Chapter 2- Culture Flashcards
What is Culture?
the ways of thinking, the ways of acting, and the material objects that together from a people’s way of life
What is Nonmaterial Culture?
the ideas created by members of a society
What is Material Culture?
the physical things created by members of a society
What is Culture Shock?
personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life
Can you explain how Culture is a Way of Life?
- it is shared by members of a society
2. shapes how we think, act, and feel
Can you explain how Culture is a Human Trait?
- human beings rely on culture for survival
How is Culture a Product of Evolution?
- culture replaces biological instincts as our species’ primary strategy for survival
What is a Symbol?
anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture
What are the common elements of Culture?
symbols, language, values, and norms
What is Language?
a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another
What are Values?
culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good, and beautiful and that serves as broad guidelines for social living
What are Beliefs?
specific thoughts or ideas that people hold to be true
What is Cultural Transmission?
the process by which one generation passes culture to the next
What is Sapir-Whorf Thesis?
the idea that people see and understand the world through the cultural lens of language
What are Norms?
rules and expectations that guides the behaviour of society’s members
What are Mores?
norms that are widely observed and have great moral significance
What are Folkways?
norms for routine or casual interaction
What are Laws?
systems of rules recognized and enforced by governing institutions
What is Social Control?
attempts by society to regulate people’s thoughts and behaviours
What is Technology?
knowledge that people use to make their way of life in their surroundings
What is High Culture?
cultural patterns that distinguish a society’s elite
What is Popular Culture?
cultural patterns that are widespread among a society’s population
What is Subculture?
cultural patterns that set apart some segments of a society’s population
What is Multiculturalism?
a perspective recognizing the cultural diversity of Canada and promoting equal standings for all cultural traditions
What is Counterculture?
cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely accepted within a society
What is Cultural Integration?
the close relationships of various elements of a cultural system
What is Cultural Lag?
the fact that some cultural elements change more quickly the others, disrupting a cultural sytem
What is Ethnocentrism?
the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture
What is Cultural Relativism?
the practice of judging a culture by its own standards
What is Cultural Universals?
traits that are part of every known culture
How does the Structural-functional Theory view Culture?
a relatively stable system built on core values & all cultural patterns play some part in the ongoing operations of society
How does the Social-conflict Theory view Culture?
a dynamic arena of inequality and conflict & cultural patterns benefit some categories of people more than others
What does the Feminist Theory highlight about Culture?
culture is “gendered” by dividing some activities between the sexes in ways that give men greater power and privileges than women have
