CULTURE & SOCIETY REMEMBER YOUR BOMB SHELTERS? NACIREMA BEAUT Y RITUALS Knowledge Norms -folkways, mores, laws Nacirema Culture Physical Objects Values Knowledge Norms -folkways, mores, laws Nacirema Culture Physical Objects Values TALKING ABOUT CULTURE IS LIKE A FISH TALKING ABOUT WATER It surrounds us and we think of it as “just the way things are” To us it seems natural and unquestionable Culture is relative. What seems normal to us Might seem odd to others Water? WHY DO WE BEHAVE/BELIEVE AS WE DO? Most behavior among animals is instinctual But human behavior is ___________ Humans can ________________ and _______________ culture KEY TERMS Society – a specific territory inhabited by people who share a common culture Culture – knowledge, values, customs, and physical objects that are shared by members of society SYMBOL a thing that stands for or represents something else CULTURAL DIFFERENCES NORMS rules defining appropriate and inappropriate behavior • Meh Folkways NORMS Mores Taboos • Do it • Do it OR ELSE FOLKWAYS (T YPE OF NORM) norms that lack moral significance MORES (T YPE OF NORM) norms that have moral significance and that should be followed by members of the society TABOOS (T YPE OF NORM) a rule of behavior, the violation of which calls for strong punishment LAW A norm that is enforced by officials WHAT ARE THESE? WHAT IS THIS? What is it used for? What is it called? WHAT IS THIS? What is it used for? What is it called? WHAT IS THIS? What is it used for? What is it called? WHAT IS THIS WOMAN WEARING? What is it worn for? What is it called? WHAT IS THIS? What is it used for? What is it called? WHAT IS THIS? What is it used for? What is it called? WHAT IS THIS? What is it used for? What is it called? WHAT ARE THESE? PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Polygamy TABOO PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Avante guard fashion PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Marrying for money PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Hard work PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Number of children PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO White wedding PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Talking to yourself in public PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Child abuse TABOO PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Stealing TABOO PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Racism PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Drunk driving TABOO PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Give up seat on subway PRACTICE: FOLKWAY, MORE, OR TABOO Dropping out of school SANCTIONS rewards and punishments used to encourage people to follow norms; we can even sanction ourselves mentally to avoid discomfort Formal sanctions –only imposed by those with special authority Informal sanctions – can be applied by most members of a group VALUES broad ideas about what is good or desirable shared by people in a society; they are the basis for norms Are used to enforce Which are types of
