Unit 3 Flashcards
Definition of Culture?
The things that people in a group share, like beliefs, ways of communicating, goals, and activities, that help them connect and work together.
What does “Culture” consist of?
Material Traits & Non-Material Traits
Material Traits are…
Physical: Cars, homes
Non-Material Traits are…
Societal Beliefs
Folk Culture
traditionally practiced primarily by small, homogeneous groups living in isolated rural areas
Popular Culture
the set of ideas, practices, beliefs, and objects that are prevalent and widely accepted within mainstream society at a given time
Relativism
the belief that cultures should be understood based on their own values and context, without judgment
Ethnocentrism
the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others and judging other cultures by one’s own standards
Definition of a Cultural Landscape
cultural properties [that] represent the combined works of nature and of man
What is Placemaking?
Placemaking is a process where a community or cultural group comes together to plan public space
How does Language influence culture?
Language can influence toponyms (place names) and forms of communication
How does Ethnicity influence culture?
Ethnicity can affect the goods and services available, architecture, and where people live, creating ethnic enclaves
How does Religion influence culture?
Religion can influence toponyms, architecture, and even who can live in certain areas
What are Centripetal forces in cultural patterns?
Centripetal forces are things that unify a group of people, such as common language, strong nationalism, or ethnic/religious homogeneity
What are Centrifugal forces in cultural patterns?
Centrifugal forces are things that divide a group of people, such as ethnic discrimination, political unrest, human rights issues, or economic inequality
What is Diffusion?
Diffusion is the process by which a feature spreads across space from one place to another over time, originating at a hearth
What is a Hearth?
A hearth is a place where an innovation originates and begins to spread to other areas
What is Relocation Diffusion?
Relocation diffusion is the spread of an idea through the physical movement of people from one place to another
What is Expansion Diffusion?
Expansion diffusion is the spread of a feature from one place to another in an additive process, which includes hierarchical, contagious, and stimulus diffusion
What is Hierarchical Diffusion?
Hierarchical diffusion is the spread of an idea from important persons or nodes of authority to other places or people, such as political leaders or urban centers spreading innovations
What is Contagious Diffusion?
Contagious diffusion is the rapid, widespread diffusion of an idea or feature throughout a population, similar to how a contagious disease spreads
What is Stimulus Diffusion?
Stimulus diffusion is when the underlying principle of an idea spreads, even if the exact feature does not, like Apple’s iPhone features being adopted by competitors
What is the difference between Universalizing and Ethnic Religions?
Universalizing religions seek to appeal to all people worldwide, while ethnic religions appeal primarily to one group of people in a specific location
What is the difference between Pop and Folk Culture?
Pop culture is found in large, diverse societies, while folk culture is practiced by small, homogeneous groups in isolated areas
What are barriers to diffusion?
Barriers to diffusion include distance decay, cultural barriers (language, religion, age, ethnicity), physical barriers, and political barriers
What is Acculturation?
Acculturation is the process of cultural changes resulting from the meeting of two groups, where both groups retain distinct cultural features
What is Assimilation?
Assimilation is the process where people lose their unique traits (e.g., dress, speech) when they come into contact with another culture, blending into the new society
What is Syncretism?
Syncretism is the combination of cultural elements from two groups to create a new cultural feature
What is Creolization?
Creolization is the mixing of cultural traits, primarily language, to create a new form
What is a Lingua Franca?
A Lingua Franca is a language mutually understood and used by members of a society for communication
What drives modern cultural diffusion?
Modern cultural diffusion is driven by globalization, urbanization, and factors like media, technology, politics, economics, and social relationships
How does economic development affect culture?
As places become economically developed, their cultural preferences often change, reflecting global trends
What is an example of social cultural diffusion?
A McDonald’s restaurant in Saudi Arabia is an example of cultural diffusion, where American culture has spread globally, influencing food preferences
How does political interaction influence cultural diffusion?
Technology and transportation advances allow world leaders to meet more frequently, facilitating faster cultural exchange
How has religion spread globally?
Islam, originally found in Africa and the Middle East, has spread worldwide due to advances in transportation and education, making it accessible everywhere.
How has intellectual diffusion impacted literacy rates?
The diffusion of education systems from developed to developing countries has led to rising literacy rates, such as in Pakistan.
What is an example of technological cultural diffusion?
Even isolated groups, like Kyrgyz herders in Afghanistan, use cellphones, showing how technology diffuses globally, even in remote areas.
How does cultural diffusion affect economics?
Global trade, like the manufacture of goods in distant countries, is a result of cultural diffusion, as products are now sourced worldwide
What are the main contributors to cultural diffusion today?
Media, technological changes, politics, economics, and social relationships all contribute to cultural diffusion in today’s world.
What is the difference between cultural divergence and cultural convergence?
Cultural divergence is when people move away from their traditional culture, while cultural convergence is when people adopt a global, mass culture.
What are Universalizing religions?
Universalizing religions aim to be global and appeal to all people, regardless of culture or location.
What is a Denomination?
A denomination is a more localized subgroup of a religion, often with its own religious autonomy.
What is Monotheism?
Monotheism is the belief in and worship of one deity.
What is Polytheism?
Polytheism is the belief in and worship of many deities.
What is Acculturation?
Acculturation is the process where a person or group adopts aspects of another culture, while retaining elements of their own.
What is an example of Acculturation?
Examples include people wearing jeans worldwide or immigrants adapting to fast food diets like McDonald’s.
What is Assimilation?
Assimilation is when a minority group adopts the values, behaviors, and beliefs of the dominant culture, often losing their original cultural identity.
What is an example of Assimilation?
First Nations populations being forced to wear English clothes, attend residential schools, and learn English.
What is Cultural Syncretism?
Cultural syncretism occurs when elements from different cultures blend together to form something new and unique.
What are examples of Cultural Syncretism?
Fusion foods or combining religious practices from different cultures are examples of cultural syncretism
What is Multiculturalism?
Multiculturalism refers to a society where various ethnic groups coexist, collaborate, and maintain their distinct identities.
What are examples of Multiculturalism?
Canada and the United States are examples of multicultural societies where ethnic pluralism is encouraged.
