Lesson 1 Flashcards
Objective Elements of Culture
Explicit, physical manifestations of a meaning and information system, such as architecture, clothes, food, art, or eating utensils.
Lamoreaux & Morling, 2012; Morling & Lamoreaux 2008
Subjective Elements of Culture
Parts of culture that do not exist as physical artifacts, including attitudes, values, beliefs, norms, and behaviors.
None
Values
Guiding principles that refer to desirable goals motivating behavior, defining moral, political, social, economic, esthetic, or spiritual ethics. Exist on individual and culture levels.
Motivate and justify behavior, serve as standards for judging people, actions, and events
Individualism vs. Collectivism
The degree to which groups encourage tendencies for members to look after themselves or belong in groups that look after members in exchange for loyalty.
None
Power Distance
The degree to which groups encourage less powerful members to accept unequal power distribution.
None
Uncertainty Avoidance
The degree to which groups encourage members to feel threatened by unknown situations and develop beliefs, institutions, or rituals to avoid them.
None
Masculinity vs. Femininity
The degree to which groups value success, money, and things over caring for others and quality of life, and the distribution of emotional roles among genders.
None
Long vs. Short Term Orientation
The degree to which groups encourage delayed gratification of material, social and emotional needs among its members.
Example sentence: Some cultures prioritize long-term goals and sustainability over short-term gains.
Indulgence vs. Restraint
The degree to which groups allow relatively free gratification of basic and natural human drives related to enjoying life and having fun, or whether it suppresses gratification of material, social, and emotional needs among its members.
Example sentence: Cultures with high levels of indulgence tend to have more relaxed social norms regarding pleasure and enjoyment.
Beliefs
Propositions that are regarded as true, existing on individual and cultural levels. Focus on culture-level beliefs, also known as social axioms.
Example sentence: Beliefs in a religion can help individuals find meaning in life.
Dynamic Externality
Beliefs concerning external forces such as fate, a supreme being, and spirituality. Aids in confronting environmental difficulties.
Example sentence: Cultures high on dynamic externality tend to be more collectivistic and conservative.
Societal Cynicism
Apprehension or pessimism of the world. Belief that the world produces malignant outcomes and individuals are suppressed by powerful others.
Example sentence: Cultures high on societal cynicism may believe that caring about societal affairs only brings trouble.
Norms
Generally accepted standards of behavior for any cultural group, describing behavior considered appropriate in a given situation.
Example sentence: Norms vary across cultures, influencing behaviors like clothing choices and emotional expressions.
What is the definition of rituals?
Culturally prescribed conduct or any kind of established routine or procedure
(e.g. bride’s walking down the aisle with her father in weddings, doing daily prayers etc.)
What is the definition of etiquette?
Culturally prescribed code of behavior that describes expectations for polite behavior. Culture differ in how much they value etiquette and in cultures that value etiquette, they are considered signs of maturity and sanity.
