1. Cultural Variations

2. Variations Among cultures

3. Cultural Universals Cultural traits that exist in all cultures
Universal human activities that have NO universally accepted way of doing them
Specific nature of traits can vary widely (cultural particulars)
ex. Family, housing, food, jobs, celebrations, etc.
Why do they exist?
Meet basic biological needs
Meet physical environment needs
Societies face social problems
Identified by George Murdock (1945)

4. Sociobiology Belief that human behavior is the result of biology
Natural selection has chosen certain traits to become common to a species vs. disappear
Religion, competition/cooperation, slavery/genocide, war/peace, envy/altruism can be explained in terms of genetic programming (Edward Wilson)
Rejected by most sociologists
Humans capable of reasoning & abstract thought (we consider alternatives, reflect on outcomes, and make choices)

5. Variations within a culture

6. Subcultures
Groups whose values and related behaviors are so distinct that they set their members off from the dominant culture
Each subculture is a world within a larger world of dominant culture
Accept society’s broad values while sharing values, norms, and behaviors unique to subgroup
Ex. Age, gender, ethnic/race, religious, political, geographic, social-class, occupational (p. 50)

7. Countercultures
Groups whose values set their members in opposition to the dominant culture
Usually associated in negative behavior, however, not always…
Ex. Mormons (1800s) challenged the core value of monogamy
Perceived as a threat to dominant culture as they challenge or reject a culture’s values