Cultural Universals
Cultural universals are customs and practices that occur across all societies. They include:
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Appearance
(eg. bodily adornment, hairstyles)
Activities
(eg. sports, dancing, games, interaction)
Social Institutions
(eg. family, law, religion)
Customary Practices
(eg. cooking, folklore, gift giving, hospitality)
Cultural values = shared assumptions about what is good, right or important What is considered
good, right or important in one culture may be considered bad, wrong or unimportant in another.
Ideal vs Real culture
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Ideal culture refers to the values and standards of behaviour that people in
a society profess to hold
Real culture refers to the values and standards of behaviour that people
actually follow
(For example, we might think of ourselves as “good citizens”, but still drive above the speed
limit or do engage in other illegal activities - however seemingly harmless.)
Difference between Canadian vs. American Values
What makes people in a society conform to the norms?
1) Internalization = The belief that a norm is good, useful or appropriate. They obey and feel
others should. Ex: we have internalized what to do with a napkin. Did Genie?
2)Sanctions = rewards or punishments that a society sets up to enforce the norms. Done to
protect society from chaos.
positive sanctions = rewards (promise, awards, bonuses) negative sanctions = punishment
(ridicule, fines, imprisonment, beatings, spankings)
physical sanctions = bring physical pain or pleasure. Ex: Having it brings pleasure, losing it
brings pain. ( A spanking also brings pain.)
psychological sanctions = address the feelings and emotions of a person. They can make one
feel good or bad. Positive psychological sanctions are found in compliments ribbons, badges and
awards.
Negative psychological sanctions are found in insults and rejection.
Formal sanctions = rewards or punishments used to enforce the laws of organizations,
institutions, societies and are carried out by some regulatory body (award-granting organizations,
police). Example of rewards: physical: a trip : psychological : Victoria cross. Example of
punishments: physical : capital punishment, imprisonment; psychological: threat of being
dispelled or loss of a license.
Informal sanctions = tend to be unwritten and are based on personal relations involving
folkways and mores, and tend to be based on public opinion. Physical informal sanctions: people
in your neighbourhood take up a collection for you because they want you to be able to pay the
lawyers bill for having defended yourself against a thief. Psychological informal sanctions:
insults, gossip, avoidance, rejection.
Social sanctions are 1) positive or negative, 2) physical or psychological, 3) formal or informal.
The development of cultures: cultures hold common beliefs (values) about what is right and
wrong.
Second, cultures develop norms, (folkways, mores and laws)
Third, cultures develop sanctions to help enforce the value system (norms, etc)