Culture and Society 4

8/6/2019 Culture and Society 4

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CULTURE AND SOCIETY


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The Concept of Culture

Culture consists of the value the members of a givengroup hold, the norms they follow and the materialgoods they create

Culture is a way of life of the members of a societySociety refers to the system of interrelationshipswhich connects together the individuals who share acommon culture


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Evolution Theory

Darwin set out a view of the development of thehumans and animals quite differentlyHuman characteristics have emerged from a processof biological change which can be traced back toinitial origin of life three billion years agoHe set in motion one of the most debated theories of

modern times- the theory of evolution


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Evolution

The development of humans has come about as a result ofrandom processDarwinism goes against the religious beliefs where animalsand humans are seen to be created by divine intervention

Evolution is a result of mutual selectionThere is continuous process of natural selection due to mutationThis process explains both major and minor changes in speciesDarwins theory allows us to piece together a clearunderstanding of different species and their relation to oneanother


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Sociobiology

Sociobiology refers to the application of biologicalprinciples in explaining the social activities of allsocial animalsIt is often considered a branch of biology and

sociology, but also draws from anthropology,evolution, zoology, archaeology, population geneticsand other disciplines.Sociobiology investigates social behaviors, such asmating patterns, territorial fights, pack hunting, and

the hive society of social insects. Just as selectionpressure led to animals evolving useful ways ofinteracting with the natural environment, it led to thegenetic evolution of advantageous social behavior.


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Cultural diversity

Humans have number of biological needs but theway these needs are satisfied or coped with varywidely between different culturesLarger societies have several sub culturalcommunities living side by sideCultural identity and ethnocentrism


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Cultural universals

Amid the diversity there are some common featuresLanguage

Speech and WritingSemiotics and material culture


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Types of pre-modern Society

Hunters and gatherersthe original affluent societies

Pastoral and agrarian societyNon industrial civilization or traditional statesThe industrial societies


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The Three Worlds

First world refers to the industrialized societiesSecond world has an industrialized society but theeconomy is centrally plannedThird world- Agrarian Economy The three worlds have developed in interconnectionwith one another


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Socialization

The term s ocialization is used by sociologists, socialpsychologists and educationalists to refer to theprocess of learning ones culture and how to livewithin it.Socialization is the process in which the helpless infantgradually becomes self aware, knowledgeableperson, skilled in the ways of culture into which she orhe is bornUnsocialized children?


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Agencies of socialization

Agents of socialization are the people and groups that influence our self-concept, emotions, attitudes, and behavior.The Family

Family is responsible for th e youth and ..., among other things, determiningone's attitudes toward religion and establishing career goals.

EducationEducation is the agency responsible for socializing groups of young people in

particular skills and values in society.Peer groups

Peers refer to people who are roughly the same age and/or who share othersocial characteristics (e.g., students in a college class).

M ass M ediaOther Agents: Religion, Work P lace, The State.


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Resocialization

Res ocialization is a sociological concept dealingwith the process of mentally and emotionally "re-training" a person so that he or she can operate inan environment other than that which he or she isaccustomed to


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Social Control

Each culture, sub culture and groups has distinctive normsgoverning what it deems appropriate behaviorSocial control- techniques and strategies for preventingdeviant behavior in a societySocial Control occurs at all levels

FamilyPeer groupsBureaucratic organizations

InstitutionsGovernment

Challenge to effective social control


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Conformity and Obedience

Conformity - going along with peers (individualswith own status , who have no right to direct ourbehavior)Obedience compliance with higher authority inhierarchical structure


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Informal and Formal Social Control

People use informal social control casually toenforce normsFormal social control is carried out by authorizedagents


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Law and Society

Some norms which are important to a society areformalized into Laws controlling peoples behaviorSociologists see the creation of law as a social

processLaw reflects the continually changing standards ofwhat is right and wrongSocializing is the primary source of conforming and

obedient behavior, including obedience of law


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What is deviance?

D ev ianc e describes actions or behaviors thatviolate the standard of conduct and expectation ofa group or societyIt involves violation of group norms as well asformalized lawDeviance and social stigma


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Explaining Deviance

FunctionalistPerspectiveDurkheims LegacyM ertons theory of deviance

Four types of behavior which departure of conformityInnovatorRitualistRetreatistRebel

Interactionist Perspective

Cultural TransmissionRoutine Activities Theory

Labeling TheoryConflict Theory

Documents

Culture and Society 4