Ch. 3 Cultural Conformity
and Adaptation
Identification of key people
and Definition of terms
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Key people identified:

Robin M. Williams- Sociologist who identified 15 values that
are considered to be central to the American way of life

James M. Henslin- Sociologist who suggested that education,
religious values and romantic values should be added to the
list of core American values.

Christopher Lasch- Social historian and author of the book
“Culture of Narcissism.” He went so far as to consider the
emphasis of personal fulfillment as a personality disorder. He
called this disorder Narcissism. (Narcissism- Extreme self-centeredness)
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Key people identified (continued)

Daniel Bell- Sociologist who felt that the focus on self was
dangerous. He felt it weakened the established values of hard
work and moderation. It threatened the stability of the
capitalist system.

Daniel Yankelovich- Psychologist and survey researcher who
saw the shifts towards self-fulfillment as a problem. He
agreed that Americans believed less in hard work than did
earlier generations. He also saw it as a beneficial change. It
marked a movement away for satisfaction based on material
gain.
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Vocabulary Terms defined:



Self-fulfillment- Commitment to the full
development of one’s personality, talents, and
potential.
Narcissism- Extreme self-centeredness.
Internalization- Process by which a norm
becomes a part of an individuals’ personality,
there by conditioning the individual to
conform to society’s expectations.
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Vocabulary Terms defined: (continued)



Sanctions- Punishment or rewards used to enforce
conformity to norms.
Positive Sanctions- Actions that rewards a particular
kind of behavior.
An example would be parents praise of a young child
for good behavior.
Negative Sanctions- Punishment or the threat of
punishment used to enforce conformity.
An example would be the possibility of having your
car towed is usually enough to persuade you not to
park in a “no parking zone.”
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Vocabulary Terms defined: (continued)


Formal Sanction- Reward or punishment
given by a formal organization or regulator
agency, such as a school, business, or
government.
Informal Sanctions- A spontaneous expression
of approval or disapproval given by an
individual or a group.
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Vocabulary Terms defined: (continued)



Social Control- The enforcing of norms through
either external or internal sanctions.
Ideology- System of beliefs or ideas that justifies the
social, moral, religious, political, economic interest
held by a group or by society.
Social Movement- Long term conscious effort to
promote or prevent social change.
Examples would be Prohibition Movement,
Women’s rights Movement, and Civil Rights
Movement.
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Vocabulary Terms defined: (continued)


Technology- Knowledge and tools people use
for practical purpose.
Diffusion- Spread of cultural traits-ideas, acts
beliefs and material objects from one society
to another.
Examples include Mass transportation, instant
communication through radio, TV, the phone,
and internet help to spread cultural traits.
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Vocabulary Terms defined: (continued)


Reformulation- The process of adapting
borrowed cultural traits.
Cultural lag- Situation in which some aspects
of the culture change less rapidly, or lag
behind, other aspects of the same culture.
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