social class, family, sports teams, etc.) are an important source of pride and self-esteem
People prefer their in-group
In-group members tend to put down traits of out-groups, which enhances their self-image
We categorize people based on various sources of information…much of which is unconfirmed
why they matter
For more information, visit: (adapted from content summary therein)

14. Let’s talk Consider… Judging another culture is natural and automatic
BUT
quick, uninformed, negative judgments (often) lead to BIAS (stereotypes, racism, etc.)
Openness towards other cultures can be increased by experiencing other cultures
But why should we do this?
Emphasize that the students made judgments about the culture, and that this is okay, but that these judgments may be wrong.
Also emphasize that these judgments CAN be fixed and are NOT immutable.

15. The Big reveal
WHO Are THE NACIREMA???

16. Did you catch it all? The Truth is revealed
Nacirema = American spelled backwards
Medicine men and women = doctors, psychiatrists, and pharmacists
Charm-box = medicine cabinet
Mouth-rite ritual = brushing teeth
Cultural hero Notgnihsaw = Washington spelled backwards
Here are key terms discussed within the Nacirema culture.
Ask the question presented on the screen and see how students react.
Go through each item listed to review over the terminology incorporated in the Nacirema culture explained in the video to ensure students comprehended the material.

17. Ask yourself:
What might this exercise tell you about how foreigners might view American rituals and culture?
How might you approach a tradition you are unfamiliar with—or even find strange—differently after learning the truth behind the Nacirema?
Start another classroom discussion over these two questions (also found in Appendix C).
Example response for question 1: It may seem weird that people eat two slices of bread with meat in the middle to those that are not accustomed with sandwiches (such as many in Asian countries); it may also seem odd that there is a special “car” to pick up kids for school and after school (school bus), and all other cars must stop when that special car wants them to, etc.
Example response for question 2: not assuming our own culture norms also apply to them; refraining from judging rituals and behaviors without adequate information; understanding that what is strange to one group may be normal and functional to another.

18. Examples of cultures in organizations
Purdue’s Culture
Breakfast Club
Grand Prix
First, ask students: What do you think about the culture here at Purdue? Then ask: Can you think of any examples of Purdue’s culture?
(Press the spacebar twice) Ask students if they are familiar with the terms breakfast club and grand prix, have one student for each concept, or yourself, explain for those unclear.
Breakfast club – students dress up in costumes and go to the campus bars the morning of home football games and the Saturday of Grand Prix.
Grand Prix – go-kart race that has been held on campus since 1958; The main focus is to raise scholarship money with its motto being “students helping students.”
Consider asking students to come up with examples of other university campus cultural activities.

19. What can the Nacirema teach us?
Conclusion
What can the Nacirema teach us?
Wrap up the discussion in any way that suits the purpose of your class and objectives. You may want to assign a reflective writing assignment. Otherwise, consider leading the class in a discuss around some of the following:
We are all biased.
We carry expectations that prevent us, sometimes, from seeing the true reality around the differences in others.
Most cultures have a lot in common. What’s different is often not as different as it seems.
If you think you ought to check your assumptions when entering into a situation with someone of a different culture, you’re right.

20. Instructor Note:
distribute post-versions of the questionnaire and demographics questionnaire, found here:
Link to survey:
Have students complete the post questionnaire, found online through the link provided, or in Appendix D.
After students complete the post questionnaire, also make sure that students complete the demographics questionnaire, found online through the second link provided.
Link to demographics:

21. References
Miner, H. (1956). Body ritual among the Nacirema. American Anthropologist, 58(3), 503–
Weaver, G. (2000). Culture, Communication and Conflict: Readings in Intercultural Relations. ISBN