Culture

Question 1

culture

Answer 1

-the knowledge, language, values, customs and material objects that are passed from person to person and from one generation to the next in a human group or society

Question 2

culture is made up of: (3)

Answer 2

• ideas
• behaviours
• material possessions

Question 3

society is made up of:

Answer 3

-people

Question 4

culture is essential for: (3)

Answer 4

1. communication with others
   a) verbal
   - (spoken) language
   - (written) language
   - symbols (ex. stop sign)
   b) nonverbal
   - gestures
2. survival of individuals
   - not born knowing how to survive or how to participate as meme bees of a society
3. need a system of rule making and enforcing to guide behaviour

Question 5

nature (2)

Answer 5

• a persons biological/genetic make up

- ex: eye colour

Question 6

nurture (3)

Answer 6

• the social environment
• ex: language
• sociologists agree that nurture (social learning, culture) accounts for human behaviour

Question 7

instinct (2)

Answer 7

• unlearned biologically determined behaviour pattern common to all members of a species, occurs under certain environmental conditions
• humans don’t have instincts

Question 8

reflexes (2)

Answer 8

• unlearned, biologically determined involuntary response to a physical stimulus
• ex: sneeze, eye blink

Question 9

drives

Answer 9

• unlearned, biologically determined impulses common to all humans that satisfy needs (survival needs)
• ex: sleep, food, water, sex

Question 10

how we satisfy reflexes and drives are determined by culture (3)

Answer 10

• sneeze into sleeve/elbow
• Mexican “siesta”
• England 4:00pm “high tea”

Question 11

material culture (3)

Answer 11

• consists of physical or tangible creations that members of a society make, use and share
• start with raw materials, use technology to create usable items
• ex: books, computers, shelter, clothes, music, etc

Question 12

nonmaterial culture (4)

Answer 12

-consists of abstract or intangible human creations of society that influence people’s behaviour
-the main component is beliefs = the mental acceptance or conviction that certain things are true or real
-ex: language, beliefs, values, rules of behaviour, political systems
>beliefs may be based on tradition, faith, experience, scientific research

Question 13

cultural universals

Answer 13

-customs and practices that occurs across all societies

Question 14

george murdock created a list of more than 70 cultural universals, his categories included: (5)

Answer 14

-appearance: hairstyles, bodily adornment (tattoos, piercings)
-social institutions: family, law, religion
-activities: sports, dancing, games
-customary practices: cooking, hospitality, gift giving
>may be present in all cultures, but the specific forms vary between different groups and over time in the same group

Question 15

cultural universals developed because (3)

Answer 15

• all humans have the same basic needs (food, clothing, shelter) so we do similar things to survive
• historically, a conquering nation imposed their cultural practices on other societies
• ex: religion is a cultural universal, but traditional religious practices of aboriginals may be eliminated by settlers who have power over them