chapters 3-5 Flashcards
what is culture
cultures, practices, beliefs that people share, “norms”
what is high culture
experiences/ attitudes that exist in the elite of society
what is low culture
material and non-material cultural aspects that have mass appeal and are accessible to all members of a society.
what is popular culture
the set of practices, beliefs, and objects that embody the most broadly shared meanings of a social system
ex: social trends
what is society
large interacting social group in a defined territory that share a common cultures
what are culture universals
concepts or patterns of behavior that are common to All human cultures
what is ethnocentrism
when one person thinks that another persons culture is incorrect or not ideal
what is xenocentrism
when one wants to engage in other cultures besides their own
what is culture shock
the process of adapting to a new culture
Ex: being in an unfamiliar place with family
what is culture relativism
not judging another culture
what is innovation
implantation of new solutions that aim to improve welfare and wellbeing of people/ communities
what is discovery
a formerly unknown idea/ object
what is invention
a new combo of existing cultural elements
what is diffusion
social process in which elements of culture spread from one society/ social group to another
what is globalization
the increasing connectedness and interdependence of world cultures and economies
what is material culture
the physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture
ex: homes, churches, statues
what is non-material culture
non-physical ideas/ beliefs about ones culture
what is culture lag
The difference between material culture and non-material culture
what are subcultures
social groups organized around shared interests and practices.
ex: hippies
what is argot
A characteristic and specialized language used by a group, particularly a subculture
ex: street names for drugs
what are counter-cultures
a cultural group or subculture whose values and norms of behavior run counter to those of the region’s social mainstream
what is language
A symbolic means of communicating through gestures, sounds, or written words
what are symbols
gestures, signs, objects, signals, and words
what are norms
unwritten rules in society that define what is acceptable/unacceptable
what are mores
A set of moral norms or customs derived from generally accepted practices
what are folkways
social conventions that are not considered to be of moral significance by members of the group
what are sanctions
reactions of a social group representing approval or disapproval
ex: shame, ridicule, embarrassment
what are values
intangible qualities or beliefs accepted and endorsed by a given society.
what is socialization
a process that introduces people to social norms and customs and helps individuals find where they belong
what is personality
individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving
what is self
The self is the individual person, from his or her own perspective.
Charles Horton Cooley’s Looking-glass self
individuals develop their concept of self by observing how they are perceived by others,
George Herbert Mead’s Stages of the Self: 1(p)
prepatory stage: a phase in which children copy or imitate the behaviors of others as a way of learning
George Herbert Mead’s Stages of the Self: 2(p)
play time: the phase in which children start to take on and act out roles during their playtime
George Herbert Mead’s Stages of the Self:3(g)
game stage: During this stage, people learn to follow rules and how to take on social roles through their experiences in organized games involving other players, children develop self-awareness
what is impression management
the process through which people try to control the impressions other people form of them
what is facework
a set of strategic behaviors by which people attempt to maintain both their own dignity (“face”) and that of the people with whom they are dealing.
what are agents of socialization
a combination of social groups and social institutions that provide the first experiences of socialization
ex: religion, family, work
what is anticipatory socialization
The process of preparing for future roles and statuses by learning and adopting new behaviors, norms, skills, and values.
what is reverse socialization
the younger generation transfers knowledge to the older generation
ex: kids teaching parents how to use computers
what is resocialization
the process by which old behaviors are removed and new behaviors are learned in the process
what is total institutions
regulates all aspects of a person’s life under a single authority.
what is degradation ceremony
the process by which new members of a total institution lose aspects of their old identities and are given new ones
what is rites of passage
a ritual marking the symbolic transition from one social position to another
Ex: high school graduate to college student
what is social interaction
Refers to the way in which people respond to one another
what is social structure
way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships
what is mechanical solidarity
a type of social order maintained by the collective consciousness of a culture
Ex: religious groups
what is Organic solidarity
Organic solidarity -
a type of social order based around an acceptance of economic and social differences
Ex: healthcare workers
what is Gemeinschaft
Gemeinschaft -
small community in which people have similar backgrounds and life experiences
Ex: sports teams
what is Gesellschaft
large community in which people are strangers and feel little in common with other community residents
Ex: modern day businesses, the workers may not really care about the product or getting involved with one another but they all work for money
first element of social culture
statuses: Any of the full range of socially defined positions within a large group or society
what is ascribed status
The status outside of an individuals control
Ex: sex, race
what is achieved status
A social position which comes largely through one own self efforts
what is master status
A position that determines other statues and thereby determines a person’s general position within society
second element in social culture
Roles -
A set of expectations for people who occupy a given status
what is role conflict
A situation when one or more of an individuals roles clash
Ex: being a student athlete (handling sports/edu)
what is role strain
Stress that occurs when too much is required of a single status
what is role exit
Process of disengaging from a role central to one’s self-identity
