1. Anthropology 250 Issues in Anthropology Culture Change Principles

2. Society Definition A group of people who live according to a shared culture Social refers to interactions between two or more people Socialization occurs when you learn the behavior patterns of your group

3. Culture Definition The abstract, learned, shared rules/patterns/standards for generating behavior and interpreting experience. Enculturation is learning the culture you grow up in. Acculturation is learning a culture different from that in which you grew up.

4. The Nature of Culture Culture does not exist outside of people’s heads Each person has his or her own version of a culture based on life experience and the roles he or she knows (age, gender, professional, social class, ethnicity, etc) No one person knows the entirety of a culture Culture is a composite of all the rules for all the roles that anyone plays in a given society

5. The Fluid Nature of Culture Culture change occurs in one of two ways 1.A new behavior pattern spreads through a group, followed by a change in the rules and standards to conform with the new behavior pattern (eg. the sexual revolution of the 1960’s) 2.A change in the conscious rules of the society, followed by a change in behavior patterns (eg. the civil rights movement in the 1950’s and 1960’s) Change in behavior patterns and changes in rules do not usually occur simultaneously

6. Aspects of Culture Change Source Internal Source = invention or discovery External Source = diffusion Motivation Internal Motivation = cultural evolution External Motivation = conquest or colonialism

7. Types of Culture Change Individual Change Acculturation = when an individual learns a culture in addition to the one in which he/she is raised Assimilation = acculturation that has progressed to the point that the individual is indistinguishable from members of the new society Biculturalism = when an individual is fluent in two cultures and can switch at will from one to the other Group Change Evolution = change within a society that results when cultural changes are voluntarily integrated into the daily life of the society Diffusion = when a society borrows a culture trait from another society Syncretism = the blending of culture traits from two distinct cultures

8. Cultural Evolution This is the sort of natural change that occurs in all societies, as people adjust their cultures to fit new environmental conditions and situations. Individuals try out new strategies and/or beliefs, and the rest of the society decides whether the new practice is working well. When a new practice is adopted by a significant segment of the society, then culture change has occurred.

9. Diffusion This occurs when a culture trait is borrowed by a society in which it did not develop. For example, Coke and Pepsi are found throughout the world in literally hundreds of societies. These products have diffused around the world.

10. Syncretism Syncretism occurs when aspects of two cultures are blended into a single culture trait. A good example of this is Mexican food as it is served in Southern California. Taco Bell and El Torito are not authentic Mexican food. They are a blending of Mexican and American ingredients cooked in Mexican styles that have been adapted to American tastes.

11. Acculturation This is what occurs when individuals or groups migrate to an new country or culture. They must adjust to the new cultural context in which they find themselves. Immigrants tend to acculturate at different rates depending on the part of culture they need to change, and the number of immigrants from their home culture that are living in the new society. Religion is usually one of the last aspects of culture to be changed.

12. Assimilation This is what happens when individuals acculturate to a new culture and become so fully immersed that they are indistinguishable from native members of the new society into which they have moved. Research shows that it takes three generations for immigrants to fully assimilate to a new culture. The actual immigrants themselves have little chance of assimilation. It is their grandchildren who will be fully assimilated.

13. Biculturalism Biculturalism occurs when an individual knows two cultures extremely well, and can act as a native in either culture. Bicultural individuals frequently switch back and forth from one culture to another, depending on the social context in which they find themselves.

14. Types of Change Movements  Massive change in entire culture  Short time period  May be new culture or return to past traditions Internally Motivated 1.Revolution = violent overthrow of existing leadership 2.Millenial Movement = secular with political leader 2.Revitalization = religious with religious prophet as leader Externally Motivated 1.Conquest = forced massive change after war 2.Colonization = occupation with goal of economic exploitation

15. Study Guide SocietyEvolution SocialDiffusion SocializationSyncretism CultureAcculturation EnculturationBiculturalism Behavior patternsAssimilation Cultural rulesRevolution Internal sourceMillenial movement External sourceRevitalization movement Internal motivationConquest External motivationColonization