Chapter 3
Culture
Section 1 Objective
 Culture defines how
people in a society behave
in relation to others and to
physical objects. Although
most behavior among
animals is instinctual,
human behavior is
learned. Even reflexes and
drives do not completely
determine how humans
will behave, because
people are heavily
influenced by culture.
 • explain how
culture and
heredity affect
social behavior.
What 2 things can not
exist without each other?
Culture
Society
 These 2 are tightly
interwoven.
 Behavior based on
culture  culture is
learned behavior
Which is more important?
Culture or Instinct.
Culture is It can
the more
important
of the 2.
carry us
past where
instinct
leaves off.
What is the nature vs. nurture
argument? Is it justified?
 How much of
personality is heredity
& how much of it is
learned behavior?
 You can justify either
direction, with the right
argument.
Why do genetically
inherited personality
traits not control
social behavior?
Different cultures
teach them
different things.
What behaviors are viewed by
sociobiologists to contribute to the
survival of the species?
 Parental care &
 Friendship
Affection
 Sexual Reproduction
 Education
List 3 criticisms of
Sociobiology
 Importance placed genetics could be used to justify
races superior or inferior
 To much variation in societies around the globe to
base behavior solely on genetics
 Use of language unique to humans, as well as the
complex social life
When genetics and culture
work together what has been
found?
 Shape and limit human nature and social life
 Step-parents are more likely to abuse step-children
than their own children
 Men & Women look for different characteristics when
choosing a spouse
 Culture defines
Section 1 Main
Ideas:
The Basis
Of Culture
how people in a
society behave in
relation to others
and to physical
objects. Although
most behavior
among animals is
instinctual, human
behavior is
learned.
Section 2 Objectives
 Humans can create and
transmit culture. The
symbols of language
play a role in
determining people’s
views of reality.
 • describe how
language and
culture are
related.
Define the following
vocab
 Symbols
 Hypotheses of linguistic
relativity
Why are
symbols
important?
Help to create and
transmit culture
Make up Language
Meaningful representation
of something
Why is language
important?
 Allows us to create culture
 Allows us to read, discuss, &
recombine existing ideas
 Can pass along experiences, ideas,
& knowledge
What can vocab tell us about a
culture?
 When something
is important to a
society, its
language will
have many words
to describe it.
 Americans w/
Money
Are we prisoners of our
Language?
 Exposure to
other languages
gives us other
view points. If
we only know
& use 1
language we are
stuck.
Section 2 Main
Ideas:
Language
and
Culture
 Humans can
create and
transmit
culture. The
symbols of
language play a
role in
determining
people’s view
of reality.
Section 3 Objectives
 The essential
components of culture
are norms, values,
beliefs, and material
objects. Sanctions are
used to encourage
conformity to norms.
Values, the broadest
cultural ideas, form the
basis for norms.
name the
essential
components
of culture.
List some
norms in
American life.
List 5 and explain
each of them
What are the 3 types of
norms?
Folkways
Mores
Laws
List some examples of folkways.
 Supporting a school
activity
 Speaking to others in
passing
 Removing your hat
while inside a building
 See the chart on pg.
82
 Failure to do
these draws no
real punishment,
but you do these
as a sign of
politeness.
How are mores
different from
folkways?
Conformity draws
strong social approval,
violation brings strong
disapproval
Why are the
punishments for
taboos so strong?
Because the feelings
against these are so
strong some believe
punishment will come
from the supernatural
Cite the differences between
Folkways/Mores
 Emerge
slowly & are
often created
unconsciously
Laws
 Consciously
create &
enforce
(usually don’t
change)
How are sanctions
used to shape
behavior?
Rewards are used to
encourage appropriate
behavior while
punishment reinforces
that the behavior is
unacceptable
How have American norms
change in relation to values?
 Racism on decline
 People working as
hard at leisure
activities as the do
at work
 Increased emphasis
on honesty &
friendliness
 Two essential
Section 3 Main
Ideas:
Norms
and Values
components of culture
are norms and values.
Norms include
folkways, mores, and
laws. Sanctions are used
to encourage
conformity to norms.
Values, the broadest
cultural ideas, form the
basis for norms.
Section 4 Objective
 Besides norms and
values, beliefs and
physical objects make
up culture. Ideal culture
includes the guidelines
we claim to accept,
while real culture
describes how we
actually behave.
 understand
the role of
ethnocentrism
in society.
What makes up a
culture?
 Values
 Norms
 Knowledge
 Ideas
 Physical objects
T/F beliefs can
be based on
false thoughts?
True
Check out this picture
and think about some
others
Why is the cultural meaning of physical
objects not determined by physical
characteristics?
 Meaning of
physical objects
are based on
beliefs, norms, &
values people
hold with regard
to them
Using the topic of honesty, cite an example
of ideal vs. real culture.
 Besides norms and
Section 4 Main
Ideas:
Beliefs and
Material
Culture
values, beliefs and
physical objects
make up culture.
Ideal culture
includes the
guidelines we
claim to accept,
while real culture
describes how we
actually behave.
Section 5 Objective
 Cultures change according
to three major processes.
Cultures contain groups
within them called
subcultures and
countercultures that differ
in important ways from
the main culture. People
tend to make judgments
based on the values of
their own cultures. While
apparently very different
on the surface, all cultures
have common traits or
elements that sociologists
call cultural universals.
identify
similarities
in cultures
around the
world.
What are 3 reasons cultures
change?
Discovery
 process
of finding
something
already in
existence
What are 3 reasons cultures
change?
Invention
 creation
of
something
new
What are 3 reasons cultures
change?
 Diffusion 
borrowing
aspects of
culture from
other culture
Give an example of a subculture &
reasons why?
 Chinatown 
American culture
effected greatly;
but have retained
things such as
language, diet, &
family structures
Why is “Punk”
considered a
counterculture?
Rebellion against
social norm of
thinking, dress,
behavior, &
sexuality
Why are the Olympics seen as
ethnocentric?
 Country’s
medal standing
is taken as a
reflection of
their worth &
status on the
world stage
Give the “Pros” & “Cons” of
ethnocentrism.
Pro
 Postive feelings when
what they do is right or
superior
 Stability due to
tradition & valued
behavior
Con
 Complacency (not
ingenuity)
 Violence against others
due to lack of
understanding
List some cultural
universals
 Sports/ cooking/ courtship/
education/ family/ government/
joking/ language/ mourning &
marriage/ music/ sexual restrictions
What 3 things cause cultural
universals?
 Biological similarities
 Physical environment
 Face same social problems