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Lecture 11 Flashcards

1
Q

culture

A

can be defined as the values, beliefs, practices, behavior, and material objects that constitute people’s way of life

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2
Q

non-material culture

A

refers to the intangible world of ideas created by members of a society that span a wide range

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3
Q

material culture

A

constitutes the tangible things created by members of a society

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4
Q

practices

A

are the practical logic by which we both act and think in a myriad of little encounters of daily

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5
Q

humans vs. other mammals

A

humans generate and then rely on culture rather than instinct to ensure the survival of that kind, pushing aside the biological forces we call instincts

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6
Q

civilizations

A

are the broadest and most comprehensive cultural entities. the idea of a civilization suggests the highest possible cultural groupings of people. religion is one of the key defining features of civilizations

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7
Q

major components of culture

A
  • symbols
  • language
  • values and beliefs
  • norms
  • material culture
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8
Q

symbols

A

anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share culture

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9
Q

semiotics

A

is the study of symbols and signs; it suggests that meanings are never inherent in objects but are constructed around them through a series of practices

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10
Q

language

A

a system of symbols that allow members of a society to communicate with one another

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11
Q

cultrual reproduction

A

language is the major means of cultural reproduction, the process by which one generation passes culture to the next. people have transmitted culture through speech, a process sociologists call oral cultural tradition

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12
Q

spair-whorf hypothesis

A

states that people perceive the world through the cultural lens of language. the hypothesis combines two principles: (1) linguistic determinis; language shapes the way we think, and (2) linguistic realtivity; distinctions found in one language are not found in another

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13
Q

values and beliefs

A

values are the standard people have about what is good and bad, which vary from culture to culture; beliefs are specific statements that people hold to be true

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14
Q

european values

A

hold broadly to (1) the values of rationality, science and progress; (2) Christian values, (3) the develpment of nation-states, and (4) the principle of hierarchy

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15
Q

asian values

A

are somewhat mroe authoritorian. while there are many contrasting values within Asia, some key values are: (1) belief in strong families, (2) reverence for education, (3) hard work a virtue, (4) virtue of saving and frugality, (5) a social contract between people and the state, (6) practicing national teamwork, (7) government should maintain a morally wholesome environment, and (8) collective values and rejection of extreme forms of individualism

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16
Q

world beliefs

A

traditional societies appear to be an euthority rooted in the past, often via religion or autocratic leaders. secular-rational societies tend to be much less religious and are more individualistic. survival-self-respression dimensions involve themes linked to postmodern or postmaterialistic societies.

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17
Q

norms

A

rules, and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members. some norms are prospective, mandating what we should not do, while others, namely prescriptive norms mandate what we should do

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18
Q

mores

A

are society’s standards of proper moral conduct. people can develop an emotional attachment to mores and defend them publicly. folkways refer to a society’s customs for routine, casual interaction.

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19
Q

material culture

A

artifacts seen as tangible human creations: chopsticks in china rather than forks and knives; mats rather than rugs in Japan; clothing in India

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20
Q

high culture

A

refers to cultural patterns that distinguish a soceity’s elite

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21
Q

pupular culture

A

refers to cultural patterns that are widespread among a society’s population. culture is thus also used to define people’s social standing

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22
Q

cultural capitalist

A

if often used to designate practices where people can wield power and status because of their educational credentials, general cultural awareness, and aesthetic preferences. this idea helps reinforce class distinction, as ‘cultura; capital is distributed very unevenly in societies.

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23
Q

subcultures

A

are cultural patterns that set apart some segment of a society’s population. in some cases, placing people into subcategories can lead to inaccuracies. subcultures do allow you to distinguish between important cultural traits, which unfortunately may lead to cultural conflict

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24
Q

counterculture

A

refers to the cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely accepted within a society

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25
youth culture
is a counterculture that reflects the cultural mainstream as too competitive, self-centered, and materialistic. instead, youth culture favored a cooperative lifestyle in which 'being' took precedence over 'doing'. counterculture may involve not only distinctive values but unconventional behavior (including dress and forms of greeting) as well as music
26
cultural integration
is the close relationship among various elements of the cultural system. the principle of cultural integration is shown through cultural change
27
cultural lag
refers to the fact that cultural elements change rates, which may disrupt a cultural system
28
3 ways cultural changes happen
- inventions: the process of creating new cultural elements - discovery: recognizing and understanding something not fully understood before - diffusion: the spread of cultural traits from one society to another
29
ethnocerntrism
is the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one's own culture
30
cultural relativity
the practice of judging a culture by its own standards
31
five pillars of Muslim
- the shahada: the affirmation that there is no God, but Muhammad is the messenger of God - salat: the set prayer to be said five times a day facing the Ka'ba - sawn: daily fasting at Ramadan - zakat: almsgiving, contributing wealth for the poor and charitable causes - hajj: the pilgrimage to Mecca, which all healthy Muslims should try to do at least once in their life
32
cultural universalities
refers to traits that are a part of every known culture
33
critical theory
refers to the emergence of 'mass culture' that weakened critical consciousness and manipulated the working mass
34
culture industry
standardized culture and made people passive and served to make them uncritical. this was included by Marxist ideas
35
hegenomy
another Marxist tradition refers to how ruling/dominant group wins over a subordinate group through ideas
36
postmodernism
suggests it has all been done, and all we can do is "play with the pieces"
37
globalization
has partially made the cultures of the world more similar, at least in superficial respects
38
cultural hybridization
refers to how parts of one culture get combined with the cultures of another
39
3 important limitations to global culture thesis
1. the flow of goods, information, and people has been uneven throughout the world. urban areas have strong ties to one another, while rural villages remain more isolated 2. it assumes many people everywhere can afford various new goods and services 3. although many cultural traits are now found throughout the world, we should not conclude that people everywhere attach the same meanings to them. people everywhere look at the world through their own cultural lenses
40
glocalization
refers to how global phenomena are responded to differently in local cultures
41
religion
a matter of faith, a belief anchored in conviction rather than scientific evidence
42
profane
is that which an ordinary element of everyday life
43
sacred
refers to that which is extraordinary, inspiring a sense of awe, reverence, and even fear. distinguishing the sacred from the profane is the essence of all religious beliefs
44
cosmogony
is a tale about how the world/universe was created, and ethical life is how people should behave
45
religiosity
deignates the importance of religion in a person's life. five dimensions are distinguished
46
experiential religiosity
the strentgh of a person's emotional ties to a religion
47
ritualistic religiosity
frequency of ritual activity
48
ideological religiosity
an individual's degree to belief in religious doctrine
49
consequental religiosity
how strongly religious beliefs figure in a person's daily behavior
50
intellectual religiosity
knowledge of the history and doctrines of a particular religion
51
What does Durkheim state about the nature of society?
Society itself is 'godlike', having an existence and power beyond any individual.
52
What is the totem in Durkheim's analysis of religion?
An object in the natural world collectively defined as sacred.
53
List the three major functions of religion for the operation of society according to Durkheim.
- Social cohesion - Social control - Providing meaning and purpose
54
How does religion contribute to social cohesion?
By uniting people through shared symbols, values, and norms.
55
What role does religion play in social control?
Promotes conformity using religious imagery and rhetoric.
56
How do religious beliefs provide meaning and purpose?
They offer a comforting sense that the vulnerable human condition serves some greater purpose.
57
What is a criticism of Durkheim's analysis of religion?
It tends to downplay religion's dysfunctions, especially its capacity to generate social conflict.
58
How did Max Weber view religion in relation to social change?
As sometimes being a major force for change. It is socially constructed with perhaps divine inspiration.
59
What distinction do individuals develop through rituals in religion?
The distinction between sacred and profane.
60
What was Karl Marx's view on the role of religion in society?
It served ruling elites by legitimizing the status quo and diverting attention from social inequalities. Religion works to create and reinforce them while dulling awareness of social inequalities.
61
What example does Marx use to illustrate the wealth generated by religion?
The Christian church has often created considerable wealth for its religious leaders.
62
In what way have many religions reflected social structures according to Marx?
By encouraging male dominance in social life.
63
What is a criticism of Marx's view on religion?
He has minimized ways in which religion has promoted change and equality.
64
church
a type of religious organization well integrates into the large society. a church accepts the ways of the profane world
65
ecclesia
a church formally allied with the state. state churches typically define everyone in the society as a member. tolerance of religious differences is severely limited
66
denomination
a church, independent of the state, that accepts religious pluralism. denominations are sects that have become incorporated into mainstream society.
67
sect
a type of religious organization that stands apart from the larger soceity. sect members hold rigidly to their religious conviction and can sometimes be considered dogmatic in their insistence that they alone follow the true religion
68
conversion
a personal transformation or religious rebirth. sects often rely on active recreation and place great value on conversion
69
cult
a religious organization that is substantially outside a society's cultural traditions. whereas a sect emerged from within a traditional religious organization, a cult represents something else entirely. it is typically formed around a highly charismatic leader with cult principles or practices that may seem unconventional
70
how do sects and church differ?
- sects are less formal; memebrs often engage in highly spontaneous and emotional practices as they worship - in sects, unlike the church, leaders are not necessarily formally trained, but rather they are expected to exude divine inspiration through charisma - they differ in social comparison; sects tend to attract more disadvantaged people
71
animism
the belief that elements of the natural world are conscious life forms that affect humanity, this belief may date back to early hunters and gatherers
72
christianity
an example of monotheism (opposite of polytheism), the belief in a single divine power
73
islam
centers around the prophet Mohammed. islam holds people accountable to god for their deeds on earth. and as a muslim you are obligated to defent your faith
74
judaism
monotheistic religion as a result of the jews liberation from bondage. the covenant refers to a special relationship with god by which jews become the chosen people. judaism emphasizes moral behavior. - orthodox jew - hasidism - conservative judaism
75
hinduism
thought of as an ethical religion, as every hindu recognizes the moral force in the universe known as dharma. karma refers to the belief in the spiritual progress of the human soul
76
buddhism
the central notion is that human existence involves suffering, and materialism inhibits spiritual development and is not a solution to the suffering
77
confucatianism
was an ecclesia and can sometimes be considered more of a model of disciplined living instead of a religion. confucius shared the same concern as buddha for the problems and suffering in the world
78
non-religious
a distinction can be made - those who are skeptical about the existence of god - those who hold the view that the existence of god can never be proven
79
80
What is secularisation?
The historical decline in the importance of the supernatural and the sacred. Secularisation leads religious organizations to focus more on worldly affairs rather than other-worldly issues.
81
What role does science play in secularisation?
Science takes over from religion in explaining birth, illness, and death as natural stages in the life course.
82
What is the resurgence of interest in religion?
A renewed interest in mainstream traditional world faiths that take on new forms and attract a wider group of followers.
83
What is Pentecostalism?
The belief that Jesus will return in their lifetime, characterized by expressive and less hierarchical meetings. Pentecostal gatherings often pursue emotional experiences.
84
What are New Religious Movements (NRMs)?
Church-like organizations that become more worldly, prompting some to seek sect-like communities addressing spiritual concerns.
85
What do world-affirming groups aim for?
To release 'human potential' and encourage active participation in society. These groups often resemble 'therapy groups' more than traditional religious groups.
86
What are characteristics of world-rejecting groups?
They are highly critical of the outside world and have strict ethical codes. These groups view the material world as evil.
87
What is religious fundamentalism?
A conservative religious doctrine that opposes intellectualism and worldly accommodation, favoring traditional spirituality. It often emerges in response to social inequality or crises.
88
What features are common among fundamentalists?
- Literal interpretation of 'infallible' sacred texts - Rejection of religious pluralism - Seeking personal experience of God's presence - Opposition to secularisation and modernity - Promotion of conservative beliefs - Emerge in response to social crises
89
What is civil religion?
A quasi-religious loyalty binding individuals in a secular society. It can manifest in patriotism and various associations.
90
What are examples of new institutional forms of religion?
- Cyber-churches - Mega-churches These institutions reflect new religious qualities in a changing society.

Sociology (22 decks)

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