1. Unit 2 Culture and Social Structures Components of Culture

2. The Basis of Culture Culture – a way of life for a group of people. It is the learned knowledge, language, values, beliefs, customs, behaviors, symbols, and material objects that are shared by society and generally accepted without thinking about them. They are usually passed down from one generation to the next. Includes ideas, values, and artifacts. How a group eats food (chopsticks, silverware, hands) Marriage traditions Football in America Culture

3. The Basis of Culture Society – territory that is lived in by a group of people who share the same culture Cultural behavior must be “learned” Culture

4. Material Culture The physical objects created by humans Artifacts, money, houses, clothing, tools, etc. Nice cars in the United States Non-Material Culture Abstract human creations Language, beliefs, family patterns, political systems, etc. Family relationships Cultural Universal – Cultural trait that is present in all cultures such as rules of etiquette

5. Culture Belief An idea about the nature of reality Can be based on culture Varies from culture to culture Reflex Automatic response to a stimulus May vary based on cultural values Family relationships Drive An inherited impulse such as drinking when thirsty Our drive can vary from culture to culture

6. Values Value – an idea about what kind of behavior is desirable and good that is shared by the people in a society. It is the beliefs regarding what is considered to be good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. Stealing is bad, all children in the United States are entitled to education Value can determine the character of a group of people and the kinds of material and non-material culture they create. Changes over time, but usually remains relatively stable during any one person’s lifetime Civil rights, gay rights, etc.

7. Norms Norms – shared rules of conduct of how people act in specific situations Shaking hands to say hello Expectations for behaviors Formal – written down and specify strict punishments for violators Informal – understood but not precisely recorded

8. Folkways Folkways are norms that do not have a great moral significance. They are often referred to as customs. throwing rice at a wedding eating with utensils facing the door in an elevator

9. Mores More – a norm with a moral component which members of a society are expected to follow. Norms that have a great moral significance and are based on the definitions of right and wrong. Violations could lead to severe penalties stealing, cheating, lying, murder Mores can be institutionalized into formal norms such as laws.

10. Taboos A norm society holds so strongly that violating it results in extreme disgust. The violator may be considered unfit to live in that society and when violated it calls for strong punishment. Slavery Cannibalism Homosexuality Norms that are formally defined written rules, which are enacted and/or enforced by the government. Crime and Punishment Laws Laws and Taboos

11. Enforcing Rules within Norms Sanctions are rewards and/or punishments used to encourage people to follow and obey norms. Formal Sanctions are applied by official people to enforce laws. Imprisonment, loss of license, tardies, car towing, promotion at work Informal Sanctions are rewards and punishments enforced by regular people in a group. You ask another person to lower their voice in a movie theater, gifts, thumbs up, smile, frowns, gossip