1. The Meaning of Culture

2. The Elements of Culture
Everyone born into a culture
Culture is learned from parents/grandparents
Elements are divided into 7 categories-used by anthropologists

3. 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
One of the most important elements of culture-rules of behavior
Usually taught by parents/grandparents
cultural rules vary in importance
social pressure to fit in

6. Language The cornerstone of culture reflects a culture’s identity
many societies include large numbers of people who speak different languages
unify culture (or not)
age

7. 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

8. Religion Arts often closely linked to people’s religious beliefs
within a culture, people usually share religious beliefs
monotheism
polytheism

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
Generally, culture traits originate in a particular area and spread outward, ultimately to characterize a larger expanse of territory.
cultural diffusion helps explain how they got there.
What would encourage or discourage this diffusion-think natural barriers and cultural barriers

16. Ethnocentrism
The tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. Ethnocentrism often entails the belief that one's own race or ethnic group is the most important and/or that some or all aspects of its culture are superior to those of other groups.

17. 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?