1. The Basis of Culture

2. What is culture?

13. Culture defines how people in a society behave in relation to others.
The Basis of Culture
Culture defines how people in a society behave in relation to others.
Material side – Non material side -
Fast food, skyscrapers Customs, beliefs

14. How is society different from culture?
The Basis of Culture
How is society different from culture?
Culture is that particular society’s total way of life

15. What is a society
Society is a group of people who live in a defined territory and participate in a common culture

16. The Basis of Culture What is an instinct?
Genetically inherited patterns of behavior. Humans cannot get far on instincts alone

17. Humans rely on culture to meet most of their basic needs
The Basis of Culture
Why is culture more important than instinct in determining human behavior?
Humans rely on culture to meet most of their basic needs

18. Non human animals such as insects rely more on instincts to survive
The Basis of Culture
If women had an instinct for mothering than all women would want children
Non human animals such as insects rely more on instincts to survive

19. How does heredity affect behavior?
Other Factors
How does heredity affect behavior?
About half your personality traits are determined by genetics

20. This is also referred to the nature vs. nurture debate
The Basis of Culture
This is also referred to the nature vs. nurture debate
In addition humans have reflexes and drives

21. Sociobiology is the study of the biological basis of human behavior
The Basis of Culture
Sociobiology is the study of the biological basis of human behavior

22. How do sociobiologists view human behavior?
The Basis of Culture
How do sociobiologists view human behavior?
They assume that the behavior that best help people are biologically transmitted in the genetic code.

23. What are some criticisms of sociobiology?
The Basis of Culture
What are some criticisms of sociobiology?
Too much importance on genetics can label some races inferior or superior.

24. Is there a middle ground?
The Basis of Culture
Is there a middle ground?
A growing body of sociologists believe that genes work with culture to shape social life

25. Cultural Diversity What is a subculture?
A group that is part of the dominant culture but differs from it in some respects

26. What is a counterculture?
Cultural Diversity
What is a counterculture?
A subculture deliberately opposed to certain beliefs of the dominant culture

33. Cultural Diversity
High culture–Cultural patterns that distinguish a society’s elite.
Popular culture–Cultural patterns that are widespread among society’s population.
Subculture–Cultural patterns set apart some segment of society’s population.
Counterculture–Cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely accepted within a society.

34. Is cultural diversity beneficial to society or does it harm it?

35. The tendency to view one’s own culture or group as superior.
Ethnocentrism
What is ethnocentrism?
The tendency to view one’s own culture or group as superior.

36. Ethnocentrism What are some examples of ethnocentrism?
Olympic Games, regional rivalries,

37. Does ethnocentrism help or hurt society?
People feel good about themselves. Hitler and Nazi Germany are ethnocentrism at its worst

38. Cultural Universals Are traits that exist in all cultures
Ex. Sports, cooking, education, marriage, hospitality

39. How are cultural universals expressed?
Cultures carry out cultural universals differently. (Ex. raising children)

40. Cultural Universals Why do cultural universals exist?
Societies face many of the same social problems.