1. Cultural Norms The only time we can use the term “normal” to explain you!!!!!

2. What is culture? Definition : a collection of thoughts, actions, beliefs and ideals, shared amongst a group of people. Culture includes more than ethnic groups – religion, school, community, country, music/arts, hobbies, etc. Typically those who share culture will have equal stock in creating and following cultural guidelines. These guidelines are called Cultural Norms

3. Cultural Norms Definitions – the standards or “rules” a specific culture sets for its “in-group” Though we mentioned this before, it is important to understand these Norms extend past stereotypes, and likes/dislikes of a group. These Norms also include – laws, politics, commerce, “pecking order”,

4. Cultural Dimensions Definition: How a culture defines or “perceives” major aspects of daily life, that influence how a person will act. Much bigger than the social identity roles we have discussed. – Individualism / collectivism – how members will define themselves within or apart from other members of their culture. Individualism – emphasis is placed on the member choosing their own affiliations within the culture. Collectivism – emphasis is placed on the member acting as part or on behalf of a predestined group. Ex. Family, religion, school.

5. Cultural Dimensions Individualism / collectivism cont. What happens as a culture dimensions change? – Past slogans – “God, Country, Family, Self” & “Ask not what your country can do for you…….” – Modern Day – “Army of One”, “You are the author of your own life”

6. Cultural Dimensions Masculinity / Femininity – Masculinity – typically a culture that focuses on competition, assertiveness, ambition, and accumulation of possession. – Femininity – typically a culture that focuses on relationships, and quality of life. Can also include the male and female roles in the culture group, but that is more of a social identity realm.

7. -emic vs -etic Cultural Norms -emic Cultural Norms – are defined as norms specific within a given cultural group -etic Cultural Norms – are defined as norms that often are universal across cultures. The Focus deals more with how we perceive norms based on cultural dimensions For Example – Self Reliance

8. -emic vs. -etic Self Reliance – Individualism dimension – perceived as ones ability to pursue one’s own goals. This includes the perception that they are in competition with others – Collectivism dimension – perceived as one’s ability to not be a burden on others. This provides no competition component “what can I do to stay out of others way”

9. Emic: Western children and adults exhibit greater abilities to recall specific past events and event-specific details than their Asian counterparts. Etic: Differences a result of methodological artifacts or the true work of ‘culture’ difference on event-specific details? -emic vs. –etic: Semantic Memory

10. Emic: Hutus believed that the Tutsis were to blame for economic hardship and unofficial caste structure that held them (Hutus) back, based on genetic markers (tall, slender noses). Etic: The colonial influences of Germany and Belgium created divide and superiority between Hutus and Tutsis based on genetic marker similarity to Europeans. -emic vs. –etic: Rwandan genocide

11. Imposed -etic -etic research is meant to be as objective as possible. This is invalidated when we become subjective in our discussion. Imposed -etics when a researcher applies their own “-emic” cultural understanding when explaining another’s culture. This of course is an oxymoron, and will invalidate your conclusions.