Chapter 3 Culture Flashcards
Culture
Symbols, language, norms, beliefs, values and artifacts that are part of a society.
Culture and society are always [___].
[…changing]
Our reactions are [___] induced.
[…culturally]
Sociologists note that biological explanations have been used historically to oppress groups
Sterilization; Mass violence; Genocide
Material culture, or artifacts
A society’s physical objects, like tools, clothing, utensils and transportation.
Nonmaterial culture
Includes the intangible aspects of culture associated with the ways we think, communicate and act.
Symbols
Things that stand for something else and that evoke reactions and emotions.
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
It is argued that language shapes how we think and perceive the social and physical worlds.
Sexist and racist language, which shape how people perceive one another and serve to reinforce the existing unequal social structure.
Policeman-Police officer; Mankind-Humankind; Man made-Artificial
Beliefs
Ideas or convictions that people hold to be true, and are typically rooted in science, mythology, folklore or religion.
Values
Judgments of what is good or bad and desirable or undesirable, and are critical for transmitting and teaching the beliefs of a culture.
Cultural values shape the norms of society
In Japan, lawsuits happen infrequently, due to the value of group harmony; U.S. cultural values emphasized include individualism and the work ethic
Norms
Standards and expectations for behaving.
Informal norms, or folkways
Standards of behavior that are considered less important but still influence how we behave.
Formal norms, like mores (derived from the moral code) and laws (derived from the legal code)
Refer to the standards of behavior considered the most important in any society.