1. The Meaning of Culture

2. The Elements of Culture
Everyone born into a culture.
Share common characteristics.
Anthropologists divided into 7 Elements

3. #1 Social Organization smaller structure-meet needs of people
Family Patterns-
most important
nuclear family
extended family

4. Social Classes Ranking of people in order of status
Based on what that culture values highly
Social mobility

5. Customs and Traditions
-rules of behavior
cultural rules vary in importance
social pressure to fit in
Social norms-unify or not

6. Arts and Literature
Products of human imagination such as art, music, literature that please and entertain us.
Folk tales-traditions that help pass on a culture’s basic beliefs and values.
A and L help to strengthen a culture’s identity

7. Language The cornerstone of culture reflects a culture’s identity
unify culture (or not)
age

8. Religion Arts often closely linked to people’s religious beliefs
within a culture, people usually share religious beliefs
Meaning of life

9. Forms of Government
People’s governments provide for their common needs such as order and protection
people organize governments
types of governments:
democracy
republic
dictatorship

10. Economic Systems
Economics refers to how people use limited resources to satisfy their wants and needs.
3 basic questions:
what goods and services should we produce
how should we produce them
for whom should we produce them

11. Economics cont.
Traditional economy: people produce most of what they need to survive
Market economy:buying and selling goods and services.
Command economy: government controls what goods are produced & what they cost
Mixed-most nations have mixed economies

13. The American Dream

14. Cultural diffusion
spread of culture and the factors that account for it, such as migration, communications, trade, and commerce

16. Ethnocentrism
The tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture.
Cultural superiority

17. Cultural Divergence
The restriction of an element of culture from outside influences
Example: government censorship

18. Cultural Convergence
Cultural convergence occurs when multiple cultures become more like one another through exposure to traditions, ideals and languages.

19. Questions to Ponder
Describe three elements that help give YOUR culture its identity.
How are family patterns related to YOUR culture?
How do the arts in the United States help to unify the nation?
Which element of culture is most relevant in your life?