Ch 1 & 2 Flashcards
Sociology
The scientific study of human social behavior
if it’s true then it’s…
if it’s false then it’s…
FACT
Debunked
Some examples of material culture
automobiles, books, clothing, computers, cooking utensils
Some examples of non-material culture
rules, beliefs, ideas, language, skills
Folkway example
dont put food in your mouth with a knife
shake hands when you’re introduced to someone
do your homework
(not that significant, acceptable behavior)
Mores examples
Dishonesty, Fraud, Murder
great moral significance, could endanger society
Laws examples
Theft, rape, not parking in spaces reserved for drivers with disabilities
(written rules set to protect society, enacted and enforced by the government)
Cultural trait
example
individual tool, act, or belief that is related to a particular situation or need
example:utensils used when eating
Cultural complex
example
a cluster of interrelated traits
football inclues helments, pads, etc.
Cultural pattern
example
combination of a number of cultural complexes into an interrelated whole
example: how society is made up of religion, education, etc
Ethnocentrism
tendency to view one’s own culture and group as superior to all others
Cultural relativism
belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards
subculture
segment of our society, with norms, values, and behaviors that set it apart from the larger (american) culture
counterculture
subculture whose values oppose those of the larger society
anthropology
comparative study of past and present cultures
psychology
focuses on individual behavior and thinking of organisms (not really group behavior- sociology)
Define folkways
norms that describe socially acceptable behavior, but dont have great moral significance attached to them
Define Mores
This behavior has great moral significance bc if they are violated, it endangers society
Define laws
written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the gov
How are subcultures related to countercultures?
Countercultures usually result from subcultures.
They both involve dealing with values, behaviors, and practices.
the difference is that countercultures reject the values of society and replace them while the subculture only challenges or accepts them.
What is material culture?
The physical objects that people create and use
What is nonmaterial culture?
The abstract human creations
ex of counterculture
hippies, racial hate groups, sleeper cell of terrorists
ex of subculture
based on
religion, ethnic background, racial group, sexual preference, region, activities/hobbies, job
occupational: construction workers,teachers
regional: boston, alaskan, appalachians
ethnic: German, Chinese
religious: amish, Jewish, Muslim
