1. Class Survey: 5=Best 1=Worst
1) Technological capabilities    5     4     3     2     1
(2) Friendliness to strangers     5     4     3     2     1
(3) Honesty    5     4     3     2     1
(4) Political freedom    5     4     3     2     1
(5) Generosity    5     4     3     2     1
(6) Desire for peace   5     4     3     2     1
(7) Scientific contributions    5     4     3     2     1
(8) Artistic contributions    5     4     3     2     1
(9) Equality between male and female    5     4     3     2     1
(10) Racial tolerance    5     4     3     2     1
(11) Religious tolerance    5     4     3     2     1
(12) Respect for environment    5     4     3     2     1
(13) Concern for children    5     4     3     2     1
(14) Manners    5     4     3     2     1
(15) Style of dress    5     4     3     2     1

2. Ethnocentrism

3. Definition
Ethnocentrism is judging another culture by the values and standards of your own culture.

4. 2 Kinds of Ethnocentrism
Moderate Ethnocentrism: Looking at another culture through the lens of your own culture
This is a natural part of human psychology.
Extreme Ethnocentrism: Considering another culture inferior because it is different from yours
Extreme ethnocentrism can be dangerous.

5. Origins
The first person to use the word ethnocentrism was William G. Sumner.
“…when one's own group is the center of everything, and all others are scaled and rated with reference to it.”

6. Racism? Do not confuse racism with ethnocentrism.
Race is not considered to be a valid form of human classification.
What is race?

7. Causes of Ethnocentrism
Members of a group make strong connections with other members.
This bond produces positive feelings toward members of the group.
Sometimes causes negative feelings toward outsiders.

8. Causes of Ethnocentrism
Little or no contact with members of outsider groups produces strong feelings of ethnocentrism.

9. Causes of Ethnocentrism
Lack of education sometimes increases ethnocentrism.
Men are more willing to express ethnocentrism than women.
People with low wealth or low self-esteem seem to be more ethnocentric.

10. Examples of Ethnocentrism
Language Example 1:
What we call others
Eskimo means “eaters of raw flesh”
Eskimo is a word used by outsiders.
Inuit is a word used by members of the group (insiders).
Inuit translates to real people.

11. Examples of Ethnocentrism
Language Example 2:
Barbarian comes from the Greek word Barbar which translates to “the sound a dog makes.”
The Greeks used this word for people who could not understand their language.
These are cases of extreme ethnocentrism.

12. How to Avoid Extreme Ethnocentrism
Cultural Relativism: all cultures are relevant…no one culture is better or worse than others
Cultural practices can not be judged right or wrong.
Tolerance is the ultimate goal.
Observers must suspend ethnocentrism in order to properly judge other cultures.

13. Cultural Relativism
Extreme cultural relativism can be just as dangerous.
Humanity must have guidelines of morality.
Human life is precious

14. Cultural Relativism
We can tolerate different perspectives.

15. Cultural Relativism
But can we tolerate moral crimes in the name of tolerance?
Murder
Rape
These crimes can be considered universally wrong.

16. Cultural Relativism: Death Rituals
Aztec people practices human sacrifice because they felt it would guarantee that the sun would continue to rise every morning.
The United States leads the world in the number of death penalties.

17. Cultural Relativism: Death Rituals
We now know that the sun has nothing to do with human sacrifice.
Statistics now show that the death penalty does not decrease crime in the United States.
Crime actually decreases when death penalty is outlawed.

18. Why Death Rituals?
Both Aztec and U.S.A. death rituals are no longer relevant today.
However, cultural relativism allows us to know why.
Both rituals made promises that society would remain stable.

19. Conclusion
Members of different cultures are no less human than anyone else.
We must avoid premature judgments until we understand the reasons behind actions.
Only then can we criticize.

20. Discussion Questions What is a pluralistic society?
Could you imagine marrying someone from another culture or subculture?