1. What is Culture Flashcards
What is the definition of culture
Culture is all things learnt or shared by a group of people. it refers to the beliefs, traditions and ideas that are transmitted from generation to generation through socialisation for example: Cultural transmission.
What is the definition of Material culture
This culture refers to the physical things that people create and attach emotional meaning to EG: Clothing that symbolises important things.
What is the definition of Non-material Culture
This refers to ideas that people share for example rules, traditions and language. This is important as it helps people understand their social world and gives guidelines on how to behave.
What is the social construction of culture
Social construction is any idea thats created and given any special meaning by people for example motherhood has been given a lot of social construction for being a good mother.
What is collectivist cultures
These cultures emphasise belonging to groups is more important than personal freedom. China and Japan are seen as collectivist cultures.
What is individualist culutres
These are cultures that emphasise individual freedom and personal gain sometimes at the expense of others. Europe cultures tend to be individualistic.
What is cultural diversity
Cultural diversity is a term used to describe differences in behaviours between Cultures.
As cultures can be very different for examples: muslims don’t eat pork when others do. Therefore, some people can get offended by other cultures traditions, eg eating with hands
What is social control
Social control is an important aspect of culture. These are rules that are created and followed by people who belong to a culture. People who don’t follow these rules will not be seen as a full member of society.
what is formal control
Formal control is where institutions exist to force people to behave EG: Police. Formal control is linked to legal laws.
What is informal control
This is the way people are controlled through internalisation of moral codes. These rules act as a conscience and people won’t break them.
What sociologist points out social rules
Travis Hirschi is a functionalist writer pointed out breaking rules can give people considerable disadvantage in life, he believed that criminals lack proper socialisation.
What are Norms
Norms are expected behaviours for a culture. A norm in one culture may not be a norm in another EG: eating with hands.
What are Values
Values are linked to the concept of non-material culture, they are basic rules shared by most people in a culture. Freedom of speech is seen as a value.
What is social change
Any differences in the way people think or act can be as social change. A big social change can be said to be the gain of womens roles. Functionalists see social change as a problem, whereas Marxists believe its normal.
What is cultural diversity
Cultural diversity is a term used to describe differences in behaviours between Cultures.
