Culture Flashcards
What is the definition of culture?
The way of life of a particular society or group
What are norms
The expected behaviours for a culture
What are values?
Basic rules shared by most people in a culture
What is social construction
Something which is created and given a special meaning by people
What is Material culture
Physical things that people attach meaning to. eg clothing, housing, cars, toys etc
What is non-material culture?
Shared ideas such as rules, traditions, languages, and history. Gives guidelines on how to behave
What is collectivist culture?
Cultures which emphasise belonging to a group rather than personal freedom eg. China and Japan
What is Individualistic culture?
Cultures which emphasise individual freedom and personal gain sometimes at the expense of others eg. UK, USA
What is formal control?
Institutions in society which force people to behave appropriately eg, police and the legal system
What is informal control?
Internalising moral codes through upbringing, positive role models, eg. If people are taught what their culture is when they are children they may not challenge it
Nature vs Nurture
Nature is genes it is innate/inborn
Nurture is environmental/ learned behaviour
What is nativism?
Many of our physical characteristics are inherited. Certain personality traits are linked to genetics. Nativists take on extreme positions with regards to genetics
Belief that women are hard-wired to domestic labour and child bearing whilst men are sexually aggressive
What are biological imperatives?
All animals have certain biological imperatives these are the things they do to reproduce and survive for humans it is eating and sleeping
What are beliefs
Values and morals about society and how to act
What is status
A persons standing or position in society