1. Culture

2. the learned and shared behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values, and material objects that characterize a particular group or society

3. culture determines a people’s way of life

4. Every group has a culture

9. Society
A group of people that has lived and worked together long enough become an organized population and to think of themselves as a social unit

10. Society and Culture are mutually dependent

11. Society and Culture can not exist without the other… this is why these terms are often used interchangeably – BUT you need to know the difference!

12. Characteristics of Culture
Culture is learned
Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next
Culture is shared
Culture is adaptive and always changing

13. 1. Culture is learned Culture is not innate
If a baby was born in one culture but adopted into another culture- that child will more than likely practice the culture of his or her adoptive parents

14. 2. Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next
Informally- through interactions such as families and friends
Formally- through schools, jobs, community organizations, etc.

15. 3. Culture is Shared Culture brings member of society together
Allows people to have a sense of belonging as they share beliefs, values and attitudes about
What is right
What is wrong
What is normal

18. What would happen if we did not have a shared culture?

19. 4. Culture is adaptive and always changing
Culture changes from generation to generation
Technology
Family values
Marriage

20. Premarital Sex

21. Material vs. Non Material Culture

22. Material Culture
Tangible objects that members of society make, use and share.

23. Non-Material Culture
The shared set of meanings that people in a society use to interpret and understand the world Symbols Values Beliefs Sanctions

24. Symbols
Anything that stand for something else and has a particular meaning for people who share a culture.
Through symbols we
engage in symbolic
interaction

25. symbols may unify or divide a society

26. Language
A system of shared symbols that enable people to communicate with each other

27. Language and Gender Businessman, Chairman, Mailman
Abortion- why do we not talk about the number of men who impregnate women but rather we often just talk about the women?
Men who have a lot of sexual partners vs. Women who have a lot of sexual partners

28. The standards by which members of a particular culture define what is…
Values
The standards by which members of a particular culture define what is…
Good
Bad
Moral or immoral
Proper or improper
Desirable or undesirable
Beautiful or ugly

29. Values are ‘general guidelines’

30. Values are emotion-laden

31. Major US Values Achievement and Success Activity and Work Morality
Humanitarianism
Efficiency and Practicality
Progress
Material Comfort
Equality*
Freedom
Conformity
Nationalism and Patriotism
Democracy
Individuality*
Identified by Sociologist Robin Williams

32. Trouble in US Values Individuality vs
Trouble in US Values Individuality vs. Those who are not ‘ideal’ Discrimination against groups Equality vs. Income Gaps Responsibility vs. “TV and Kids”

33. Specific rules of right and wrong
Norms
Specific rules of right and wrong

34. General Characteristics
Unwritten- Most are passed down and are not written
Instrumental- They serve a specific purpose
They can be both explicit (save money for a rainy day) and implicit (keep your car clean)
Change- from generation to generation
Conditional- apply in some settings but not others (singing in your car by yourself vs with new friends)
Rigid/Flexible

35. Folkways
norms that members of a society (or a group within a society) look upon as not being critical and that may be broken without severe punishment

37. Folkway- Dating
The first date at someone’s home

38. Mores
norms that maintain moral and ethical behavior these are considered very important

39. Southwest Airlines

40. Laws
Formal rules about behavior that are defined by a political authority that has the power to punish violators

42. Rewards for good behavior Penalties for bad behavior
Sanctions
Rewards for good behavior Penalties for bad behavior

43. sanctions vary

44. often are not consistent despite universal norms

45. cheating

46. higher education

47. Ideal vs. Real Culture

48. Norms that people in a society say that they follow
Ideal Culture
Norms that people in a society say that they follow

49. The actual norms that people follow within a society
Real Culture
The actual norms that people follow within a society

50. Cultural Similarities
Obviously there are differences from society to society with culture- but there are quite a few universal culture staples

51. Customs and practices that are common to all societies
Cultural Universals
Customs and practices that are common to all societies

52. Some Cultural Universals
Athletics
Division of Labor
Ethics
Games
Religious rituals
Supernatural beings
(all are listed on page 50)

53. Culture Shock
A sense of confusion, uncertainty, disorientation or anxiety that comes with exposure to different cultures

55. My summer abroad and culture shock

56. Subcultures and Countercultures
Cultural Diversity
Subcultures and Countercultures

57. Subcultures
A group of category of people who distinctive ways of thinking, feeling, and acting differ somewhat from those of the larger society

60. Countercultures
A group or category of people who deliberately oppose and consciously reject some of the basic beliefs, values, and norms of the dominant culture