CULTURE Ch. 2 Culture Flashcards
Enculturation
The process in which a child learns his or her culture
Hominidae (or Hominids)
The zoological family that inludes African apes (Chimps and Gorillas) as well as fossil and living humans
Hominin
The term specific to fossil and living humans. NOT Apes
Ethnocentrism (Opposite of Cultural Relativism)
The tendency to view one’s own culture as superior and to apply one’s own cultural values in judging the behavior and beliefs of people raised in other cultures.
* A problem with EHTNOCENTRISM is that we tend to view other cultures with disdain and disgust at their cultural values that are at odds with our own. (NOTE: any cultural values that we find beneficial in other cultures, we would add to our own culture, and thus not find disgust with it.)
Cultural Relativism (Opposite of Ethnocentrism)
The viewpoint that behavior in one culture should NOT be judged by the standards of another culture.
* A problem with CULTURAL RELATIVISM is that it assumes NO OVERARCHING MORALITY. We would view Nazi Germany with the same nonjudgemental evaluation as Athenian Greece.
Diffusion
The borrowing of traits across different cultures.
Ex: The English language used to be part of only one culture, but with DIFFUSION, it has spread out to many cultures throughout the world.
* Even when culture is borrowed (Like the spread of McDonalds), Each culture modifies it to fit their needs (the food available in a McDonalds in India will be very different from a McDonalds in Chicago).
Acculturation
The exchange of cultural features that results when groups come into continuous firsthand contact.
* Parts of the culture will change, but each group remains distinct.
* Can create BLENDS of culture – like TEX-MEX food, and ‘Pidgin’ English ( a simplified form of English used to communicate with English-speaking traders.)
Independent Intervention
The process by which humans innovate, creativley finding solutions to problems.
* Often DIFFERENT CULTURES will come up with the SAME SOLUTION to the SAME PROBLEM (Ex: The independent invention of farming in both the Middle East AND Mexico without any interaction or communication).
Globalization
The GLOBAL Spread of CULTURAL Elements.
Encompasses a series of processes, including diffusion, migration, and acculturation, working to promote change in a world in which nations and people are increasingly interlinked and mutually dependent. Exposes all cultures of the world to one another for better or for worse.
* A Problem with GLOBALIZATION is that it often brings UNWANTED ATTENTION to LESSER-KNOWN cultures, which brings greater INTERFERENCE in those cultures.
* The opening of the world to those cultures can also have a NEGATIVE AFFECT as the MEMBERS of that culture EMBRACE the culture of the OUTSIDE, diminishing the uniqueness and longevity of their own culture.
* Also, it makes certain smaller cultures (like indigenous cultures) vulnerable to EXPLOITATION by other cultures around the world. (Slavery, pillaging resources, conquering the people and the land, forcing the outside culture onto the smaller culture). This has happened over and over throughout the centuries,
Symbol
Something verbal or nonverbal, within a particular language or culture, that comes to stand for something else.
Language
The primary use of symbols, but there are many types of symbols that are not linguistic (e.g., holy water, flags) that have arbitrary and conventional associations with things they symbolize
How does American Culture differ from most other cultures in the world?
American culture places great value on the INDIVIDUAL, noting that we are individuals first, and members of a group second.
As a result, individual accomplishment is a cherished value in American Culture. It is also why America as the “Land of Opportunity” exists – because it allows the flexibility of the individual to work toward greater and greater means.
Many countries do not provide that context and that is why so many people from other nations wish to come here.
Socialism and other forms of shared wealth work in a few other places, but only in countries that are wealthy overall (like Scandinavian countries). Otherwise, everyone simply lives a semi-impoverished life, with little hope for improvement.
That’s why we have the American Dream – the hope, knowledge, and motivation that, with hard work and a smart approach, we can find our way to greater prosperity for ourselves and our families.
American culture focuses on INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY and that is the reason why America has shunned high levels of social programs.
Because the Question is: Why should those who refuse to work hard be rewarded?
Answer: They shouldn’t. Some cultures think everyone should be supported even if they do no work at all, and that’s why those countries suck and will be left in the stone ages forever. They add nothing to society and they should receive the same in return.
What is the importance of symbols in culture?
For humans, our cultural learning depends on the uniquely developed human capacity to use SYMBOLS. CULTURE itself is SYMBOLIC, represented by flags, banners, LANGUAGES, clothing, customs, institutions, art, rituals, events, games, etc.
Culture is LEARNED and ACQUIRED as a member of a society.
Culture is LEARNED in 3 different ways: direct teaching, observation, and unconscious absorption.
SYMBOLS become important only when a species is able to bestow MEANING on the symbol and to UNDERSTAND and APPRECIATE that meaning.
How does culture determine how we live our lives?
Culture takes the natural biological urges we share with other animals and teaches us how to EXPRESS THEM IN PARTICULAR WAYS.
For example, people have to eat, but culture teaches us what, when, and how.
Culture is ALL-ENCOMPASSING – Everything that exists must be taken into consideration – from the rich to the poor, the educated to the uneducated, entertainment, attitudes, tools, technology, behaviors, family structure, food, music, sports – everything.
Culture is INTEGRATED – everything within the culture affects every other aspect of the culture – like a CULTURE WEB.
Core Values
A CORE SET of CHARACTERISTICS (basic central values) integrated into each culture that DISTINGUISHES it from others.
Ex: “INDIVIDUALISM” and “HARD WORK ETHIC” are core values in the American culture.
