Chapter 3(Culture) Flashcards
What is culture?
More of less commonly held set of
Symbols
Values
Beliefs
Norms
In order for any society to survive there must be certain amount of agreement regrading these building blocks of culture
Culture as structure
To the extent that we do agree on values, beliefs, norms, etc. they create relatively stable patterns of behavior and thinking.
In extreme cases, culture can be seen as a social straight jacket that determine behavior and even dictates the proper way to think about issues.
Culture as agecny
In extreme, culture may be seen as very creative realm that promotes a mulitdue of symbolic meanings, values, beliefs and norms
This view celebrates cultural change and expression but the creative element of culture can also bring countercultrual trneds that challegen the social structure and staiblity.
Symbols Defintion
meaning may be widely agreed upon; however there are always multiple levels of meanings
There may widespread disagreement(Immigration or aboration) regarding the true meaning of a symbols
Values
The meaning we attach to symbols depends on our values
Values are standards about what is good, desirable and how things “should be”
Values help us define what is bad and undesirable and when things are not as they should be
Beliefs
Specific ideas that people hold to be true( and certain thing’s are believed to be false as well)
there may be a great amount for agreement in terms of cultural beliefs or there may be a signifcant amount of discord regarding what is true or flase
Norms
are formal and informal rules for behavior in society. they are a major part of social structure as they help establish patterns for social interaction
Formal norms are referred to as laws
Informal norms are referred to as folkways; no strict pentalitesl you may encounter resistance when you are in violation
Culture shock
is a rather strong reaction to encounter with an unfamiliar culture
This happens often with foreign travel
Subcultural groups
are defined by different interests and life experiences from those of mainstream culture
Multicutiralism
recognizes the vast diversity within society and celebrates these differences while also advocating equal standings for all cultural traditions
An extreme is that, the most popular culture will be seen as superior.
key values of US culture
Equal Opportunity
Individual achievement
Material success
Democracy
Freedom
Ethnocentrism
etc
Cultural Change/ Cultural Diffusion
No culture doesnt change over time.
Changed due to alot of factors
Invention of new tech(computers)
Discovery of new knowledge
Cultural Diffusion
The spread of culture from one society to another
ETHNOCENTRISM
When we encounter a new or strange culture, we tend to judge based on our own cultural standards for what is good/bad
Culutral Relativism
Promotes understanding cultural systems base don their own internal logic
This is not the same as agreeing with or a belifef that all cultural forms are equal
is a philosophical approach to cultural differences that tries not to judge other cultures based upon your own culture’s values.
Globaliztion of culture?
Because the world has become increasily small, there is a compression of time and space
As a reuslt, diverse culutral systems are being forced to deal with each other as flows of goods, communcation and people accerlate
This may create global culture and increasing conflict or culture clash
