Culture
Unit 3
What is culture?
O The shared products of human groups.
O Physical objects make up material culture.
Ex: cars, books, buildings, clothes,
computers, cooking utensils
O Abstract human creations form a groups
non-material culture.
O Ex: , skills, family patterns, ideas, language,
political ideology, rules, ideas
What is the difference between
society and culture?
O Society consists of people, and culture
consists of material and non-material
products that people make.
Describe American Culture
O 1.
O 2.
O 3.
O 4.
O 5.
O 6.
O 7.
Components of Culture
1. Technology
2. Symbols
3. Language
4. Values
5. Norms
Technology
O A society’s culture
not only consists of
physical objects but
also the rules for
using those objects.
O Using physical
objects requires skill
which is a part of
non-material culture.
Technology
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRL8xVj
XK_w
Explain the previous clip
O 1. Using symbolic interactionist perspective.
O 2. Using functionalist perspective.
O 3. Using conflict perspective.
Symbols
O Symbols are the
basis of human
culture
O All humans use
symbols to
communicate
O A symbol is anything
that represents
something else.
The sociology of the hand
shake
O Types:
O FunctionalistO Symbolic Interaction
O Conflict Theory
Language
O One of the obvious
aspects of any
culture is language.
O When organized by
accepted rules of
grammar, words can
be used to express
any idea.
Values
O Shared beliefs about
what is desirable,
right or wrong, good
or bad.
O In a rite of passage,
some Nigerian girls
spend months gaining
weight and
O learning customs in a
special room. “To be
called a ‘slim princess’
is an
O abuse,” says a
defender of the
practice.
Norms
O Shared rules of conduct that reinforce
values.
O Some norms are formalized as written rules.
O Others are taught through socialization at
school and home.
Three types of Norms
1. Folkways- address acceptable behavior but
do not have moral significance.
Ex: Using the wrong fork
2. Mores- address acceptable behavior with
great moral consequence.
Ex: Killing someone.
3. Laws- address unacceptable behavior
enforced by government.
How to break norms…
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– HAVE A ANIMATED CONVERSATION WITH YOURSELF IN PUBLIC
– LOOK UP ALL THE TIME
– SAY HELLO TO EVERYONE
– WHEN PEOPLE ASK YOU HOW YOU ARE DOING, TELL THEM
ABOUT YOUR WHOLE DAY
– WEAR YOUR CLOTHES BACKWARDS
– DON’T TAKE YOUR HAT, COAT, & GLOVES OFF, EVEN INSIDE.
– VIOLATE PEOPLE’S PERSONAL SPACE
– WHISPER TO WHEN YOU TALK
– YELL WHEN YOU TALK
– ASK STRANGERS IF YOU CAN CUT IN LINE. IF THEY ASK WHY YOU
NEED TO, THEN SAY YOU DON’T REALLY FEEL LIKE WAITING FOR
VERY LONG.
– AT YOUR PARENTS HOME ASK FOR PERMISSION TO DO
EVERYTHING (GET A DRINK, USE THE BATHROOM, WATCH TV, ETC)
Cultural Universals
O Features that are common to all human
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cultures:
1. Arts and leisure
2. Basic needs
3. Beliefs
4. Communication and education
5. Family
6. Government and economy
7. Technology
Cultural Variations
O Just as culture varies from place to place.
There are also variations with in cultures.
O Subculture- a group with its own unique
values, norms, and behaviors with in a larger
culture.
O Counterculture- a group that rejects the
values, norms and behaviors of the larger
society and replaces them with a new set of
cultural paterns.
How does culture change?
O Cultural diffusion- spreading of cultural
ideas.
O Cultural lag- time between changes
O Cultural leveling- the process towards global
culture.
Functionalist Perspective
O Culture enforces society’s central values.
O It encourages harmony and stability.
O Sub cultures diffuse discontent of sub
groups.
O Ethnocentrism encourages group solidarity.
Conflict Perspective
O Culture reflects and enforces the values of
those who hold power.
O It encourages and maintains social
inequality.
O Subcultures and Countercultures challenge
those in power.
O Ethnocentrism encourages discrimination
against the powerless.
Symbolic Interactionist
O Culture is maintained and modified through
everyday social interaction.
O Interaction between subculture groups help
introduce new cultural meaning systems.
Review Questions
O 1.What is the difference between material and nonO
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material culture?
2. How are folkways and mores different? Give an
example.
3. What is subculture?
4. What perspective says that culture reflects and
enforces society’s central values?
5. Why does cultural lag exist?
6. Why does material culture change more rapidly than
non-material culture?
7. OPINION: Is cultural leveling a good or bad thing? Is it
good for cultures to become more alike? Give real life
examples.