Chapter 2 - Culture, Diversity, and Conformity Flashcards
Material culture
Physical objects that people create
Culture
All the shared products of human groups
- physical objects
- beliefs
- values
- behaviors
Nonmaterial culture
Abstract human creations
Society
Group of interdependent people who have organized in such a way as to share a common culture and feeling of unity
Technology
Combination of objects and rules for using those objects
Symbols
Anything that hat represents something else (shared meaning)
- can be anything as long as it is agreed upon
Language
Organization of written or spoken symbols into a standardized system
Values
Shared beliefs about what is good, bad, right, wrong, desirable or undesirable
- helps determine character of people and the kind of culture they create
Norms
Shared rules of conduct that tell people how to act in specific situations
Folkways
Norms that describe socially acceptable behavior but do not have great moral significance attached to them
- reprimand or minor punishment
- some nonconformity allowed because it doesn’t endanger stability
Mores
Rules that have great moral significance attached to them
- violation of rules endanger society’s well being and stability
Laws
Written rules of conduct enacted and enforced by the government
The way cultures meet needs are limited by what?
Biological makeup and physical environment
Cultural universals
Features common to all cultures that ensure their fulfillment
What did George Murdock do?
Identified over 65 Cultural universals and put them in 7 categories
What are the 7 categories of cultural universals?
- arts are leisure
- basic needs
- beliefs
- communication and education
- family
- government and economy
- technology
Subculture
Group that share values, norms, and behaviors not shared by larger society
What do subculture do?
Add diversity and makes society open to change
Counterculture
Subgroup that challenges the values of society and wants to replace them with new ones
Ethnocentrism
Tendency to view one’s own culture and group as superior
- functionalist perspective, builds group unity
- conflict perspective, results in one group or society seeing others as inferior
Cultural relativism
Belief that cultures should be judged by their own standards
Cultural diffusion
Spreading of culture traits from one society to another
Cultural lag
Time between changes when ideas and beliefs and adapting to new materials conditions
Discovery
Recognize new uses for existing elements
Invention
Create something that did not previously exist
Cultural leveling
Process in which cultures become more and more alike
Personal achievement
Doing well at school and work is important. Gaining wealth and prestige is a sign of success
Progress and material comfort
History is marked by ongoing progress and thus progress improves people’s lives
Work
Discipline, dedication and hard work are signs of virtue
Individualism
Hard work, initiative, and individual effort are the keys to personal achievement
Efficiency and practicality
Can help solve every problem. Getting things done well in the shortest amount of time is very important
Morality and humanitarianism
Judgments should be based on a sense of right and wrong. Can also include helping the less fortunate
Equality and democracy
Everyone should have an equal chance at success and the right to participate freely in government
Freedom
Personal freedoms, such as freedom of religion, speech and the press, are central to the American way of life
What are other core values?
Nationalism and patriotism Science and rationality Racial and group superiority Education Religion
Self-fulfillment
Commitment to the full development of one’s personality, talents and potential
Narcissism
Extreme self-centeredness
- weakened the established values of hard work fan moderation
- Threatened the stability of the capitalist system
