Chapter 3 Chapter 3 section1section1

Culture – knowledge, values, customs, Culture – knowledge, values, customs, and physical objects that are shared by and physical objects that are shared by members of a societymembers of a society

Society – a specific territory inhabited by Society – a specific territory inhabited by people who share some common people who share some common characteristicscharacteristics

Culture and heredityCulture and heredity

Instincts – innate unlearned patterns of Instincts – innate unlearned patterns of behaviorbehavior

Reflex – automatic reaction to physical Reflex – automatic reaction to physical stimulusstimulus

Drive – impulse to reduce discomfortDrive – impulse to reduce discomfort

Chapter 3Chapter 3section 2section 2

Language and cultureLanguage and cultureSymbolsSymbolsA things that stands for or represents A things that stands for or represents

something elsesomething else

What do the familiar symbols say What do the familiar symbols say about our society?about our society?

Cultural SymbolsCultural Symbols

Symbols are entities Symbols are entities that represent ideas that represent ideas and conceptsand concepts

It can be argued that It can be argued that people “consume” people “consume” symbols symbols

Symbols can be ideas and Symbols can be ideas and stereotypesstereotypes

Symbols can be ideasSymbols can be ideas

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Hypothesis of linguistic relativityHypothesis of linguistic relativity

(Sapir-whorf hypothesis)(Sapir-whorf hypothesis)

Theory that states that our idea of reality Theory that states that our idea of reality largely depends upon languagelargely depends upon language

““We don’t know what to say …we say what We don’t know what to say …we say what we know”we know”

SociobiologySociobiologyThe study of biological basis of The study of biological basis of

human behaviorhuman behavior

Stresses genetics over Stresses genetics over environmentenvironment

Ch3 section 3Ch3 section 3

Norms and ValuesNorms and Values

NormsNorms – rules of defining appropriate and – rules of defining appropriate and inappropriate behaviorinappropriate behavior

CustomCustom - a group pattern of habitual activity - a group pattern of habitual activity usually transmitted from one generation to usually transmitted from one generation to another another

Values – broad ideas about what is good and Values – broad ideas about what is good and desirable shared by people in a societydesirable shared by people in a society

FolkwayFolkway norms that lack moral significance norms that lack moral significance MoresMores – norms that have moral dimensions – norms that have moral dimensions

that “should be followed” by members of the that “should be followed” by members of the societysociety

TabooTaboo – behavior we “do not follow” the – behavior we “do not follow” the violation of which calls for some kind of violation of which calls for some kind of strong punishment or extreme censuringstrong punishment or extreme censuring

Law – A norm that is formally defined and Law – A norm that is formally defined and enforced by officialsenforced by officials

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Enforcing the rulesEnforcing the rules

Sanctions Sanctions

Rewards OR punishments used to Rewards OR punishments used to encourage people to follow normsencourage people to follow norms

Formal sanctionsFormal sanctions

Sanctions imposed by persons given special Sanctions imposed by persons given special authorityauthority

Informal sanctions Informal sanctions

Rewards or punishments that can be applied Rewards or punishments that can be applied by most members of a groupby most members of a group

Positive sanctionsPositive sanctions

A reinforcer that will increase the likelihood A reinforcer that will increase the likelihood of a specific behaviorof a specific behavior

Negative sanctions Negative sanctions

Usually some type of punishment (formal or Usually some type of punishment (formal or informal) intended to prevent one from informal) intended to prevent one from breaking a normbreaking a norm

Cultural relativismCultural relativism

a view that cultural “truths” depend on the a view that cultural “truths” depend on the individuals and groups holding them.individuals and groups holding them.

What is valued in one culture may not be What is valued in one culture may not be valued in another, therefore there is no valued in another, therefore there is no right or wrongright or wrong

Basis of cultureBasis of culture

How are we ethnocentric?How are we ethnocentric?

Basis of cultureBasis of culture

Similarities of cultures around the worldSimilarities of cultures around the world

Material cultureMaterial cultureThe concrete, tangible objects of a cultureThe concrete, tangible objects of a culture

Non-material cultureNon-material culture Ideas, knowledge, and beliefs that Ideas, knowledge, and beliefs that

influence people’s behaviorinfluence people’s behavior

How does material culture How does material culture reflect society?reflect society?

Everything that we can see in our society Everything that we can see in our society says something about our culture.says something about our culture.

What does this cathedral What does this cathedral say about this culture?say about this culture?The High Middle AgesThe High Middle Ages

What does this strip mallWhat does this strip mallsay about our culture?say about our culture?

What does this pyramid What does this pyramid say about this culture?say about this culture?

What does this buildingWhat does this buildingsay about our culture?say about our culture?

What does this Renaissance paintingWhat does this Renaissance paintingsay about this culture?say about this culture?

What does this sculptureWhat does this sculpturesay about our culture?say about our culture?

IDEAL CULTUREIDEAL CULTURE

Guidelines that group members claim to Guidelines that group members claim to acceptaccept

Real CultureReal Culture

actual behavior patterns of members of a actual behavior patterns of members of a groupgroup

IDEALIDEALAmericans glorify academic achievement Americans glorify academic achievement

and material success and material success REALREALHowever, most students do not graduate However, most students do not graduate

with honors and most citizens are not with honors and most citizens are not wealthy.  wealthy. 

Thus there is a gap between ideal culture and real culture. Thus there is a gap between ideal culture and real culture.

Section 5Section 5

Why does culture change?Why does culture change?

Three reasons:Three reasons:Discovery – discovering something that already Discovery – discovering something that already

existsexists

Invention – the creation of something new. i.e Invention – the creation of something new. i.e technologytechnology

Diffusion – the borrowing of aspects from other Diffusion – the borrowing of aspects from other cultures cultures

Cultural diversityCultural diversity

Social categoriesSocial categoriesGroupings of people who share a social Groupings of people who share a social

characteristiccharacteristic

For exampleFor exampleSenior citizensSenior citizens

WomenWomenCatholicsCatholics

Middle classMiddle class

SubcultureSubcultureA group that is part of the dominant culture A group that is part of the dominant culture

but that differs from it in some important but that differs from it in some important respectsrespects

For example:For example:

Pennsylvania Amish Pennsylvania Amish

San Francisco's ChinatownSan Francisco's Chinatown

Miami’s Hispanic populationMiami’s Hispanic population

CountercultureCountercultureA subculture deliberately and consciously opposed A subculture deliberately and consciously opposed

to mainstream beliefs or attitudes.to mainstream beliefs or attitudes.

for examplefor example

Punk rock scenePunk rock scene

White supremacist White supremacist

Black panthersBlack panthers

hippieshippies

Cultural UniversalsCultural Universals

EconomyEconomy

InstitutionsInstitutions

ArtsArts

LanguageLanguage

EnvironmentEnvironment

RecreationRecreation

BeliefsBeliefs