Chapter 2- Sociology Of Culture Flashcards
Define culture
Shared ways of living; ways of acting, thinking, and material objects that form the way of living
Define society
People who act in a defined territory and share a culture
Define culture shock
Personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life- it’s a matter of perspective
Elements of Culture
Symbols Language Values Beliefs Norms
Symbols
Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture
The meaning found in these symbols make social life possible
Language
A system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another
Sapir Whorf thesis- people see and understand the world through the cultural lens of language; people have trouble imagining something that they don’t have a word for
Values
Culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is desirable, good, and beautiful
Abstract standards that may not match behaviour
Beliefs
Ideas that people hold to be true
Norms
Rules and expectations by which a society guides the behaviour of its members
Folkways
Mores
Taboos
Folkways
Norms for routine or causal interaction Least prescriptive (most informal)
Mores
Norms that are widely observed and have great Moral significance
Stricter negative sanction
Taboos
Deeply rooted norms that are unthinkable actions generally formal norms (translated into laws)
High Culture
The culture of the elite
Cultural Capital
Social assets of a person or groups
Skill sets, knowledge base, ways of behaviour that allow for movement through social strata
Embodied mannerisms
How a person expresses them self, interacts with others
Denotes your culture
Popular culture
Outside of elite culture
People who choose and live in their culture
The culture is intentionally adopted by a person or group
Mass Culture
When a common culture is forced into an individual by the masses
Types of Culture
Dominant Culture
Subculture
Counter Culture
Dominant culture
The prevailing shared ways of life; the culture which is most representative of the culture
Often power associated with the Dom culture
Subculture
Smaller culture that exists within the dominant culture
Unique culture that may involve elements of the dominant culture
“Subordinate culture” have less power
Counter Culture
Subculture in opposition of the dominant culture
Can be positive or negative- often protest the dominant culture
Multiculturalism
Two processes
Policy- multiple official languages, recognition of rights of all people groups (ideal)
Practice- the melting pot- expectations that all people groups bring parts of their culture that are acceptable to be melted together into the Dom culture
Ethnocentrism
Assess other cultures based on your own standards, usually as a result of ignorance
Xenocentrism
Belief that another culture is better than your own
