Culture Flashcards
What is culture? /5
Languages Beliefs Norms Behaviors Material objects
Passed on to future generations of society
What us material culture? /2
Physical objects that members of society make/use/share
ex. books, iPhones
What is non-material culture? /2
abstract/intangible creations influenced people’s behaviors
ex. democracy, consumerism
What is High culture? /2
worthy of study and appreciation by the elite
preserved and studied in academies
ex. classical music, literary classes
What is folk culture? /2
created by a specific community or ethnic group
ex. nursery rhymes, hijab
What is popular culture? /3
contemporary
changes rapidly in the technological world
the most visible and pervasive level of culture in society
ex. television shows, jeans
How does Functionalism view culture? /2
to preserve stability
unique customs develop and persist because they are functional
Hoes does Conflict Theory view culture? /2
certain groups control culture
in order to sustain their privileged positions in society
How does Symbolic Interactionism view culture? /2
observe that people create/maintain/modify culture as they go about their daily activities
cultural symbols that are used to communicate are specific to each culture
How does the Feminist Theory view culture? /3
culture is generally patriarchal
favorable to men
defines the gender roles within each society
Components of society: Symbol? /2
something that stands for something else
meaning is often unique to a specific culture
ex. Maple leaf = canada,
Components of society: Language? /3
a set of symbols that express ideas and allow communication
verbal (spoken)
non-verbal (written or gestured)
ex. “I love you” or heart hand gesture
Components of society: Values? /2
collective ideas about what is right or wrong
part of society’s non-material culture
ex. gender equality in Canada, wisdom in China
Components of society: Beliefs? /2
statements about what people believe are true or false
change over time
ex. smoking causes cancer, , being a homosexual is a crime against the church
Components of society: Norms? /4
established rules of behavior or standards of conduct
help people know how to act in different situations
vary from culture to culture
can be considered acceptable in one culture, but not in another
ex. attending a pre-university program in Canada, direct eye contact is rude
What are the three different types of Norms? /3
Folkways
Laws
Sanctions
What are Folkways? /2
informal types of norms that are not strictly enforced
provide a framework for our everyday behavior
ex. holding the door open for someone
What are Laws? /4
norms perceived as being more serious
formal norms that are enforced through social institutions
help make social interactions more predictable
violating a law will receive a formal negative sanction
ex. exceeding the speed limit
What are Sanctions? /3
used to encourage compliance
a reward for following a norm that are enforced through social institutions
most sanctions are informal, especially those pertaining to folkways
ex. speeding ticket (-), paid bonus (+)
What is a cultural change? /3
when cultures are constantly changing due to societies constantly facing new social and technological challenges
proposed by William Ogburn
focuses on how technology often stimulates social adaptations
What is an invention? /3
when something is deliberately changed or made
in order to produce something new
changes how people do things
ex. cars, computers
What is discovery? /2
new items or methods that are not deliberately created but come about
observe or better understand something that already exists
ex. penicillin
What is diffusion? /2
an item or a method of doing things is transmitted from one culture to another
often took the form of cultural imperialism
What is cultural lag?
when social and cultural changes occur at a slower pace than technological changes
Why is cultural change important? /2
in response to new inventions
especially in law
What is a dominant culture? /2
practiced by the majority majority
controls the social institutions
What is a subculture? /3(5)
how its own distinct:
- Values
- Beliefs
- Norms
usually able to peacefully and respectfully coexist within the dominant culture
generally respects the dominant culture and the fundamental values of the dominant society
What are the different types of subcultures? /4
Ethnic
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Recreational Activities
What is an example of ethnic subculture? /1(5)
immigrant groups:
- live in the same neighborhood
- practice their religion
- speak their language
- maintain their norms of dress and food
What is a counterculture?
a group becomes significantly distinct from the dominant culture
ex. indigenous culture
What is assimilation/melting pot?
the process by which a minority group adopts the pattern of the dominant culture
What is multiculturalism? /3
concept that refers to a society that supports the inherent value of different cultures
first adopted by Canada in 1971
promotes equality while preserving cultural diversity
What is cultural relativism? /2
a deliberate effort to appreciate a group’s way of life in its own context without prejudice
a sociologist would seek to understand these reasons and the values behind them
ex. women encouraged to wear the hijab
What is ethnocentrism? /4
when a person uses their own culture to judge another culture
potentially dangerous to sociologists
can lead to incorrect assumptions about different cultures
in extreme forms, ethnocentrism can lead to xenophobia
ex. Christians insulting the hijab
What is xenophobia?
the fear and hostility towards people who are from other cultures
ex. 9/11
What is culture shock? /3
feeling lost/anxious/overwhelmed at how a culture differs from your own
occurs when a person encounters a culture foreign to their own
has an emotional response to differences between cultures
What is integration?
both new culture and culture of origin are appreciated
What is separation/segregation?
usually collective, the group remains separate from mainstream society
What is marginalization?
loss of heritage culture
low participation in dominant culture
What is exclusion?
minority groups prevented from participating in mainstream culture
