Name:________________________
There is more to non-material culture than values. Each culture also has its own
unique behaviors. These behaviors include gestures. In this section you will look at
gestures, norms (including mores, and folkways) and cultural spread and change.
Values are only one part of non-material culture. Non-material culture also includes
the symbols and behaviors that make up our way of life. Symbols include language,
both oral and written, and gestures. Respond to the following questions: Do you
agree with the idea of linguistic determination? Why or why not?
An important sociological topic concerning non-material culture is the study of
behavioral norms. Mores that are so strictly enforced that the thought of breaking
one of them causes revulsion are called taboos. Society enforces its norms through
the use of sanctions. Sanctions are positive or negative consequences of behavior.
Every time you do or say something in front of another person you are either
positively or negatively sanctioned.
Look at the following list of behaviors. Decide whether each one deals with a more,
a folkway, or a taboo (be careful- only one of these is a taboo). Then write a
possible sanction for each action.
1. Eating with silverware- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
2. Stealing- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
3. Committing human sacrifice- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
4. Getting a haircut- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
5. Having more than one spouse- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
6. Picking your nose in public- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
7. Lying to a judge- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
8. Talking loudly during a church meeting- Type of norm:
Possible Sanction:
Norms, like symbols, obviously vary widely across cultures. Sometimes, as
we encounter people or groups with different norms we feel a great sense of
being out-of-place and uncomfortable. This feeling has been termed culture
shock. Have you ever experienced culture shock? What happened?
We often want to evaluate other cultures based on our own norms, or
standards of behavior. When we do this, we often think that these cultures
are somehow not as good as our own. This is termed ethnocentrism.
Just because a society or culture values certain standards or behaviors
doesn’t mean that everyone acts in the same way. It is important to
understand the concepts of ideal vs. real culture and high culture vs. popular
culture. Then match one of the terms with each example below:
Ideal CultureReal CultureHigh CulturePopular Culture1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Attending religious services each week
Going to the opera
Eating “junk” food
Living in a happy family with a mother and father in the home
Living in a family that may not have both parents and may not be
happy
6. Equality for all
7. Discrimination on the basis of race or culture