Culture and society2

Question 1

Culture

Answer 1

The man made part of the environment

Question 2

Ethnocentrism

Answer 2

A tendency to judge alien groups aor cultures from the perspective of ones own

Question 3

Subjective culture

Answer 3

Societies “characteristic way” of perceiving its social environment”

Question 4

Tight culture

Answer 4

Homogeneus, interdependent, important to follow norms

Question 5

Loose culture

Answer 5

Under influence of of other cultures, possible to deviate from norms.

Question 6

Power distance

Answer 6

The extent to which less powerfull members of an organisation or institutions accept and expect that power is distributed equally.

Question 7

Uncertainty avoidance

Answer 7

Tolerance for uncertainty and or avoidance of uncertain outcomes.

Question 8

Individualism/Collectivism

Answer 8

Individualism: individuals have relatively separate identity, ties between individuals are loose; one looks after self and immediate family, collectivism: or identity is defined by long- lasting group membership, individuals are integrated into and protected by strong, cohesive in-groups in exchange for unquestioned loyalty

Question 9

Masculinity-Feminity

Answer 9

values activities that are more common among men (assertiveness) than women (nurturance), masculine cultures show a gap between men’s values and women’s values.

Question 10

Long-Term Orientation (values)

Answer 10

Values associated with Long Term Orientation are thrift and perseverance

Question 11

Short Term Orientation (values)

Answer 11

values associated with short term orientation are respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and protecting one’s ‘face’

Question 12

Fiske: Four types of sociality

Answer 12

Communal sharing: members are the same, groups transcends its individual members
Authority ranking: asymmetrical differentiation in a hierarchy, subordinates owe respect and obedience, superiors have prerogative and duties towards subordinates.
Equality matching: quality Matching: reciprocity, balanced exchanges and even distribution
Market pricing: sense of proportion, social values calculated as rations

Question 13

Cultural Complexity

Answer 13

Increase in complexity
– development of agriculture
– industrial revolution
Examples of complexity
– people make large numbers of distinctions among objects and events (e.g. occupations)
– complexity in religious functions (e.g. temple in India)
– complexity in information societies (e.g. many parts that make a car)
– family structures related to complexity by an inverted U-shaped function

Question 14

Tight culture

Answer 14

(Japan) Collectivism, isolation from other cultures, norms are clear, cultural homogenity, rural

Question 15

Loose culture

Answer 15

(USA) Individualism, influence from other cultures, norms are more unclear, cultural heterogenity, urban

Question 16

Schwartz theory of basic human values

Answer 16

The Theory of Basic Human Values tries to measure Universal Values that are recognised throughout all major cultures. Schwartz’s theory identifies ten such motivationally distinct values and further describes the dynamic relations amongst them. 
POWER
ACHIEVEMENT
HEDONISM
STIMULATION
SELF-DIRECTION
UNIVERSALISM
BENEVOLENCE
TRADITION
CONFORMITY
SECURITY