1. Cultural Conformity and Adaptation
Sociology
9/12/2018
Cultural Conformity and Adaptation
Preview
Section 1: The American Value System
Section 2: Social Control
Section 3: Social Change
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 3

2. Section 1: The American Value System
Read to Discover
What are the basic values that form the foundation of American culture?
What new values have developed in the United States since the 1970s?

3. Section 1: The American Value System
Question
What basic values form the foundation of American culture?

4. Section 1: The American Value System
Traditional American Values
 Personal achievement
 Individualism
 Work
 Morality and humanitarianism
 Efficiency and practicality
 Progress and material comfort
Equality and democracy
Freedom

5. Section 1: The American Value System
Personal Achievement—nation built primarily by people valued individual achievement, as in the area of employment
Individualism—success comes through hard work and initiative
Work—discipline, dedication, and hard work are viewed as signs of virtue

6. Section 1: The American Value System
Morality and Humanitarianism—high value is placed on morality and the world is viewed in terms of right and wrong; quick to help the less fortunate
Efficiency and Practicality—practical and inventive; every problem has a solution; objects are judged on their usefulness and people on their ability to get things done

7. Section 1: The American Value System
Progress and Material Comfort—through hard work and determination, living standards will continue to improve
Equality and Democracy—to have human equality, there must be an equality of opportunity; success must be earned
Freedom—freedoms of choice such as religion, speech, and press must be protected from government interference

8. Section 1: The American Value System
Question
What new values have developed in the United States since the 1970s?

9. Section 1: The American Value System
Our Changing Values
Commitment to the full development of one’s personality, talents, and potential; self-fulfillment includes leisure, physical fitness, and youthfulness
Environmental protection
Education and religion were deemed important by students who were polled

10. Section 2: Social Control
Read to Discover
How are the norms of society enforced?
What are the differences between positive and negative sanctions and between formal and informal sanctions?

11. Section 2: Social Control
Question
How are the norms of society enforced, and what are the four types of sanctions?

12. Section 2: Social Control
Enforcing the Norms of Society
Internalization—process by which a norm becomes a part of an individual’s personality, thus conditioning that individual to conform to society’s expectations
Sanctions—rewards and punishments used to enforce conformity to the norms

13. Section 2: Social Control
ENFORCEMENT OF SOCIAL NORMS
Internalization: how a norm becomes part of a person’s personality, causing them to conform to society’s expectations
Sanctions: rewards or punishments used to enforce conformity to norms
Positive: action that rewards a particular kind of behavior
Negative: punishment or the threat of punishment to enforce conformity
Formal: reward or punishment by a formal organization or regulatory agency, such as a school
Informal: spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval by an individual or group

14. Section 2: Social Control
Question
What are the differences between positive and negative sanctions and between formal and informal sanctions?

15. Section 2: Social Control
Positive Sanction—action that rewards a particular kind of behavior such as good grades or a pay raise
Negative Sanction—punishment or the threat of punishment to enforce conformity such as frowns, imprisonment, and even death

16. Section 2: Social Control
Formal Sanction—rewards or punishments by a formal organization or regulatory agency such as the government; includes promotions, awards, or low grades
Informal Sanction—spontaneous expression of approval or disapproval by an individual or group such as a standing ovation, gifts, gossip, or ridicule

17. Section 3: Social Change
Read to Discover
What are the main sources of social change?
What factors lead people to resist social change?

18. Section 3: Social Change
Question
What are the main sources of social change?

19. Section 3: Social Change
Values and Beliefs—changes in values and beliefs are often caused by ideology spread through social movements
Technology—new knowledge and tools people use to manipulate their environment
Population—change in size of population may bring about changes in the culture

20. Section 3: Social Change
Diffusion—process of spreading culture traits from one society to another
Physical Environment—the environment may provide conditions that encourage or discourage cultural change
Wars and Conquests—exposure to new cultures; changes in politics, economy, population, property, technology, medicine

21. Section 3: Social Change
Source of
Social Change
Social Consequence
Example
Values and Beliefs
Technology
Population
Diffusion
Physical Environment
Wars and Conquests

22. Section 3: Social Change
Question
What factors lead people to resist social change?

23. Section 3: Social Change
Ethnocentrism—tendency to view one’s own culture or group as superior, which can lead to segregation
Cultural Lag—a delay in cultural change, such as in the introduction and use of computers
Vested Interests—satisfaction with and an investment in the status quo, which can lead to such things as a focus on maintaining budgets over a focus on providing a quality education

24. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas
What are the core American values outlined by Robin M. Williams and James M. Henslin?
What new American values have emerged in recent years?
Identify the two basic methods through which society enforces norms.
Explain the difference between positive sanctions and negative sanctions by giving an example of each.
What role do government policies play in enforcing cultural values and social norms?
How are the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement examples of social change?
How has cultural diffusion changed eating habits in the United States?
For what reasons do people resist change?